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Small Business Shipping Guide: Getting Started
Everything new small businesses need to know about shipping products.
January 9, 20262 min read16 views
Small Business Shipping Guide
Start shipping products professionally and affordably.
Getting Started Checklist
| Task | Priority |
|---|---|
| Choose carriers | High |
| Get rate discounts | High |
| Select packaging | High |
| Set up workspace | Medium |
| Create processes | Medium |
Carrier Account Setup
| Carrier | Signup | Discount Access |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | Free | Via Atoship |
| UPS | Free | Via Atoship |
| FedEx | Free | Via Atoship |
Starter Costs
| Item | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Scale | $25-50 |
| Label printer | $150-300 |
| Packaging supplies | $100-200 |
| Shipping software | $0 (Atoship) |
| Total startup | $275-550 |
First 100 Orders
| Volume | Focus On |
|---|---|
| 1-25 | Process development |
| 25-50 | Efficiency improvements |
| 50-75 | Cost optimization |
| 75-100 | Automation |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Solution |
|---|---|
| Paying retail rates | Use commercial rates |
| Wrong box sizes | Right-size inventory |
| Manual everything | Automate early |
| One carrier only | Compare options |
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