Leasing a postage meter

As a small business owner, you may be questioning leasing a postage meter. Postage costs account for a large part of small business expenses, at around $4,000 per year, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. As your business expands, you should consider postage costs and the benefits of leasing your own mail machine.

Volume of Mail

When considering leasing a postage meter machine, you should consider the volume of mail you are currently handling. As a growing business, using USPS to print labels and pay for postage may not be worth the hassle. While USPS is useful for starting businesses with low-volume mailing, you are potentially overpaying on postage and paying a flat fee on all packages.
When you expand, consider leasing a postage meter to cut down on unnecessary costs and increase postage efficiency. 

Postage Meter Machines

If you decide leasing a postage meter is the right move for your company, you need to find a corporation to lease from. Pitney Bowes, Neopost, and FP Mailing solutions are some key players for postage meters.
With a postage meter, you can process, print, weigh, and scan your own packages. The key players listed above have multiple options available for various volumes of mailing. 

Some Other Considerations...

Below are some commonly cited advantages and disadvantages of postage meter machines. Consider these factors before making your decision.

Advantages:

• Saving on Postage Costs: Postage meters allow you to measure exact cost based on type, weight, and destination. You are able to do this on your own with a postage meter machine.
• Time savings: By leasing your own postage meter machine, you cut down on time spent in post offices. You can just drop off packages without waiting in long lines and spending long periods of time in post offices! As a growing business owner, time is money. These savings can go far!
• Ease of Use: Postage meter machines are becoming increasingly easy to use. Key players in the industry update technology frequently and know that ease of use is critical to a busy small business owner.

Disadvantages

• Contract Restrictions: When leasing a postage meter, you may encounter some problems with your dealer. Common issues include repairs and restrictions on ink and other supplies. Since you are leasing this machine from a large corporation, they still have some control over what you do with your machine. Communication is critical.
• Fees: As with any lease, you will be paying fees to your dealer. You do not own the machine, but will be paying for the ability to use it as you want.
• Government Restrictions: Postage meter machines cannot legally be sold to small business owners. You are required to lease these machines, and therefore subject to a contract. Know the laws before deciding to lease your own postage meter machine!

At the end of the day, your business needs to consider the flexibility of having your own machine. This decision can be a gamechanger when it comes to saving both money and time as you expand. While there are some drawbacks to leasing a postage meter machine, many businesses find them to be a useful tool.