March 16, 2010 ( PowerHomeBiz.com )
- When
starting a business there are plenty of things on your plate. Not to mention
what supplies you will need, how you are going to keep track of your
finances and if you will be based at home or if you will rent a space. One
thing you should consider is how you are going to manage your postage needs.
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Now this topic may not be on the top of your to do list, especially since
you can go down to the post office and have everything handled there. But
think about how long it takes to drive to and from the post office, and the
time actually spent in the post office. Time adds up, and as you well know
time is money when you’re running your own business.
Time and Money
These two words are important for most business owners. Who doesn’t want
to make the most of their time and save money? Postage meters are a great
tool to utilize because they can streamline your postage efforts, and the
best part is you don’t have to drive anywhere to do it. They can save you
money because they will print out the exact dollar value your package
needs—which eliminates any rounding up you may do.
Saturday Deliveries in Jeopardy
This goes along with the time factor, but you should be aware that the
USPS might be suspending Saturday deliveries. This is due to the fact that
they are looking at a potential $7 billion in losses this year. If you run
your business from your home, this will give you one less day to get the
information out you need to send to partners and clients. Postage meters can
help you get your packages out to the mail carrier on the same day, allowing
for you to get everything done in-house and more efficiently.
Negotiation Skills
If you do decide a postage scale would benefit your business, you should
be aware that the scale itself would be rented from a vendor who is
certified through the USPS. After talking with enough vendors you should be
able to weed out companies based on customer service and usability of the
actual meter. Another aspect to remember when deciding on your postage meter
budget is the price of actual postage. Factoring the entire cost of your
postage needs is crucial when negotiating on prices.
In the end choose a scale that fits YOUR needs and wants, and not what
the vendor may think you need. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles
don’t pay for something you will never use—after all they are supposed to
save you money.
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Shannon is a writer based in San Diego, California. She writes
extensively for an online resource that provides expert advice on purchasing
and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs such
as postage meters & postage scales at
Resource Nation.
