Launched a new business? That’s great but don’t rely solely on brick-and-mortar customers. In today’s world, you need to maintain an online presence to survive.
That said, running an online site to your business also requires small business shipping. After all, the most expensive part of online businesses is shipping and handling. That’s why you need to make sure to save as much money as you can while giving customers the best service possible.
Don’t have a clue where to begin? We’re here to walk you through it.
Here are some tips for shipping:
1. Know Your Product Weight
A product’s shipping weight might not match its actual weight. You need to take into account the number of packing material layers you need for its safe transport. Once you know this, you have the means of estimating its actual shipping costs.
You can also click here to know the cost of buying shipping containers.
2. Use Flat Rate, Regional Shipping
Keep your small business shipping focused on the local region and utilize a flat rate. This is the ideal strategy if you’re new in the eCommerce industry.
It isn’t always the cheapest way to ship, but it’s competitive and easy to understand. It’s also worth noting that these services will also give you a box, saving some money.
3. Try Shipping Software
Even the smallest and newest businesses can reap the benefits of shipping software. It’s a great tool since you can buy shipping or postage at a discounted price online. There are also features like marketplace integration and better tracking systems.
4. Represent Your Brand with the Box
When sending your shipments, you’re telling your customers about your business. That’s why your shipping label and box should represent what your brand is all about. That means you shouldn’t reuse all the boxes sent to your business.
5. Doing Business Includes Shipping Costs
You’ll lose money on some customers due to a lot of reasons. But it’s more important to make a profit on the majority of your sales. Think of shipping as a weekly or monthly process, rather than focus on each order.
6. Avoid Relying on One Carrier
An alternative is to choose the best carrier for each order instead of locking yourself with a single carrier. It’s labor-intensive, but it will save you money since you’ll avoid incurring additional fees. For example, USPS won’t charge residential fees while FedEx and UPS do.
7. Use Zone Skipping
This is a consolidation service that brings all packages to all recipients within the same zone. This will bring down the cost of shipping for each package. Take note that it isn’t ideal for express shipments, but it helps you save a lot on general shipping.
Use Small Business Shipping Today!
If you’re a small business, don’t hesitate to look for as many ways as you can to save on shipping. It will help ensure that your business stays afloat for a long time. These tips are great for getting started, but you can search for more as needed.
Did this small business shipping guide entertain and educate you? If so, read more of our posts and learn more today.