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Mastering the art of shipping—including fulfilling orders and streamlining returns—is crucial to making your small business a success. Shipping with the right brand is key, but so many companies offer business shipping services that it can feel a bit overwhelming to choose the right one. One thing is for sure: you want more than a reliable place to drop off a package. You want a partner to help you meet your company’s needs. The United States Postal Service offers a suite of innovative products to help you manage and grow your business. Here’s how.
Access shipping tools created for you
The USPS Business Customer Gateway, a hub designed for entrepreneurs, gives you access to all the smart shipping tools and information you need to serve your customers. For example, with Click-N-Ship Business Pro™ you can automate label generation using your customer database, verify shipping addresses using the official USPS address database, print shipping labels in batches, track packages and provide shipping labels for customers. Find out more about these tools that will help streamline and scale your business.
Take advantage of free opportunities
The shipping materials you need for Priority Mail packages are free for business customers, just as they are for individual consumers. You can order supplies on the USPS website, or pop by a Post Office to pick them up—either way, you’ll save.
Since time is money, delegating tasks to people you trust is key to growing your business, freeing you up to focus on strategy and bigger issues. One smart, everyday way to do this: You can schedule packages to be picked up by a letter carrier through the USPS Pickup program, sparing you the trip.
Eliminate return angst
USPS enables easy returns—for both you and your customers—thanks to its fast, affordable return options. To make it simple for your customers to send back purchases, you can process return labels online and send them directly to the customer. Customers just print a label, stick it on the package, bring it to the post office, or go online to schedule a pickup. You can send customers who don’t have printer access a QR code that they can present at the Post Office to complete their return.
Learn From the Pros
Building relationships with people you trust, who generously share their expertise, is vital to business success. USPS has consultants who specialize in small business who can talk with you about your marketing and shipping needs as your company grows and changes. USPS hosts some 5,000 Grow Your Business Day events annually targeted to small business owners like you. These seminars, held virtually and in-person at local branches, give business owners a deep dive on the post office’s products and services and how to maximize them to scale your company.
Get rewarded for loyalty
Loyalty programs go beyond your business credit cards. With the USPS Loyalty Program, small business owners earn credits for eligible domestic Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express® labels printed with the Click-N-Ship® service on usps.com. For every $500 spent on Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express® labels on Click-N-Ship® service, members receive $40 in credits.
Go global
Every small business starts with a big dream. USPS provides training and assistance if you want to broaden your borders and reach customers internationally, including Global Shipping Software designed to help calculate prices and generate labels. A USPS consultant can also work with you to understand the processes and procedures for the countries with which you’re doing business, including providing guidance on shipping, customs, duties, taxes and international mailing services. Whether you’re shipping around the corner or across the world, USPS has an answer for nearly every small business need.
Ready to get the tools you need to reach your customers? Start here.