LetterStream Blog

How Fast Is Certified Mail? Is There a Better Alternative?

Is There a Certified Mail Alternative That’s Faster Than USPS? Yes, it’s FedEx 2Day, and we offer it here at LetterStream. Keep reading to learn more.

Certified Mail Is Great—Until Time’s Not on Your Side

Certified Mail has its place. It’s reliable. It’s trackable. It’s legally recognized.
But if you’ve ever waited days—sometimes a week or more—for a Certified Mail letter to land, you’ve probably asked:

“Is there something faster?”

Because when a deadline is staring you down or a document needs to be in hand yesterday, even USPS can feel slow.

That’s where FedEx 2Day® through LetterStream comes in.

FedEx 2Day: The Certified Mail Alternative You Didn’t Know You Needed

Here’s the thing—there’s no exact replica of USPS Certified Mail.
But there is a smarter, faster option when speed and accountability matter:

FedEx 2Day through LetterStream offers:

Full delivery tracking
Delivery confirmation with timestamps
Fast, guaranteed arrival—typically in 2 business days
Legally sound for many business and legal applications

It’s ideal when you want the Certified Mail concept but can’t wait around for USPS to take its time.

When Should You Choose FedEx 2Day Instead of Certified Mail?

Here’s a quick rule of thumb:
If proof matters and timing matters more—go FedEx 2Day.

Use it for:

Urgent legal documents
Time-sensitive board communications
Final notices or account escalations
Executive correspondence
Government-related paperwork with deadlines
HOA hearing notices that require a fast turnaround

And yes—it’s fully trackable, timestamped, and delivery-confirmed, just like Certified Mail.

Ex plore FedEx 2Day with LetterStream and see how fast business mail can really move.

Side-by-Side: Certified Mail vs. FedEx 2Day

Feature	USPS Certified Mail	FedEx 2Day via LetterStream
Delivery Speed	3–7 business days (but can take weeks)	Typically 2 business days
USPS Tracking	✅	✅ (FedEx tracking)
Proof of Delivery	✅ (Electronic Return Receipt optional)	✅ (Timestamped FedEx confirmation)
Accepted for Legal Use	✅	✅ (Varies by case)
Mailing Prep	Online via LetterStream	Online via LetterStream
Post Office Trip Required	No	No

What Makes FedEx 2Day Work So Well with LetterStream?

It’s not just about speed—it’s about ease.

When you use LetterStream, you get:

A fast, intuitive upload process
FedEx 2Day as a mailing option
No label printing or drop-off
Tracking and delivery confirmation, stored in your dashboard
Support if anything goes sideways

Basically, it’s FedEx power without FedEx headaches.

But Wait—What If I Still Need Certified Mail?

We’ve got that too.

You can still send USPS Certified Mail online through LetterStream anytime. It’s perfect for:

Compliance-required documents
HOA violations
Court filings that mandate USPS
Any scenario where USPS postmarks and tracking are required

Learn more about Certified Mail online and when it makes sense to use it.

Fast, Proof-Based Mail—Now You’ve Got Options

It used to be one-size-fits-all. If you needed delivery proof, Certified Mail was your only option.

Not anymore.

With FedEx 2Day through LetterStream, you can get:

Speed
Tracking
Peace of mind

So the next time a deadline looms, don’t default to “slow but safe” —choose fast and accountable.

LetterStream makes printing and mailing a breeze! Sign up for a free account here.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations that time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so, here.

Why LetterStream is Known for Sending Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Mail

With LetterStream you get speed without sacrifice when it comes to sending physical mail.

We’ll just say it: you shouldn’t have to choose between fast and accurate when sending critical mail. If your current system forces you to pick one, you’re working too hard, and your process is probably holding you back.

Whether you’re sending Certified Mail online, urgent financial notices, HOA violation letters, or medical documents, timing and precision matter. And here’s the kicker—LetterStream handles both with ease.

We’ve built our entire platform on this belief: fast doesn’t mean rushed, and reliable doesn’t mean slow. You can send real mail online and still have confidence in every envelope, every barcode, and piece of mail that we send out.

Why Accuracy Is Everything in Business Mail

Let’s be honest: a misplaced name, a missed page, or a double-stuffed envelope isn’t just a small mistake—it’s a big deal. Especially when your documents are time-sensitive or legally required.

With our intelligent document handling, every letter goes through multiple automated checks—from data validation to address formatting to barcode placement. And thanks to our proprietary The Stream technology, you get full transparency into how your job moves through the system.

You can stop crossing your fingers and start sending mail like a pro.

We Don’t Just Move Fast—We’re Built for It

Speed matters. If your team’s mailing process takes more time than it does to write the actual message, we’ve got a problem.

Most LetterStream customers go from upload to print in minutes. The best part is there’s no printing, stuffing. applying postage, or Post Office runs, just business-critical mail, handled with urgency on ours.

In fact, if it takes more than two minutes to upload a job (after learning the process and creating a job or two), it’s probably because you stopped to get a snack or more likely went to get approval from your manager about the documents you were uploading.

And with our range of mailing options—from First-Class Mail and Certified Mail to FedEx 2Day—you’re in full control of how quickly your mail gets sent out.

Reliability You Can Actually Rely On

Some platforms claim to be reliable. We prove it—millions of times over.

Whether you’re sending 10 letters or 10,000, the output doesn’t change. We don’t “hope” your letters go out. We make sure they do. We even give you updates during the production process.

That’s why businesses like law firms, healthcare providers, and HOAs trust us with their most sensitive communications.

Your team shouldn’t have to follow up on mail. With us, it’s handled.

Built for the Teams That Need It Most

We work with teams who simply don’t have time for manual errors or missed deadlines.

HOAs & Property Managers: Annual meeting notices, violation letters, billing statements
Law Firms: Time-sensitive legal notices, court correspondence
Healthcare Providers: Compliance letters, appointment reminders, HIPAA communications
Finance Teams: Late payment notices, invoices, and regulatory mail

These aren’t “nice to have” mailings. They’re critical—and they deserve a partner that treats them that way.

Want to Send Certified Mail Online? Done.

Certified Mail isn’t just about the green card anymore. When you send Certified Mail with LetterStream, you get USPS tracking, electronic signatures, and even return receipt options—without setting foot in a post office.

That means you can log in, upload a PDF, and hit send—whether you’re working from a laptop at your desk or checking in from the road.

Learn more about Certified Mail online and how easy it can be.

Fast, Accurate, Reliable—Pick All Three

The truth? You shouldn’t have to settle. Not when your job is to make sure the right information gets to the right people on time, every time.

With LetterStream, there’s no tradeoff. Just high-performing mail that goes out exactly how—and when—you need it to.

And that’s what fast, accurate, and reliable really looks like.

USPS Is Closing CPUs—What That Means for Your Business Mail

Recently, the U.S. Postal Service has been quietly closing Contract Postal Units (CPUs) across the country—leaving communities and businesses without convenient access to mailing services they’ve relied on for years.

If you’ve ever used a CPU located on the local corner or tucked inside a hardware store, pharmacy, or university bookstore, you know how valuable they can be. They offer local, accessible mailing options without the long lines or travel time to a main post office.

Now? Many of them are disappearing.

And while the news might feel like one more reason to worry about your business-critical mail, we’re not here to sound alarms.

We’re here to offer solutions.

Wait—What’s a CPU, and Why Are They Closing?

CPUs are retail locations contracted by the USPS to offer mailing services like First-Class, Certified Mail, postage, and P.O. boxes—especially in underserved areas or high-demand zones.

They’ve long played a key role in helping the USPS meet local demand without opening full-service post offices. But due to rising costs, contract changes, and internal restructuring, the Postal Service has ended many of these contracts—sometimes without community input or clear alternatives.

This leaves businesses and residences without local access to Certified Mail, postage, or package drop-off.

In fact, a USPS Inspector General audit found that some areas need more CPUs, not fewer.

So, where does that leave businesses?

If Your CPU Closes, Your Options Shrink Fast

When a CPU shuts down, it’s not just an inconvenience. It affects how businesses send important communications—especially in industries that rely on physical mail for legal or compliance reasons.

HOAs need to send out ballots, violation notices, and annual meeting packets
Law firms rely on Certified Mail online for time-sensitive filings
Medical offices must send HIPAA-compliant documentation on a tight schedule
Property managers need to notify residents of lease changes, fee updates, and more

Losing your closest postal location can mean longer drive times, longer lines, lost productivity, and mailing delays—none of which are great for business.

Here’s the Good News: You Don’t Need a CPU to Send Mail

At LetterStream, we’ve been helping businesses send mail online for over 20 years—no trips to the Post Office required.

Whether you were relying on a CPU or a main postal branch, the challenge is the same: how do you keep your mailing processes fast, accurate, and reliable without relying on physical access to USPS? (Here’s a hint: LetterStream.com.) Ok, so maybe a hint wasn’t the right word.

Just so you know, that’s exactly what our platform is built for.

Upload your documents and addresses
Choose your mail class: First-Class, Certified Mail, or even FedEx 2Day
Track every job with real-time updates
Let us print, prep, and send your documents—without stepping foot in a Post Office

CPUs May Be Disappearing, But Your Mail Doesn’t Have to Slow Down

This shift in USPS infrastructure is a wake-up call for businesses still dependent on physical mailing locations. It’s time to bring your mailing strategy into the digital age—without giving up the benefits of real, tangible mail.

And we’re not just saying that. Here’s what your business gains when you send mail online through a trusted print and mail service:

Speed: Get documents uploaded in minutes and out the door fast, even during peak seasons
Tracking: Maintain full visibility with digital proof of mailing and delivery when sending Certified Mail online
Scalability: Whether you send 10 letters or 10,000, the process stays consistent
Location freedom: Your mailing doesn’t rely on a single Post Office or CPU

So even if USPS closes more CPUs—and they likely will—you’re ready.

Think of It as an Opportunity, Not a Roadblock

Yes, losing local mailing centers is frustrating. But it’s also a powerful reminder that your business needs a mail strategy that can adapt.

Sending documents shouldn’t depend on someone driving across town, waiting in line, or hoping a retail CPU is still in business. With online mailing, it’s all handled from your desk—fast, secure, and trackable.

When USPS infrastructure shifts, your operations don’t have to.

LetterStream makes printing and mailing a breeze!

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services, allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations that time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so here.

Why Physical Mail Still Matters in a Digital World

Sending physical mail is easy to do online.

We live in a digital-first world. Emails. Text alerts. Online dashboards. It feels like everything has moved to screens—and for good reason. Digital tools are fast, flexible, and convenient.

But when it comes to business-critical communications, physical mail still has an edge. A big one.

Whether you’re in law, healthcare, finance, property management, or HOA administration, relying solely on digital channels leaves your business vulnerable to missed deadlines, ignored messages, and compliance risks.

Let’s break down why physical mail still matters—and how you can send it faster, smarter, and more securely than ever before.

Digital Is Easy to Ignore. Mail Demands Attention.

Your inbox is overflowing. So is everyone else’s. Most emails never get opened, and if they do, they’re often skimmed and forgotten. But a piece of physical mail? It has weight—literally and psychologically.

Physical documents land in the hands of real people. They get opened, reviewed and often acted on faster than just a regular email. Sending physical documents (or sending snail mail) is great for:

Violation notices
Legal disclosures
Payment reminders
Ballots and compliance documents
Statements

A print and mail service helps ensure these high-priority documents actually make an impact—while giving you the control and tracking you need.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance Still Favor Physical Mail

In industries like healthcare and law, physical mail is often the only truly compliant method for delivering sensitive or time-bound communications.

Digital delivery doesn’t always hold up in court or meet regulatory standards—especially when there’s no way to confirm it was received, read, or retained.

That’s why Certified Mail remains the go-to for:

HIPAA notices
Eviction letters
Collection demands
Audit disclosures
Insurance cancellations

When sending Certified Mail online, you get proof of mailing, delivery confirmation, and a digital audit trail—all without leaving your desk.

Trust Is Tangible

Physical mail communicates professionalism. It says, “We care about getting this right.”

It’s not just about regulation—it’s about relationships. Clients, patients, homeowners, and business partners are more likely to take action when they receive a well-formatted, official-looking document. It creates trust. Permanence. Accountability.

And with modern platforms like LetterStream, you can achieve this without manual effort or office interruptions. Upload your document. Choose your mail type (First-Class, Certified, or FedEx 2Day). We print, prep, and send it—all trackable.

Automation Doesn’t Mean Digital-Only

There’s a misconception that automation = digital. But in reality, some of the most powerful automation tools send real physical documents.

With tools like StreamLogic™, businesses get a standard of excellence. It serves as a framework to ensure speed, accuracy, and reliability, while giving customers complete visibility and control over their print and mailings.

When You Need to Be Sure, Send It for Real

Not all mail needs to be physical. But when it’s critical, sensitive, or time-bound—don’t gamble on a crowded inbox or a failed email.

Physical mail shows up. Gets opened. Gets noticed. And when it’s powered by LetterStream, it’s also fast, automated, and worry-free. Sending mail online has never been easier. Click here to try us out!

LetterStream makes printing and mailing a breeze!

The Hidden Cost of Sending “Free” In-House Mail

Sending mail in-house doesn’t actually save you money.

“We already have a printer.”
“It only takes a few minutes.”
“Stamps aren’t that expensive.”

Sound familiar?

It’s the internal chorus many companies rely on when justifying their in-house mail processes. But here’s the thing: what seems free on the surface is usually costing you more than you realize.

If your team is still printing, folding, stuffing, stamping, and tracking important mail internally, oof, that’s a lot. Let’s break down what that “free” process is really costing you.

Spoiler: it’s not just paper and toner.

Labor: The Most Expensive Envelope You’ll Ever Seal

Think about how long it takes to send a single Certified Mail letter in-house:

Print the document
Grab the right envelope
Fill out the Certified Mail form
Apply postage
Drop it off at the Post Office
Save the tracking number (somewhere, hopefully)
File the proof later—if someone remembers
Enter in all the numbers just to track and see where your letter is at

Now multiply that by dozens, hundreds, or thousands of pieces of mail per month. And who’s doing all of this? Your office manager? Your HR assistant? Your paralegal?

That’s real time spent on repetitive tasks—and real salary dollars diverted away from actual job responsibilities.

Companies like ours that send mail online eliminate these manual steps entirely. Your team uploads a file, clicks send, and we take it from there.

You didn’t hire talented people to stand next to a postage meter. So why are they still doing it?

Equipment and Supplies

Sure, printers and paper seem cheap—until they aren’t.

There’s the printer that jams every other day. The envelope reorder that someone forgot. The postage meter lease. The toner that runs out mid-job. The unexpected maintenance call that kills your budget for the month.

These costs might be small individually, but collectively, they add up, especially when they disrupt workflows or delay time-sensitive mail.

And while no one wants to budget for a new postage scale, you’ll end up paying for it anyway… one emergency trip to the office supply store at a time.

Mistakes, Delays, and Compliance Risks

In regulated industries, one lost Certified Mail receipt can mean legal exposure. One delayed benefits notice can mean an HR violation. One botched billing cycle can mean thousands in late fees or customer confusion.

When you’re managing mail manually, you’re relying on humans to get it right, every time.

A proactive print and mail service introduces speed, reliability, and accuracy, and it reduces the risk of:

Wrong addresses
Missed deadlines
Lost documentation
Inconsistent branding
Untrackable delivery

These are hidden costs you can’t afford to keep ignoring.

Opportunity Cost: What Could They Be Doing Instead?

Every hour your team spends printing and mailing is an hour they’re not doing something more valuable.

That might be:

Following up with clients
Solving customer service issues
Closing new deals
Onboarding employees
Building new workflows

Manual mail doesn’t just cost money—it costs momentum.

With LetterStream, your documents are still printed, stuffed, and mailed, but your team doesn’t lose focus or flow to make it happen.

“We Only Send a Few Letters” (Until You Don’t)

A lot of businesses think they don’t send enough mail to justify using a platform. But sporadic mail is exactly where delays, mistakes, and distractions sneak in.

Plus, when something urgent comes up—like a legal notice or compliance mailing—you want a reliable system, not a scramble.

Whether it’s one letter or 1,000, a printing and mailing company ensures it gets handled with care, tracked properly, and out the door quickly.

Because your brand shouldn’t feel like a paper jam.

Real Costs vs. Perceived Costs

Let’s stack them up.

In-House “Free” Mail:

Staff time (hourly or salaried)
Equipment lease or replacement
Postage meter
Postage and supply overhead
Risk of error or delay
Storage, filing, and compliance burden

Online Print and Mail Service:

Fixed, transparent cost per piece
Built-in tracking for Certified Mail and compliance
Zero office disruption
Digital records
No hardware, maintenance, or manual labor
No trips to the Post Office

Which one sounds more efficient?

You’re Not Saving. You’re Delaying the Switch.

The businesses that move to online Certified Mail and First-Class Mail systems usually do it after one of two things happens:

A compliance scare or mail-related mistake.
A team finally had enough and says, “There has to be a better way.”

We’re here to tell you: there is a better way. It’s easier than you think. And it’s probably cheaper than what you’re doing now, especially when you factor in everything you’re currently not tracking.

Start sending mail online with LetterStream. We make sending mail a breeze!

How to Go From Reactive to Proactive With Your Mailing Strategy

If your team is still scrambling to send out time-sensitive letters, compliance notices, or monthly statements at the last minute, congrats, you’re not alone. You’re also not scalable.

Inconsistent mail processes, forgotten deadlines, and last-minute envelope stuffing aren’t just frustrating—they’re a sign your business is stuck in a reactive loop.

But what if your physical mail strategy could actually run ahead of your schedule? What if it could be streamlined, automated, and entirely scalable, no matter how fast your business grows?

It can. And we’re here to show you how.

Reactive Mail = Risky Business

You know the signs:

Your team rushes to print invoices at the end of the month
Compliance documents are delayed because someone forgot the Certified Mail label
HR still sends out benefit packets manually, after new hires start asking
You keep a stash of stamps “just in case,” which you constantly forget to reorder

These aren’t just quirks—they’re liabilities. When critical communications are handled reactively, deadlines get missed, reputations take a hit, and teams burn out.

Modern business doesn’t run on duct tape and overnight FedEx envelopes. It runs on intentional systems, including mail.

A Proactive Mail Strategy: What It Looks Like

Going proactive doesn’t mean doing more—it means doing it smarter. A scalable print and mail service lets you plan, schedule, and automate mailings so your operations stay ahead of the curve.

With a proactive mail strategy, you can:

Schedule recurring jobs utilizing an API (monthly statements, policy updates, annual notices)
Upload mailings on your timeline, not when your team is already buried
Track every Certified Mail piece—with digital logs and delivery records
Plan ahead and never have to leave your desk

And all of it can be done without touching a printer, envelope, or postage machine.

Scalable = Sustainable

Whether you’re a growing law firm, a national HOA management company, or a healthcare provider adding new clinics, your mail volume won’t stay the same. And that’s the point.

You don’t need a different process when your volume doubles—you need one that flexes with you.

Upload and Send It. It’s That Easy

You know what’s more efficient than real-time panic? Scheduled peace of mind.

Let’s say you send tenant statements to 2,000 properties every month. Instead of frantically printing them on the 31st, you can schedule them ahead of time. Same goes for:

Healthcare EOBs (Explanation of Benefits)
Collections letters
Legal time-bound notices
Annual rate adjustments or fee changes
Mass policy mailings

One upload. One process. Every time. And when you send mail online, you never have to make another Post Office run again.

The ROI of Getting Ahead

Yes, this is about operations—but it’s also about cost.

When you batch mail, avoid express delivery fees, reduce errors, and eliminate labor waste, the savings add up fast. Not to mention the soft ROI of reducing stress and reclaiming hours every month for more strategic work.

You can even monitor the performance of your proactive strategy—how many pieces sent, how many Certified letters with proof, how quickly they arrived—all from your dashboard.

You can’t do that with a postage scale and a sticky note reminder.

Turn Your Mail Into a Competitive Advantage

Most businesses don’t think about mail until it’s urgent. That’s exactly why having a proactive strategy sets you apart.

Clients trust companies that communicate clearly and on time. Regulators expect promptness and documentation. Employees thrive when they aren’t stuck doing repetitive, manual work.

When your mail process runs like clockwork, your whole business runs better.

You Don’t Need a Department. You Need a Plan.

Building a scalable mail strategy doesn’t mean adding headcount. It means using tools that do the heavy lifting for you.

LetterStream gives your team the ability to send Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, and more—all online, and all easily managed from a dashboard.

That’s not just growth-ready—it’s future-proof, because LetterStream makes printing and mailing a breeze!

How Using LetterStream’s API Saves Companies Time, Money, and Sanity

LetterStream’s API allows companies to automate business-critical mail.

Behind every successful operations team is one core truth: they didn’t get there by printing and stuffing envelopes by hand.

Automation has become the backbone of modern business operations, especially for teams managing recurring or high-volume mail. And if you’ve ever wished you could hit “send” on a document and have it magically turn into trackable Certified Mail or just a First-Class letter… you’re closer than you think.

With the LetterStream API, developers and operations leaders can fully automate the printing, processing, and sending of snail mail, securely and efficiently.

Here are five real-world use cases that show how the LetterStream API saves time, reduces stress, and helps teams work smarter (not harder).

1. Automate Late Payment Notices from Your CRM

Still sending out manual past-due letters? With the LetterStream API, you can connect your CRM or billing platform to automatically trigger a physical notice after a set number of days.

Let’s say a customer hasn’t paid within 30 days. Your system can generate a PDF notice, ping the LetterStream API, and send the letter via First-Class Mail—without anyone printing or folding a thing.

Need to add Certified Mail for legal protection? You can include that logic too. Tracking numbers, digital proofs, and delivery data all included.

This is how finance and AR teams turn chaos into consistency.

2. Trigger Mailings from Your Internal Software

Whether you’re using custom ERP tools, a ticketing system, or something built in-house, if it can send a webhook or make an HTTP request, it can send mail through LetterStream.

Imagine this:

An eviction notice is triggered when a resident’s file status changes
A violation letter goes out when a photo is uploaded in your HOA software
A legal firm’s case management system auto-generates and sends a filing notification

If you’ve got software that manages workflows, you’ve got the power to connect it directly to our print and mail software—and make the paper part disappear.

3. Bulk Job Scheduling and Batch Mail

Need to send 500 notices each Friday? Or maybe you’re processing thousands of monthly statements for clients?

With the LetterStream API, you can script and schedule batch jobs that send all your mail at once, pulling from databases, applying templates, and routing based on zip code or content.

You stay in control, and your team avoids the last-minute, end-of-month stress. Plus, you’ll always have a full audit trail to reference, including file uploads, job IDs, and delivery confirmations.

Pair this with StreamLogic™, and you can build in automated logic to handle special rules, like Certified Mail for certain states or alternate return addresses for specific regions.

4. Empower Your Customers

If your business offers SaaS tools to other companies—think property management platforms, legal software, or fintech tools—you can integrate the LetterStream API directly into your platform.

That means your users can send Certified Mail or First-Class Mail without ever leaving your website.

You get:

Embedded mailing capabilities
Brand consistency (you can white-label the experience)
Zero support tickets about printers or postage

We handle the print, insert, and send. Your platform gets the credit. Everybody wins.

5. Create a Compliance-First Mailing System

If your industry deals with HIPAA, legal timelines, or regulatory disclosures, the API allows you to bake secure, traceable mail delivery into your compliance workflows.

No more guessing if something was sent. No more “we thought the admin handled that.”

Every job has a digital record, every piece of Certified Mail is trackable, and you can see when it was mailed from our end.

For healthcare groups, law firms, and insurance providers, this turns compliance from a risk into a repeatable system.

Let Your Systems Do the Sending

The best part? Your team can stop wrestling with stamps and focus on work that actually moves the business forward.

When physical mail becomes just another API call, everything gets smoother: timelines, compliance, customer experience, and morale.

Learn more about LetterStream’s API, here.

Why Franchise Mail Is Better Sent Online

Running a franchise operation means juggling brand consistency, local autonomy, and about 12 different inboxes full of chaos. Somewhere between corporate compliance, seasonal promotions, and day-to-day business notices… someone still has to send the mail.

Whether you’re franchising restaurants, fitness centers, repair services, or medical clinics, managing physical mail across locations can quickly become an operational headache.

But what if franchisees could send business-critical documents—First-Class, Certified Mail, or even FedEx 2Day—through a simple online portal, without needing local printers, postage meters, or training?

Spoiler alert: they can.

The Real Problem with Franchise Mail

Let’s call it what it is: decentralized mail handling leads to inconsistent execution, wasted money, and a whole lot of frustrated managers.

Here’s what typically happens:

Franchisees print locally—often with outdated templates or missing branding
Critical mail is sent late (or not at all) because someone ran out of supplies
HQ has zero visibility into what was sent, when, and how it looked
Legal notices or compliance updates get mishandled or delayed
Corporate spends time troubleshooting things they never should’ve had to touch

Sound familiar? This isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a growth inhibitor. Especially when your brand reputation depends on consistency.

Centralized Control. Local Execution. Seamless.

Here’s where LetterStream comes in.

With our print and mail service, franchise systems can allow each location to send physical mail from a web portal that maintains corporate-level branding, formatting, and compliance—while giving local operators the control they need to act fast.

There’s no need to download templates. No one forgets the return address. It’s just smart, scalable infrastructure that works.

Use Cases That Actually Matter

Franchise locations don’t have time to deal with bulk mail logistics. But they still need to send things like:

Lease renewal notices to landlords
Late payment notices to customers
Employee handbooks or HR updates
Legal documents by Certified Mail online
Seasonal marketing postcards
Tax documents for year-end reporting

With LetterStream, all of these can be sent from any device. No postage machine required.

And yes, that even includes Certified Mail with tracking numbers that corporate can access—without hunting down the regional manager.

Visibility for HQ, Freedom for Franchisees

This is where things get exciting.

Using tools like StreamLogic™, you can set rules across your entire network—say, flagging when certain notices need to be sent, auto-approving common forms, or generating reports on who sent what and when.

This gives headquarters oversight, documentation, and compliance—without micromanaging every location.

It’s how you scale without sacrificing control.

Compliance Is Easier When It’s Automated

Legal and operational compliance gets trickier as your footprint grows. Especially when local teams forget to send documents on time, or don’t use the right format.

Automating mail through a central system means:

Notices go out when they should
Certified Mail is trackable and logged
Legal deadlines are met
Documentation is saved in one place

Which is a lot better than playing detective across 84 franchisees when something goes wrong.

It’s Not About the Mail. It’s About the Model.

When franchisees can act quickly, customers get better service. When HQ doesn’t have to worry about paper handling, they can focus on strategy.

LetterStream supports that structure with modern, flexible tools that eliminate busywork, reduce mistakes, and keep your network aligned.

It’s not about replacing mail—it’s about making mail a non-issue.

Growing Fast? This Is How You Keep Up

Whether you have 10 locations or 300+, your franchise model depends on repeatable systems. The minute you outgrow local printers and internal processes, you need an infrastructure that can grow with you.

Our online print and mail service makes sending mail a breeze!

You get a better system in place and happier franchisees who aren’t wasting time licking envelopes.

USPS Postage Rates Are Rising Again This July. Here’s What You Need to Know.

The First-Class stamp is about to rise by another five cents starting on July 13, 2025.

Here’s What You Need to Know

It’s happening again. Starting July 13, 2025, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will raise its postage prices. Luckily, this is the first increase of the year. In the past, USPS has been known to raise its prices twice in one year (both in January and July), but this year, they surprised us and gave us all a bit of a break in January. However, we couldn’t get too comfortable.

Bummer, we know.

So, if you’re mailing statements, notices, compliance letters, or Certified Mail, this change affects your bottom line. The good news? We’re being completely transparent with the cost, making it easy to understand and even easier to manage.

July 2025 USPS Postage Rate Increase: What’s Changing?

First, let’s look at what the USPS is changing this July:

First-Class Letters (1 oz): $0.73 → $0.78 (5¢ increase)
First-Class Metered Mail: $0.69 → $0.74 (5¢ increase)
International Letters (1 oz): $1.65 → $1.70 (5¢ increase)
First-Class Flats: $1.50 → $1.63 (13¢ increase)
Certified Mail: $4.85 → $5.30 (45¢ increase)
Certified ERR (Electronic Return Receipt): $2.62 → $2.82 (20¢ increase)
Extra Ounces (Letters): $0.28 → $0.29 (1¢ increase)
Postcards: $0.56 → $0.62 (6¢ increase)
Registered Mail: $21.75 → $23.40 ($1.65 increase)
Registered Mail International RR: $6.10 → $6.70 (60¢ increase)
Certificate of Mailing (firmbook): $2.20 → $2.40 (20¢ increase)
Marketing Mail: 37¢ increase

LetterStream’s New Pricing Effective July 13, 2025

Now, keep in mind, LetterStream isn’t raising service prices, but we will be increasing the rate of postage. Our updated pricing list includes the new postage rates only, nothing more, nothing hidden.

LetterStream’s pricing list with new postage rates included:

First-Class Letter: New price starting at $1.23
Flats: New price starting at $2.67
Certified Mail (no ERR): New price starting at $8.34 (Certified Mail includes Certified Mail postage increase of 45¢ plus First-Class postage increase of 5¢, making the total postage increase 50¢)
Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt: New price starting at $11.16 (Certified Mail ERR includes Certified Mail postage increase of 45¢ plus First-Class postage increase of 5¢, making the total postage increase 50¢, along with the 20¢ ERR increase, putting the total postage increase at 70¢ per letter)
Express Postcards: New price starting at $0.87
PRO Postcards: New price starting at $1.25 (Pro Postcards get the same amount as First-Class postage, which increased by 5¢)
International Letters: New price starting at $2.73
Marketing Mail: New price starting at $ 1.41
Registered Mail: New price starting at $35.88 (Registered mail always goes up by the Registered base increase, plus Registered International Return Receipt, and First-Class International (so this time around, first class int’l is going up by .05, int’l return receipt is going up by .60, and registered base is going up by 1.65, so the Registered Mail cost is going up by a total of 2.30)
Extra Ounces (Letters): New price going up to $0.29

To view a breakdown by product type, visit our products page.

Why This Matters for Your Business

If you’re sending hundreds—or thousands—of pieces of mail a month by snail mail, even a five-cent increase per item adds up. Here’s why now is the time to review your mailing operations:

Budget Smarter, Not Harder – Postage may seem like a minor line item—until it suddenly isn’t. A few cents here and there can quietly add thousands to your annual spend if you’re mailing at scale. This mid-year increase gives you a chance to reforecast your mailing budget, adjust client billing (if applicable), and avoid end-of-year sticker shock. The businesses that stay ahead of these changes are the ones that don’t lose sleep over them.
Reassess the Way You Mail – If your team is still printing documents, folding them by hand, stuffing envelopes, applying postage, and hauling bins to the post office—you’re not just paying more in postage now. You’re also spending time, labor, and resources on a process that could be handled in minutes. Higher USPS rates only amplify the cost of inefficiency. Now’s the perfect time to ask: Is your mailing strategy working for you, or slowing you down?
Communicate Across the Board – Postage hikes affect more than just your mailroom—they ripple through your budget, operations, and customer relationships. If you pass along mail costs to clients, it’s essential to communicate the new rates clearly and proactively. And internally, make sure your teams are aligned so there are no surprises when the next invoice goes out. A little transparency now builds a lot of trust later.
Shift to Smarter Delivery (Without Losing Control) – You don’t have to overhaul your business to modernize your mail. Whether you’re outsourcing Certified Mail, exploring First-Class automation, there are ways to mail smarter without reinventing the wheel. Let your team focus on high-value work, and let us handle the envelopes, postage, mailing and even tracking. You’ll gain time, control, and peace of mind.

Let LetterStream Handle the Heavy Lifting

Unfortunately, we can’t stop USPS from raising prices, but we can make sending mail a lot easier, faster, and more reliable.

Here are some benefits of having an account with LetterStream:

Upload a document and send it in under 2 minutes
Track Certified Mail right from inside of your account
No minimums, no monthly fees
Store and access all your job history and PDFs digitally
Add multiple users and manage accounts easily
Get fast, accurate and reliable mailing, every time
Trips to the Post Office are a thing of the past

Considering Email Instead? We’ve Got That Too.

We get it—when postage goes up (again), the idea of going digital gets a little more appealing. If you’re rethinking how you send statements, notices, or other business-critical documents, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to leave LetterStream to make the switch.

In addition to our full suite of print and mail services, we also offer eDoc Delivery, a simple way to send your documents via email, straight from your LetterStream account. This service can be done in place of or in addition to your regular UPSP mailings.

To learn more visit our free 24/7 online Chatbot for pricing and next steps.

Don’t Let the Postage Hike Slow You Down

Mail is still essential for business and it doesn’t have to be a burden. With LetterStream, you can send smarter, stay ahead of pricing changes, and focus on what actually moves your business forward.

For more information regarding the July 2025 price increase, visit the USPS website or you can download the list of rate changes here.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations that time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so here.

How to Leverage Physical Mail for Legal Compliance

Legal teams can easily send Certified Mail online.

If there’s one thing legal teams, healthcare administrators, and financial institutions can agree on, it’s this: compliance is non-negotiable.

And while the world has gone increasingly digital, there’s a reason physical mail still shows up in the most regulated industries. Sometimes, sending a letter isn’t just a formality—it’s a legal requirement.

But not all physical mail processes are created equal. If your current system involves manually printing, stuffing, and mailing important documents from the back office, you might be introducing more risk than protection.

Here’s how a modern print and mail service can help your business use physical mail not just to check boxes, but to prove compliance at every turn.

Physical Mail and Compliance: Why It Still Matters

Let’s talk accountability. In many industries, proof of delivery isn’t optional—it’s essential. That’s especially true when you’re:

Sending client notifications about policy changes
Delivering privacy updates under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
Mailing court documents, notices of action, or time-sensitive appeals
Issuing audit letters or collection notifications

Digital delivery has its place, sure—but email often doesn’t hold up in court, especially without read receipts or authentication. Physical mail, particularly Certified Mail online, gives you a record of delivery, timestamps, and peace of mind.

And when those letters can be sent, tracked, and confirmed without ever leaving your desk? That’s when compliance meets convenience.

Certified Mail Online = Instant Legal Backup

Let’s say you need to prove that a legal notice was sent on a specific date. With traditional in-house methods, you’re relying on someone to save a tracking number, scan a receipt, and file it correctly. That’s a lot of human error.

With online Certified Mail, like the service provided by LetterStream, each letter is tracked automatically, and confirmation is stored digitally. There’s even an option to choose an Electronic Return Receipt (Certified Mail green card, but online). No envelopes to seal. No receipts to lose. Just mail sent out fast.

You can even access your tracking number right in your account without ever having to type it in.

Avoiding Risk with HIPAA-Compliant Mail Handling

Healthcare organizations are under intense pressure to maintain compliance around patient communications. From billing statements to test results to benefits information, every document must be handled with care.

LetterStream’s secure print and mail operations ensure that sensitive data is encrypted and processed under strict protocols. That includes:

Access control
Document-level tracking
Secure data transmission and storage
Envelope masking for privacy
Process logs for audit trails

If you’re still printing these documents in an open office, it’s time to ask: is your mail truly HIPAA-compliant? A third-party platform built for business-critical mail reduces the risk—and keeps you focused on patients, not paper jams.

Finance, Law, and Real Estate: Timing Is Everything

In industries where deadlines are legally binding, your mail strategy is a compliance strategy.

Miss a filing deadline? Lose a delivery record? That’s more than a headache—it can be a liability.

With a cloud-based SaaS platform, you can even automate regular mailings (like monthly statements, notices, or legal documents) through our API and have access to time-stamped records for every mailpiece. Tools like StreamLogic™ even let you set up recurring logic that ensures compliance deadlines are met—without last-minute scrambles.

Building a Defensible Audit Trail

The more regulated your industry, the more valuable your audit trail becomes. Think of it like a seatbelt—you don’t need it until you really need it.

A modern print and mail service allows you to:

Access digital proofs of delivery
Track Certified Mail documents from upload to mailbox
Verify timestamps and user actions
Store records securely for future reference

That means if an auditor, regulator, or client ever needs documentation, it’s not a panic—it’s a quick lookup.

Physical Mail as a Competitive Advantage

Ironically, in a digital-first world, being able to show your clients that you take physical, trackable communication seriously builds trust.

You’re not just checking compliance boxes—you’re communicating credibility.

Whether you’re notifying residents in a class-action case or sending annual policy disclosures to thousands of clients, snal mail creates a paper trail. One that says: We’re not cutting corners.

What to Look for in a Compliant Mail Partner

Not all platforms are built with compliance in mind. When choosing a partner, make sure they offer:

Encrypted data handling
Automated Certified Mail options
Secure physical facilities
Internal safeguards against human error
Real-time delivery data
U.S.-based processing centers

Yes, we do all of that—and we do it fast.

Final Thought: When the Law Says “Prove It”

Legal compliance isn’t something to scramble for when things go wrong. It should be baked into your systems—your everyday process, your standard operating procedure.

When your mail strategy supports that, you’re not just meeting expectations, you’re exceeding them.