How to Prepare, Track, and Manage Your Small Business Shipments Online

Saving time is integral in running a successful business. If you are spending the majority of your time in line at your post office or shipping center, you can cut this time in half by utilizing the Internet to ship your packages.

There are now several different companies that offer the ability to handle all of your shipping needs right from your browser. Whether you prefer to ship through the post office or via a freight carrier, you can turn your computer into your own shipping station. Learn about Shipping as a Profit Center.

The United States Postal Service lets you process your shipments from your office, from printing labels to sending the packages. You can also schedule pickups in many areas of the country. USPS.com also offers free Priority Mail and Overnight Mail supplies, such as envelopes and boxes, which can reduce the amount of money that you spend preparing your items for shipment.

USPS.com also offers a software program called the Shipping Assistant. This application can be integrated with QuickBooks and features a tracking window for tracking past shipments. You can also get shipping estimates on packages as well as print international shipping labels. How Much Does Electronic Postage Cost?

Stamps.com also offers QuickBooks integration, as well as integration with several popular word processing programs. For companies that rely on this software for invoicing, this is a real time-saver. You can import your customer address book, enter the weight of each package, and print labels all in one location.

Stamps.com offers insurance, delivery confirmation, and other features as well. Each shipment is logged, allowing you to quickly refer to a past shipment for more information. If you prefer not to disclose the actual amount for shipping on your labels, you can hide this amount. This is very helpful for businesses that charge handling fees in addition to their postage costs.

FedEx.com lets you create an account online and set up your shipments, print labels, notify customers of shipments, and schedule pickups almost immediately. You can also get estimates on delivery times and package costs before you finalize your shipments.

UPS.com has an easy-to-use interface for quickly creating shipments online. You will need to first create a shipping account on the Web site. After you have signed up, just enter your shipping information and start printing labels. You can schedule pickup times or take advantage of UPS’s daily pickup options.

All these carriers let you notify your customers by email about their shipments, which can cut down on the amount of time you spend on post-shipment tasks. It also lets your customers track their own packages, and saves you additional time by eliminating calls and emails about shipment status.

It has never been easier to use your computer as a shipping center. You can save significant amounts of time and money by managing your shipping online.