Stamp Down on Rising Office Costs

Franking is the process of branding mail with the correct postage without the need for conventional stamps and is a cost effective and convenient way for a business to pay for and manage their mail. Franking, in its most basic form, originated in the British Parliament way back in 1660, with the passing of an act to form the General Post Office while, on the other side of the Atlantic, many congress members were known to frank their own mail in order to be able to post if for free.

As you’d expect, franking has come a long way with the advances in technology over the years. Modern machines are quick, efficient and easy to use. Franking machines in recent times have been developed to allow you to use a wide selection of postal services in one convenient place. From first class to airmail, second class to parcels and much more, a franking machine is a valuable asset to have in the office.

The main benefits of franking mail are the savings that can be made both in terms of time and money; valuable commodities in any business. Having a mini post office within the workplace can make a significant difference on a daily basis. No members of staff waste their time waiting in queues, desperately trying to get the mail out on time. The efficiency of franking machines also means that it’s much quicker to use one as opposed to having someone manually sticking stamps on envelopes. Another area where time can be saved is the supply of the postage itself. Using stamps means another trip to the post office when they run out. With a franking machine, you can prepay and top up your postage much more quickly and efficiently.

The monetary benefits of franking machines are many. First and foremost is the basic cost saving of usually around 2p on first and second class mail when compared to buying stamps. Roll that out over a week, a month or a year and the figures really start to add up. Small business franking machines in particular can be a wise investment, when every penny counts. Secondly, staff costs can be saved by keeping employees in the office. The mail can be prepared more quickly, ensuring a higher level of efficiency than sending someone out to battle with the general public in the post office. Owning a franking machine also means you don’t have to keep a manual record of stamps bought or have to sort out petty cash every time they run out. Finally, with packages being priced to post according to their weight, having a machine with a built in set of scales means that you won’t ever pay more than you should, which makes sound business sense. In addition, franked mail gives your business a more professional look and is also a cheap way to advertise.

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.