The Beginner’s Guide to a Franking Machine

A franking machine is a device that prints Royal Mail postage directly onto your mail, working out the cost from each item’s weight and destination. It is faster than stamps, cheaper thanks to discounted franking rates, more accurate, and more convenient, because you can frank from the office without trips to the Post Office.

More UK businesses send mail every day, from sole traders to government agencies and the public sector. Going back and forth to the Post Office wastes time, and a franking machine removes that problem. Here is our beginner’s guide.

What is a franking machine?

A franking machine assigns postage to mail items far more quickly than using stamps, offering businesses an alternative to stamps. Rather than applying stamps by hand, the user lets the machine work out the cost from the item’s weight and destination. Franking is especially worthwhile for larger mail volumes.

Save money

The main benefit of a franking machine is the money you can save. Royal Mail applies a discount to franked items, so you pay less than stamp prices on every item, and Mailmark rates are lower still. To see current prices, compare the latest Royal Mail postage rates here.

You will also never guess the weight of a mail item again, so accurate postage always occurs. Simply weigh your mail and apply the correct price, eliminating the risk of Royal Mail surcharges and saving more money.

Save time

As well as money, franking saves time. The process is much quicker than using stamps, with no trips to the Post Office, and depending on your model more mail can be franked per minute. That frees your employees to be more productive elsewhere.

Added convenience

A franking machine removes the hassle of travelling to the Post Office. Postage is prepaid, so you top up in advance and frank whenever you want, with transactions available 24/7, which is far more convenient than a closed Post Office.

Manage expenses

Finally, a franking machine keeps records of postage expenses and protects them with PIN code security. It logs all transactions and tracks postage spend, which helps with budgeting.

View our range of franking machines here and get an instant quote if you are interested in using a franking machine.

FAQs

What is a franking machine? A franking machine prints Royal Mail postage directly onto mail, calculating the cost from each item’s weight and destination, as a faster and cheaper alternative to stamps.

Is a franking machine cheaper than stamps? Yes. Royal Mail applies a discount to franked items, so you pay less than stamp prices, with Mailmark rates lower still. Check the current rates for exact figures.

Who should use a franking machine? Any business sending mail regularly benefits, especially those with larger daily volumes, because franking saves time, improves accuracy and reduces postage costs.