COST
The postage depends on the mailing service you choose and the characteristics of your mail piece.
For any commercial mailing, you must do some of the work the Postal Service would otherwise do. The work you do, such as preparing, sorting, and entering your mailing, can lower your postage costs.
You must pay an annual mailing fee at each facility where you enter mail. Different mailing services may require separate fees. For example, First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Package Services require separate $180 annual presort mailing fees.
Other optional aspects of a commercial mailing, such as using permit imprints, business reply mail, or mailing endorsements, may require additional fees.
CHOOSING BETWEEN COMMERCIAL MAILING SERVICES AND RETAIL MAILING SERVICES
Even if your mailing has the required number of mail pieces to qualify for a discount price, you still have to perform some of the work the Postal Service would normally do to receive the discount. When deciding whether to undertake a commercial mailing, you should consider:
- Your technology
Your technology and equipment, such as computers and software, will influence the discount services you can use and the time it will take you to complete the work.
- Your budget
The amount of money you spend on a mailing is more than just the cost of postage. You should also consider the cost of designing and printing your mail pieces and obtaining a mailing list.
If you cant dedicate the technology or time to a commercial mailing, consider using a mail service provider or retail mailing services, which lets you quickly prepare and send your mailing. As your business grows, your resources may allow you to take advantage of additional discounts.
BULK MAIL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for bulk mailing discounts, your mailing must have at least the minimum quantity for its mailing class. The minimums for each mailing class are as follows:
- First-Class Mail - 500 pieces
- Standard Mail - 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail
- Bound Printed Matter - 300 pieces
- Media Mail - 300 pieces
- Library Mail - 300 pieces
CHECKLIST FOR COMMERCIAL MAILERS
To successfully complete a commercial mailing, you should be familiar with all of the general steps. Use this list to review these steps as you begin your commercial mailing.
- Choose a Mailing System
- Purchase Mailing Software
- Choose a Postage Payment Method
- Get the Required Mailing Permit
- Prepare Your Mail piece
- Get an Address List
- Check the Accuracy of Your Mailing Address List
- Sort Your Mail
- Fill Out a Postage Statement
- Enter Your Mail
To learn about the mailing process in depth, go to the USPS website link below
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm200/commercial.htm
Mailing Software
- Bulk Mailer 5 Pro & Standard
- MailRoom Toolkit Office
- MailRoom Toolkit Architect
- Mail Manager 2010
- Mail Manager 2010 LE
- Mail Manager Full Service
- Mailers+4 Standard
- Mailers+4 Professional
- PostalSoft Professional Suite
- PostalSoft Business Edition
- PostalSoft DeskTop Mailer
- SmartAddresser 5
- Smart Addresser 5 LT
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