Using PayPal Shipping for Your Small Business
As a small business owner, you’re always searching for ways to streamline and reduce shipping costs. One option often overlooked by entrepreneurs is using PayPal for package deliveries even if they do not sell on eBay. In this article, we’ll go through the steps needed to start using PayPal Shipping for your small business.
What Is PayPal Shipping?
PayPal is best known as an online payment processing platform, but they also provide shipping tools which enable users to print labels, track packages and manage shipments more efficiently.
Why Use PayPal Shipping?
These tools were initially created for eBay sellers, but anyone needing to ship packages can benefit from using these tools. There are various reasons why a small business owner might choose PayPal shipping instead of traditional carriers like USPS, UPS or FedEx:
- Reduced Shipping Label Costs: PayPal provides discounted rates compared to retail rates from USPS and other carriers for shipping labels, with Priority Mail labels costing only $7.16 as of 2021 versus $7.90 at the Post Office
- Convenience: Print labels directly from PayPal without needing to log on to multiple carrier websites or visit physical locations
- Integrate: If your business already uses PayPal for payment processing, using their shipping tools to ship can help unify all your business functions in one location.
To get started with PayPal Shipping for your small business, follow these steps:
- Establish a PayPal Business account: If you don’t already have one, head to their website and sign up for one. This will grant access to their shipping tools and give your business more tools at its disposal.
- Verify Your Identity: To use PayPal shipping, it’s essential that your identity be verified through providing personal data and linking a bank account or credit card.
- Link Your Carrier Accounts: PayPal offers discounted rates on USPS and UPS labels if they’re linked via their carrier accounts. To avail yourself of these discounts, it’s necessary to link your carrier accounts to PayPal – this can be accomplished by visiting the “Shipping Settings” section in your PayPal dashboard and following its prompts.
- Set Your Shipping Preferences: Select which carriers and methods of shipment you would like to use, set default package sizes and weights, as well as whether signatures or insurance should be required on certain shipments.
- Once all your preferences have been set up, printing labels directly from PayPal should begin immediately. Just select the shipment you’d like to send, enter the recipient’s address, select a carrier and shipping method, print your label, and print.
Here are a few tips to make the most of PayPal Shipping:
- Check Rates Regularly: PayPal’s discounted rates change often, so be sure to compare them against retail rates from carriers like USPS and UPS before purchasing labels from PayPal.
- Make sure you use appropriate packaging: Use suitable packing for your items to avoid damage during transit and ensure accurate weight calculations.
- Check addresses twice before printing labels: Mistaken addresses can result in delayed or undelivered packages, so always double-check before creating labels.
- Consider Insuring: While PayPal provides some protection for lost or damaged packages (up to $50 for Priority Mail), higher value shipments may warrant additional insurance policies.
Overall, PayPal shipping offers a convenient and cost-effective solution for small business owners needing to ship packages without dealing with multiple carrier websites or physical locations. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can start using PayPal Shipping immediately and streamline your shipping process.
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