FedEx has various discounts and programs which are specially designed to save small businesses money on their shipping expenses. These discounts form part of the FedEx Small Business Program that offers lower rates for both local and international shipments. By creating a FedEx Business Account a small business will be able to enjoy these savings immediately without the necessity of a large volume requirement.
One can often enjoy cost savings on FedEx Ground, Express, and International services as a member, thus it becomes easy to keep delivery costs under control. Besides that, FedEx gives small businesses some handy tools for tracking, invoicing, and budgeting which help them become better planners.
Moreover, FedEx operates seasonal promotions and grants points through My FedEx Rewards that can be exchanged for future shipping discounts or gift cards. Thus, it is a wise decision for the growth of those businesses which are regularly shipping.
Using FedEx Ground Instead of Express for Cost Savings
If small businesses decide to select FedEx Ground over FedEx Express in a situation where an express delivery is not necessary, they can save money by one of the easiest ways. FedEx Ground is a service for deliveries that are less time-sensitive and, therefore, its price is generally much lower than that of Express services.
It is just as good as saving a significant amount of money per shipment when sending a package through Ground instead of Express if the package has to arrive overnight. 1-5 business days are usually the time in which most Ground deliveries within the U.S. are made, and this period depends on the distance. That is why Ground is the best service for small businesses which ship regularly but don’t require same-day or next-day delivery.
Small businesses can still cut down their shipping costs by using Ground services for their regular shipments and not sacrificing reliability if they plan their work in advance. FedEx Ground has the same tracking, insurance, and delivery confirmation services as FedEx Express, so it is still a professional service, just at a cheaper rate.
Taking Advantage of FedEx One Rate Shipping
FedEx One Rate is a flat-rate shipping option that allows small businesses to save money by giving them predictable costs, which do not depend on the weight or the distance of the package (within certain limits). Through this service, companies can select from a range of free FedEx Express package – such as envelopes, boxes, or tubes – and pay a single price that depends on the size of the box and the delivery speed only.
What this is essentially stating is that there are no surprise fees for weight or fuel surcharges and thus, small businesses can more easily plan their budgets. It is a great advantage for businesses that ship products of different weights but still want to keep their shipping prices the same for customers.
Small businesses who have an online store can also benefit from the use of FedEx One Rate in that it provides a simplified pricing model which in turn offers the store a reliable and low-cost shipping option that leads to customer satisfaction and overall cost reduction.
Packaging Smart: How to Reduce Shipping Weight and Costs
Small businesses can cut down their FedEx shipping costs significantly by simply using smart packaging. Shipping costs are largely based on a package’s weight and size, so a substantial saving can result from keeping both at the minimum.
First of all, choose lightweight but strong packaging materials such as corrugated boxes or poly mailers for non-fragile items. Do not put your goods in an oversized box because FedEx charges based on dimensional weight – that is, the price of light items can be increased if the box is too large.
Moreover, local businesses have the opportunity to avail themselves of FedEx free packaging supplies which are designed according to size and weight standards for the purpose of cost-saving. The practice of reusing packaging materials in a good way and the efficient packing of items will go a long way in reducing expenses, thus making shipments cost-friendly without compromising the protection.
Scheduling Pickups Efficiently to Cut Down Costs
Small businesses can cut down expenses with FedEx if they do it by proper arranging and scheduling of pickups. Rather than planning various pickups during the week, companies can merge shipments and schedule one or two large pickups. It removes the extra charges that have no use and saves both money and time.
FedEx provides a few different methods such as continuously scheduled pickups when drivers pick up packages at agreed times, and on-demand pickups that can be requested only if necessary. The suitable choice made on the basis of shipping volume may result in a considerable difference in expenses.
Moreover, small businesses are allowed to drop off their packages at nearby FedEx centers or drop boxes to be free of the pickup charges. By doing so, they not only save money but also have a better way of delivery planning which in turn makes their business run smoother and they can save more in the long run.
Leveraging FedEx Rewards and Business Accounts
Small businesses are able to lower their shipping expenses by fully utilizing FedEx Rewards and Business Accounts. A FedEx Business Account will allow you to enjoy special discounts on different shipping services, starting from domestic to international deliveries. These discounts will be automatically applied, thus, helping to lower the costs gradually.
By using the My FedEx Rewards program, small business owners will be able to accumulate points every time they ship. Later on, these points can be traded for gift cards, office supplies, or even more shipping discounts.
Additionally, FedEx provides some tools within business accounts such as invoice management, expense tracking, and shipping analytics, that facilitate identifying the areas for more savings. By being active in these programs small businesses are able to maintain a steady saving while their shipping activities are kept organized and efficient.
Tracking and Managing Returns Effectively
Small businesses can also save money by using FedEx in a smart way through efficient return handling. A return process that is not handled well can result in additional shipping costs and lost time, but FedEx provides tools that make returns easy and cheap.
Using FedEx Returns Solutions, companies are able to produce prepaid return labels which may be inserted in the packages sent out or a customer may be emailed the label in case he requests a return. This eliminates the return process reshipment confusion and allows customers to return products faster, thus reshipping costs are saved.
Moreover, by keeping an eye on the return shipments via FedEx’s online dashboard, businesses get the opportunity to oversee their expenditures and recognize the reasons for which they encounter a high volume of returns. It motivates them to make better products or packaging to avoid losing money in the future. The implementation of an effective returns system not only leads to cost savings but also increases customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Using FedEx Online Tools for Cost Estimation and Planning
Small businesses may save a good amount of money if they use FedEx’s online tools for planning and managing their shipping. These instruments are helpful in cost estimation, service comparison, and in determining the cheapest shipping options even before dispatching the packages.
As an illustration, the FedEx Rate Finder gives the opportunity to businesses to find out the shipping prices immediately that are based on the weight, size, and the destination of the package.
The FedEx Delivery Manager is a tool used to help in scheduling the deliveries and, at the same time, it enables the customer to avoid the payment of extra fees that are unnecessary, whereas the FedEx Ship Manager is a tool that makes the process of label creation and shipment tracking easy.
Small businesses through the utilization of these tools can think, and thus, they will not be forced to make expensive choices at the last minute and at the same time, they will be able to effectively manage their shipping budgets. Moreover, it is a great time saver as well, since it ensures that all the details of the shipments are kept in one location which in turn is an additional help to the business owners making smarter and more cost-efficient shipping decisions.
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