A franking post box is a Royal Mail post box which will only accept mail that has been franked with a franking machine.

It is possible to send franked mail via standard ‘stamped post’ boxes if you meet certain conditions. However, if you do this it will be taken to the sorting office with the stamped post, even though it does not need to be sorted. By using a franking post box your franked mail avoids this stage and can be processed faster.

There are multiple franked mail post box locations across the UK, so you’ll want to find the nearest one for you. That way, you can make use of a convenient business post box that’s easy to access and lets you conveniently send your franked mail. Unlike a standard red postbox though, they’re not always easy to spot. So, what’s the best way to find your nearest franking mail box?

Where is your nearest franking post box?

If you’re asking, “how do I find a franking mail box near me,” they’re easy to locate. To find the nearest franking post box, you just need to contact the Royal Mail Business Support line (08457 950950) and give your postcode. They will be able to provide the specific locations of the post boxes in your area.

If you are struggling to locate a franking post box near you, or it isn’t convenient for you to access your local franked mail box for, there are alternative ways to send your business’ franked mail.

1. Send from a Post Office

You can send your franked mail from your nearest Post Office. You can find your nearest branch on the Royal Mail website or by searching Google Maps.

2. Royal Mail Collection

You can pay for a collection service by the Royal Mail. For an annual fee they will collect your franked mail from your business premises on a specified day. If you spend more than £15,000 on postage annually they will provide this service for free.

Using a collection service is one more benefit that makes using a franking machine so much more convenient than using traditional postage.

3. Use a Standard Postbox

You can post franked mail in standard post boxes if you meet the following conditions:

• You are sending 30 items or less
• The mail is placed in an official franking outer envelope, often supplied by your franking machine supplier
• You only post franked items once per day.

Find a Franking Post Box

Also known as business post boxes, there are two types of franking post box. You may find that some standard post boxes have a second, larger opening marked ‘Franked Mail.’ However, there are also post boxes exclusively for franked mail which are bigger than the standard versions and may not be as round in design. There are a limited number of franking post boxes in the UK.

Why Frank Your Business’ Mail?

Firstly, franking mail is significantly cheaper than using stamps. Royal Mail offers discounts on mail you have franked in-house because of the time and effort it saves their operation. For example, since 26th March 2018, you will save 10p by franking a 1st class letter rather than stamping it and 23p for franking a 1st class small parcel. Over time these savings can be significant.

A franking machine will also save you time as a business; it can process a higher volume of mail items per minute than the average member of staff. By removing the need for your mail to be sorted at the sorting office you avoid unnecessary delays. Once you find your nearest business post box, it will be a valuable asset for your company.

A franking machine can also be automated to print addresses, company logos and marketing messages to enhance your professional image and reinforce your branding.

If your business sends mail on a regular basis, investing in a franking machine could save you both time and money which could be better spent on the future of your business.

There are franking machines for just about every size of business available to either buy outright or to rent for a monthly fee. The type of franking machine you need will be determined by the volume of mail you send in an average day. The higher the volume capacity of the machine, the higher the price.

The cheapest (and lowest volume) franking machines cost from around £1,000 to purchase or can be leased from approximately £20 per month. Generally speaking, most cheap franking machines are capable of processing up to 50 items per day. Franking machines with the highest capacity can process up to 180 mail items per minute and could cost up to £20,000.

There are only four manufacturers authorised by the Royal Mail to supply franking machines in the UK: Neopost, Frama, FP Mailing and Pitney Bowes. Each manufacturer offers a range of machines for every size of business with a selection of features and functions designed to streamline your mailing processes.

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