Do you own a small business? If yes, then there must be several expenses that are draining all your funds. One must be mailing and shipping. People don’t realize this, but it is a major part that costs a lot of money.
But how can this be overcome? According to ResearchGate, “Individuals can avoid overpaying and maximize savings by making and sticking to budgets that are well-organized and classified.” But this is just not enough.
In this article, I’ll talk about how small businesses can save on mailing and shipping. Make sure to read this article till the end, if you wish to save big bucks.
If You Send A Lot Of Mail, Consider A Franking Machine
Are you someone who often sends out a lot of emails? If yes, then you have to get a franking machine. For an average person, snail mail is a dead medium, but for those who use it daily, for them, it’s vital. This is also the reason why people need to get the franking machine, as it helps reduce costs.
Something like an automatic franking machine from FPMailing.co.uk or such is a fantastic way to lower overall postal expenses quickly. An automatic franking machine substitutes direct printing of postage onto envelopes or labels for conventional stamps.
In comparison to regular stamps, franking machines grant you access to lower poster rates. This is because postal service simplifies operations using incentives for companies using automated machines.
Secondly, franking machines figure out the precise postage needed by weighing every single item, therefore avoiding overpaying for an excessive postal class or using too many stamps than required.
To sum it up, such machines increase efficiency and keep one’s pocket happy as they only pay for what is being used, nothing less, nothing more.
Choose The Right Shipping Carrier
It’s quite obvious why it’s important, but plenty of businesses will find a career and would only use it. This could be because of a few reasons like they are too tired to change it or have used it for so long that they have forgotten to find an alternative.
However, when time is spent evaluating the various carriers in nearby areas or those pertinent to company operations (i.e., send abroad), you’ll come to know that the amount that is paid is higher than it should be. Plenty of viable alternatives are available who would love your business at a low price.
Consider Bulk Shipping Discounts
Look, there are certain benefits of bulk shipping, by getting discounts after negotiating if mail and packages are being sent to the same locations. But, in some cases, this might not be possible because you won’t meet the threshold of what is considered bulk by the carrier.
But it would hurt to ask, right? Who knows, this might land a great deal and save big bucks. Even if someone says no, you can go around and find another. In the 2022 static below, it’s shown which country has been leading this market.
Optimize Packaging For Cost Efficiency
Wasteful packaging is typically a bugbear for many consumers, and if you’re guilty of this act, you should slap yourself on the back of your hand and reconsider how to pack things.
It’s not just that you are saving money on materials, but you will spend less on delivery because your packages will weigh less and have a smaller footprint. You will save significant money after opting for this method.
DID YOU KNOW?
The global mailing and shipping (postal) market was valued at $249.37 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $287.41 billion by 2034!
Implement A Shipping Policy To Reduce Returns
In this line of business, you need to stay ahead of others in the industry. Offering a decent return policy falls on your expenses because it’s a massive change as you will bear the brunt of the costs as well as the fee of sending a new product.
To resolve this issue, compare the cost to your default policy and look for a way to save money by simply requiring evidence of damage or a product not working. If it’s cheaper to allow your customers to keep the defective product and send a new one, then this will be your best option (the inverse being true if not).
Mail and delivery charges play a significant role in increasing your expenses over time. If it is left unchanged or resolved, it can drain everything. All the tips that are mentioned below are for your benefit, and you can save a lot of money on them, so apply them today.