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Billing and Pricing
How much does PostalPoint cost?
You pay 10% of the profit you make selling shipping services, billed monthly, and never more than $100 in a single month. If your shipping profit in a calendar month is over $1,000, you're on the Store plan at a flat $100. Under $1,000 and you're back on Starter automatically - there's nothing to switch, cancel, or renegotiate.
If you make $100 in shipping profit during a month, your bill is $10. If you make nothing, you're not billed at all.
What counts as "profit" for billing purposes?
Net revenue on shipping: the sale price your customer paid, minus what the carrier charged you. PostalPoint's built-in transaction tracking calculates it.
The fee applies to:
- USPS tracked shipping and mailing services (untracked First-Class Mail is excluded)
- Shipping services from other carriers - FedEx, UPS, DHL, Canada Post, Purolator, and so on
Mailbox rent, merchandise sales, packing services, printing and faxing, notary fees, and other non-shipping revenue are not part of the fee calculation.
Is there a setup, onboarding, or training fee?
No. Downloading, installing, configuring, and getting help are free. PostalMate charges $295 for onboarding; we charge nothing.
Are there hidden fees or add-on charges?
Not from us. You pay up to $100 a month, period - kiosk mode, mailbox management, the plugin system, cloud email notifications, and software updates are all included.
You will have costs from third parties we don't control: your postage provider (usually EasyPost), your credit card processor, and your hardware. EasyPost has begun charging its own monthly fee (around $20) for using your existing UPS or FedEx accounts through their platform. We have no control over that and are working on alternatives.
What if I use PostalPoint mostly as a cash register and not for shipping?
If your shipping revenue is unusually low compared to your overall transaction volume - for example, you're running PostalPoint primarily as a POS for merchandise - we may set a $20 minimum monthly charge. The normal 10% fee is charged in addition, and the combined total still can't exceed $100 per month.
How do I pay?
Two options, chosen when you sign up:
- Automatic ACH debit (US only) - enter your bank details on the signup form or in the PostalPoint settings
- Monthly e-invoice - a payment fee of about $3 is added
If you don't provide bank details, or an ACH debit fails, we'll email you an invoice instead. Invoices are due within 15 calendar days of the invoice date.
What happens if a payment bounces?
You're responsible for any bank or processor fees we incur from a returned ACH debit, bounced check, declined card, or chargeback, up to a maximum of $50 per transaction. We may also cancel the ACH authorization and switch you to invoicing without notice.
Is there a contract? How long am I locked in?
The license agreement runs for one year and renews automatically unless either party gives written notice at least 15 days before the renewal date.
Because billing is usage-based, a month where you don't sell shipping is a month you don't pay us.
Can I try it before I commit to anything?
Yes. Download and install PostalPoint with no billing details and no license key. Most features work for evaluation and testing. You need a license key to print real labels, and you won't be billed unless you're actually using PostalPoint to earn revenue.
There's also an online demo if you want to click around before installing anything.
Do I need a separate license for each store?
Yes. The agreement is per-location and is tied to the street address you enter on the signup form. Each location needs its own agreement.
Satellite locations where PostalPoint is used only for back-office work - reports, accounting, payroll, employee management - don't count as separate locations.
How many computers can I install it on?
As many as you want. If you need more than seven configured for retail use at one location, contact us for permission; that may come with additional monthly fees. Back-office-only installs don't count toward the seven.
What happens to my license if I sell the store?
The license isn't transferable. New owners get a 30-day grace period after the ownership change, then need to execute their own agreement.
Does PostalPoint take a cut of my credit card processing?
No. Your merchant account is your own relationship with Stripe, Square, Helcim, or whoever you use. We don't touch the processing rate and don't mark it up.
Do I get billed for postage I buy for my own use?
Yes, and this catches people out. If you buy or sell a service at a discount - including postage for your own shipments - the fee is still calculated from the sale price PostalPoint would have charged a retail customer.
Who do I pay for postage - PostalPoint or the carrier?
Postage is usually purchased through your EasyPost account and billed by EasyPost or your carrier, depending on your EasyPost account details. PostalPoint bills you only for the software.
Postage, Carriers, and Rates
Where does my postage actually come from?
PostalPoint has built-in support for EasyPost as its main postage provider. EasyPost is a certified, carrier-approved provider that supplies US postage plus labels for over 100 carriers worldwide. You create an EasyPost account, copy an API key from your EasyPost account settings into PostalPoint's Shipping settings, and you're printing labels.
Plugins can add other carriers or replace EasyPost as the main postage provider entirely.
Do I need my own USPS account?
Not to get started. A USPS account through EasyPost is available immediately on signup, with no volume minimums and no contract, and that's what most stores use.
Can I use my existing UPS and FedEx accounts?
Yes, including UPS ASO and FedEx Authorized ShipCenter (FASC) accounts. Add them to your EasyPost account after deleting the built-in UPS and FedEx accounts EasyPost provides by default. Support for UPS is also built in to PostalPoint separately (you can use either option).
Note that EasyPost charges a monthly fee to bring your own carrier accounts. Check their current pricing before you budget for it.
Why don't I see all my rates? I'm getting a "hidden rates" warning.
EasyPost provides discounted shipping accounts by default, but those accounts typically don't permit reselling or marking up their rates. To protect your business, PostalPoint hides them and shows a message like "Hid 2 rates from carrier accounts that don't allow resale."
If you're certain you want those rates - for instance, you're an office shipping your own packages, not reselling to customers - you can force-enable them two ways:
- Copy the EasyPost carrier account IDs (they start with
ca_) from EasyPost's Account Settings → Carriers into Carrier Account IDs on the Shipping tab of PostalPoint's settings. - Or go to System Menu → Settings → Advanced → Manual Configuration, enter the key
easypost_allow_wallet_billingand the value1, and click Set.
How do I set up Endicia, Stamps.com, PirateShip, etc.?
You don't. PostalPoint uses EasyPost, a competitor, which supports roughly 100 carriers - meaning PostalPoint supports them too.
How do I set my prices and markup?
By default PostalPoint tries to use the carriers' published retail prices as the sale price. In practice, most carriers don't publish retail rates in a format any software can consume reliably; USPS is the exception. You'll almost certainly want to set your own margins.
You can set a single flat margin for everything and refine it later, or set specific margins per carrier and per service class.
How do postage rate changes get handled?
PostalPoint refreshes the USPS price chart (Notice 123) automatically, and other rate and carrier data downloads from PostalPoint's servers without a software update.
Can I print USPS First-Class Mail and Certified Mail?
Yes. First-Class Mail prints two ways: as a 6x4 label with the to and from addresses, or in bulk - up to 20 identical-weight letters or large envelopes at once on smaller stamp-sized labels. PostalPoint runs dozens of checks against USPS rules before the postage prints.
Certified Mail prints on your shipping label printer with postage, barcode, and address all on one label. No paper green cards to fill out by hand.
A customer brought in something with stamps already on it. Can I sell them the difference?
Yes - use the Postage Calculator under Tools. Click the stamps they've used and PostalPoint calculates exactly how much postage is still needed. Note that the calculator gives the USPS retail requirement; it doesn't add your store markup or apply discounted rates from your postage account.
How do carrier pickups work?
PostalPoint doesn't handle pickup scheduling. Set up recurring pickups directly with each carrier:
- USPS - free next-day pickup at tools.usps.com, no account or tracking number needed. Or just arrange it with your regular carrier when they deliver your incoming mail.
- UPS - daily pickup, charged as a fee, requires a billing account number
- FedEx - recurring pickup, also fee-based with an account
You can also request a pickup from the EasyPost dashboard using a shipment ID.
Can I ship internationally and handle customs forms?
Yes. Enter a foreign destination in the "To" address and describe the contents in the built-in electronic customs form system. Required forms print automatically alongside the label, and customers can sign electronically on a customer-facing touchscreen - no paper copies. EEI/ITN/AES numbers are supported.
We provide an International Data Package from the Downloads page, which has enhanced global information such as postal codes and address formats. It installs automatically on Linux and is a one-click download for Windows and macOS.
Does PostalPoint handle freight?
Yes, to the extent that EasyPost does. You will get freight rates if a package requires freight shipping and you have a freight carrier account set up in EasyPost.
Switching From Another System
I'm on PostalMate. What's the actual switch like?
Your customer data moves in one step: open PostalMate System Utilities on your master PC, export Customer Data and Ship To Data as spreadsheets, and email them to support. We run the import for you and deliver it via our cloud sync system. Your customers show up in PostalPoint, and ship-to names and addresses become autocomplete suggestions.
Merchandise is managed through a spreadsheet-style interface, so re-entering or pasting your product list is straightforward.
What about migrating from ShipRite, or from another system entirely?
Contact us with your ShipRite .mdb database file.
Can I move my mailbox records and Form 1583 files?
Send your old mailbox records to us and we'll convert them for you. We can't migrate PS Form 1583, but you can continue using the old forms you have on file until they need updates, then simply use the 1583 tool in PostalPoint's Mailbox manager to complete the new one 100% electronically, no printing required.
Do I have to buy new hardware?
Probably not. PostalPoint supports a wider range of hardware than PostalMate or ShipRite, so your existing equipment is likely to work. PostalPoint natively supports Zebra, Brother QL, TSPL, and EPL2 label printers plus Dymo stamp printers - which covers nearly every thermal label printer on the market, including budget off-brand units and old pre-Zebra Eltron printers. USB scales and barcode scanners work over standard protocols with no drivers. ESC/POS (Epson and compatible/clones) receipt printers are supported, and you can print receipts on your label printer instead if you'd rather not have a second printer.
Check the supported hardware list before you buy anything new.
What operating systems does it run on?
Windows 10 and 11, Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, Zorin and similar), and macOS on both Apple Silicon and Intel. On Linux, PostalPoint updates itself whenever your computer installs system updates; on Windows and Mac you download and run the new installer when notified.
Can I run PostalPoint alongside my old software during the transition?
Nothing stops you - they're separate programs and PostalPoint bills on what you actually sell through it. Running it on a second register for a week before cutting over is a reasonable way to train staff.
Can I network multiple registers?
Yes, with no per-seat charge. PostalPoint uses a built-in networkable SQLite database, with other database options available for large or complex installations. One store can run an unlimited number of registers, kiosks, and office computers, subject to the seven-retail-computer threshold in the license agreement.
Will my franchise or network program let me use PostalPoint?
Some networks require specific software. PackageHub Business Center currently requires PostalMate or ShipRite; we're in the process of getting approved so PostalPoint can be used officially by PBC franchisees. If you're in another program, check with them first - and let us know, since approval is something we can pursue.
What support do I get?
An online manual, video tutorials, a community forum, email support, and a real phone number: (406) 747-4477. Support is included; there's no support tier to buy. For unusual or time-intensive support issues, we might charge a fee, but you'll be told in advance if that's needed.
What languages, countries, etc are supported?
PostalPoint supports the U.S., including overseas territories like Guam and Puerto Rico, and Canada. You can use PostalPoint in other countries by contacting support.
In PostalPoint's advanced settings, you can customize the language used for you and for customers, setting each one to your choice of English, Simplified English, Spanish, French, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Tagalog. If you need a language not listed, contact us and we'll add it.
New to the Retail Shipping Business
How do pack-and-ship stores actually make money on shipping?
You buy postage and labels at discounted commercial rates and sell them to walk-in customers at or near carrier retail prices. The spread is your margin, and you control it - PostalPoint lets you set markup globally or per carrier and service.
Shipping is rarely the whole business, though. Most stores build revenue on top of it: mailbox rentals (recurring and predictable), packing services and materials, prepaid drop-off fees, printing and faxing, notary work, and package receiving for customers without a box.
Do I need my own carrier accounts before I can open?
No. A USPS account through EasyPost is available at signup with no minimums or contract, which is enough to start selling shipping on day one. UPS and FedEx are different - you'll want your own accounts, and ideally an ASO or FASC authorization, which you apply for with the carrier directly.
What's the difference between retail, commercial, and discounted rates?
Retail is what a walk-in customer pays at a Post Office or carrier counter. Commercial (and deeper negotiated tiers) is what volume shippers and postage resellers pay. Your store buys at the discounted rate and sells at the retail rate, and the difference is your gross margin before the software fee.
This is also why the Postage Calculator in PostalPoint shows the plain USPS retail requirement rather than your cost - it's answering "what does USPS require on this item," not "what did I pay."
If I rent mailboxes, what am I signing up for legally?
Renting mailboxes makes your business a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) regulated by USPS. The practical requirement is a completed USPS Form 1583 on file for every boxholder, with unexpired identification.
PostalPoint autofills the form, saves it entirely digitally, and can scan the barcode on a customer's driver's license to fill in the ID sections. Customers sign on a touchscreen. There's also an Expiring IDs report so you know which boxholders need to re-present ID before their mail delivery is affected.
Contact your local postmaster with questions or to get started as a CMRA.
Can I operate as a Contract Postal Unit (CPU)?
A CPU is a separate USPS contract that lets you sell postage at face value on behalf of USPS, with its own reporting requirements, and it's not the same thing as reselling discounted postage at a markup.
We won't stop you from using PostalPoint at a CPU, but it's your responsibility to verify that it doesn't violate your CPU contract.
What is a prepaid drop-off, and should I charge for it?
Customers bring in packages that already have labels on them - Amazon returns, eBay sales, prepaid returns - and want a receipt proving they handed it over. It's high-volume, low-revenue traffic, and handling it fast matters.
PostalPoint scans the label barcode, auto-detects the carrier, pulls the service and destination for the receipt, and prints a drop-off receipt in under ten seconds per customer. Plenty of stores charge a small handling fee; PostalPoint can also automatically charge a label printing fee when you print from a USPS Label Broker QR code.
Do I need business insurance to use PostalPoint?
Not from our side - that's your business decision, not our requirement. Other companies or franchise programs you work with may require errors and omissions or other coverage.
What about hazardous materials?
Customers must certify their package doesn't contain hazardous materials when using self-serve kiosk mode, which reduces your exposure. At the counter, HAZMAT screening is a training matter for your staff; carrier rules apply regardless of what software you run.
What hardware do I need to open?
At minimum: a computer, a 4x6 thermal label printer, a USB postage scale, and a barcode scanner. A receipt printer is optional since your label printer can print receipts. A second monitor for a customer-facing display and a touchscreen are worth adding when budget allows - the touchscreen is what lets customers sign customs forms and mailbox agreements electronically.
PostalPoint doesn't sell hardware, which means you're free to buy used or budget equipment. See the supported hardware list.
Can I run an unstaffed or after-hours shipping operation?
Yes. Any PostalPoint installation switches into full-screen self-serve kiosk mode in about two seconds. Customers weigh items, buy domestic labels, drop off prepaid packages, and print receipts without an employee. The kiosk asks shape and size questions to land on the right rate category, detects scale interference, enforces correct rates when USPS packaging is scanned, and requires a HAZMAT certification.
It also integrates with electronic locks, so outgoing packages go into a secure parcel drop that carriers can access with an on-screen PIN. Kiosk sales are reported exactly like cashier-present sales, and kiosk mode is included at no additional cost.
How do I take card payments?
Stripe is built in and supports both in-person readers and saved cards for later charges - which is what makes automatic mailbox renewals work. Plugins add Square (with a Square Terminal) and Helcim, currently in beta for in-person payments. If you want a different processor, the plugin system is open and anyone with JavaScript experience can write one; the Square plugin took less than a day.
How do I handle accounting?
PostalPoint integrates natively with Invoice Ninja, a modern QuickBooks alternative that's free at the low end. Postage expenses are entered automatically and every sale creates an invoice, with a client portal where your customers can view and pay invoices online. Reports export to CSV in two clicks, and plugins can push transactions in real time to other accounting systems.
Still Have Questions?
Download PostalPoint free and try it - no billing details required. When you're ready, get a license key instantly.
Call (406) 747-4477 or use the contact form.