Canada Post solutions for small businesses

As one of Canada's leading postal service providers, Canada Post's services are designed to help small businesses save time and money while still providing high-quality customer service. They offer financial solutions for small businesses with regards to mail delivery, parcel services, shipping solutions and more.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the services offered by the Canada Post Small Business Program. We will also look at Wise for your business requirements.

What does the Canada Post for Small Businesses Program offer?

Canada Post’s commitment to supporting small businesses is best demonstrated by their Canada Post Solutions for Small Businesses program, which has many benefits tailored to you.

Discounts on Shipping

Members of the Small Business Solutions Canada Post program have access to 10-15% off¹ lightweight shipping without a promo code. An additional 10% off is granted to parcels 101-250 grams in weight, and an additional 15% off is granted to parcels that weigh less than 100 grams.

This offer is only available until December 31st of 2023 so be sure to take advantage of it before it’s gone.

Easy Drop Offs

Canada Post has 5,900 post office locations² throughout the country, making it easy to find a nearby location to serve your needs. You will also receive your Canada Post Small Business Solutions member discount at any of these locations.

They also offer a convenient online shipping tool called Canada Post Snap Ship, which allows you to book shipment pickups for $3.50 at most³, among many other features that make the shipping process simple.

Variety of Shipping Services

Canada Post offers four tiers of shipping services:

1. Priority
2. Xpresspost
3. Expedited Parcel and
4. Regular Parcel, in order from most to least expensive.

Shipping Speed

Priority shipping is the fastest option, offering next-business-day delivery for any location.

Regular Parcel, comparatively, can take up to:

• 3 days locally
• 6 days regionally, and
• 10 days nationally.⁴

Tracking and Delivery

Canada Post offers tracking and delivery confirmation, delivery updates, and reference number tracking for all tiers of shipping. However, they offer an on-time delivery guarantee for every tier except Regular Parcel.⁴

Coverage and Collect On Delivery

Each tier must pay extra for collect-on delivery and additional liability coverage, but only Regular Parcel deliveries have an additional fee for liability coverage.⁴

Signature and Identity Services

Priority shipping includes signature verification, while all other tiers must pay for this service. If you’d like a hard-copy signature and/or proof of age, however, you’ll have to pay no matter what tier you choose.⁴

Flexible Delivery Options

All tiers offer the flexible delivery options of leaving your package at the door without carding, card hold for pickup, and no safe dropping. Delivery to the post office, however, is only included with Xpresspost and Expedited Parcel.⁴

Pickup Services

Recurring/scheduled pickups, including those from a third party, cost extra for every tier. One-time on-demand pick-up, also including one from a third party, is part of Priority Shipping, but at an extra cost to the other three tiers.⁴

Environmental Sustainability

If you’re a business invested in green initiatives, you should ship your parcels via Expedited Parcel or Regular Parcel, as those are the only options with carbon-neutral shipping.⁴

Returns

Return labels and the return to sender option are both only available through extra payment for all tiers.⁴

Marketing Campaigns with Canada Post

On top of helping distribute your product to customers, Canada Post will also help you distribute word of your company to potential customers through direct mail. They offer two helpful options for incorporating direct mail into your advertising campaign.

Snap Admail is perfect for those who want full control over their marketing through an easy-to-use online tool. With any budget, Admail will help you target customers, create integrated marketing campaigns, and layer social media and Google display ads.⁵

If you’re not tech-savvy or are swamped with work already, a Canada Post Smartmail Marketing partner can help. A partner can help you send campaigns for as low as $0.07-$0.30⁵ per piece of mail, using their knowledge of direct mail to draft, design, print, and target your ads so they are at their absolute best.

Growing your Business Online with Canada Post

Canada Post also offers online partnerships with e-commerce platforms to make sure your brand reaches the most people. They’ll help you

1. Set up an online store
2. Sell in an e-commerce marketplace and
3. Integrate shipping software e-commerce platforms and marketplaces, all to help you simplify the online experience.⁶

Cut Down on Costs with a Wise Business Account

Wise is the perfect financial solution for small businesses that want to save time and money. With their one-time fee for business accounts, you can easily manage your domestic and overseas payments with no extra charges.

What’s more, Wise offers the following benefits for businesses in Canada:

• Batch payments for up to 1000 people
• Free API Integration
• Easy integration with Quickbooks, Xoom and more
• Easily withdraw money from Amazon, Stripe and other platforms and hold them in CAD, USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, NZD, SGD and more!

There are no hidden charges or monthly costs associated with using these services - all of the charges are transparently stated upfront so there won't be any surprises when making transfers.

Wise Payments Canada Inc. is registered with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) as a Money Service Business (MSB) with registration number M15193392. It also has an MSB licence with the Authorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) in Quebec under licence number 902804.