USPS Business Account Review: Features, Costs, and Benefits for U.S. Businesses

For American entrepreneurs and growing businesses, managing shipping costs and logistics is a crucial part of running a profitable business. The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers a dedicated solution for companies. This article provides a comprehensive review of the USPS Business Account.

We’ll outline the key benefits, potential drawbacks, and setup steps to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Overview

Now, let’s explore the key features that make the USPS Business Account a valuable tool for businesses.

Key Features

Product Details

The USPS Business Account provides businesses with a range of tools to streamline shipping and reduce costs. Key features include:

• Commercial Pricing: This is the primary benefit, offering significant discounts on services like Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express® and First-Class Package Service® compared to standard retail rates.²
• Free Shipping Supplies: Businesses can order a variety of flat-rate boxes and envelopes for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express at no cost, helping to reduce overhead on packaging materials.¹
• Click-N-Ship® Business: An enhanced online tool that allows you to print shipping labels, pay for postage, and manage your shipping history in one place. You can create batches of labels and manage a customer address book.¹
• Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM®): A powerful marketing tool that lets you send promotional mailers to entire neighborhoods without needing names or street addresses.²
• USPS Loyalty Program: Earn credits for using Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services, which can be redeemed for postage, helping to further lower your shipping expenses.¹
• Free Package Pickup: Schedule a pickup from your office or business location, saving you trips to the Post Office.¹

Ease of Use

The primary interface for a USPS Business Account is the Business Customer Gateway, an online portal that consolidates all business-related services. Setting up an account is a straightforward online process that requires basic business information. Once registered, you can immediately begin accessing discounts and ordering supplies.

Customer Service

USPS provides customer support for business users through phone lines dedicated to business inquiries and technical support for their online tools. They also offer online FAQs and support articles.

USPS Fees

One of the first questions on any business owner’s mind is: how much does a USPS business account cost? One of the most attractive aspects of a USPS Business Account is its cost structure. Opening and maintaining an account is completely free.¹

The only costs you incur are for the services you use, such as the postage for packages you ship or the cost of a direct mail campaign. A key financial benefit is that the account gives you access to Commercial Pricing, which means the postage you do pay is lower than what you would pay at a retail Post Office counter.²

Wise Business Could Help Your Company Save on Global Payments

Benefits and Considerations

What are the benefits of a USPS Business Account?

The primary benefit is substantial cost savings. For any business that ships regularly, accessing Commercial Pricing instead of paying retail rates can lead to hundreds or thousands of dollars in savings annually. The convenience factor is another major advantage.

The ability to manage all shipping logistics from your computer, from printing labels with Click-N-Ship to scheduling free package pickups, streamlines workflow and saves valuable time. Furthermore, the provision of free shipping supplies and access to integrated marketing tools like EDDM make a USPS Business Account a comprehensive and valuable resource for growing American businesses.

What are the considerations of a USPS Business Account?

While beneficial, a USPS Business Account has some limitations. Businesses that ship in very high volumes might find that specialized third-party shipping platforms can negotiate even better rates than USPS Commercial Pricing. The Business Customer Gateway, while powerful, is not as modern or user-friendly as some private shipping software, which may present a learning curve.

Finally, while USPS has improved its tracking and reliability, some businesses may prefer the detailed tracking and delivery guarantees offered by private carriers for high-value or time-sensitive shipments.

Conclusion: Is a USPS Business Account the best choice?

For most American entrepreneurs and small-to-medium-sized businesses, the answer is yes. Given that a USPS Business Account is free to open and provides immediate access to cost-saving discounts, free supplies, and convenient online tools, there is virtually no downside to creating one.

It is an essential, foundational tool for any company that ships goods within the U.S. As your business scales, you may explore other platforms, but a USPS Business Account is an excellent starting point and a reliable workhorse for managing domestic shipping efficiently and affordably.

Save Time and Money On Overseas Payments With Wise Business

Wise Business can help you save big time on international payments.

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in currencies.

Signing up to Wise Business allows access to BatchTransfer which you can use to pay up to 1000 invoices in one go. This is perfect for small businesses that are managing a global team, saving a ton of time and hassle when making payments.

Some key features of Wise Business include:

• Mid-market rate: Get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees on international transfers

• Global Account: Send money to countries and hold multiple currencies, all in one place. You can also get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local

• Access to BatchTransfer: Pay up to 1000 invoices in one click. Save time, money, and stress when you make 1000 payments in one click with BatchTransfer payments. Access to BatchTransfer is free with a Wise Business account

• Auto-conversions: Don't like the current currency exchange rate? Set your desired rate, and Wise sends the transfer the moment the rate is met

• Free invoicing tool: Generate and send professional invoices

• No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees: US-based businesses can open an account for free. Learn more about fees here

Use Wise Business >>

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is a USPS business account free?

Yes, a USPS Business Account is completely free to open and maintain. You only pay for the shipping and mailing services you use.

What is the difference between USPS personal and business accounts?

A personal USPS account is designed for individual users. A USPS business Account provides access to the Business Customer Gateway, which includes business-specific tools like Every Door Direct Mail, and most importantly, unlocks Commercial Pricing discounts on shipping that are not available to personal account holders.³

How do I change my business account to a personal USPS account?

USPS does not offer a direct method for converting a business account into a personal one. Since both account types are free, the simplest solution to the question of how to change business account to personal USPS is to simply register for a new personal account using a different email address. You can then cease using the business account if it is no longer needed.

Sources:

1. Business Shipping with USPS | USPS
2. USPS Business Account vs Personal Account | Veeqo
3. USPS Business Account vs Personal: What’s the Difference? | UseStable