Certified Mail | LetterStream Blog

How to Prepare for Open Enrollment Season with Sending Mail Online

For HR and benefits administrators, open enrollment isn’t just another task on the calendar. It’s the Super Bowl of communication season. Every employee needs to receive accurate, timely information about their benefits—and if even one packet goes missing, the fallout can be serious.

Deadlines are strict. Compliance matters. And the margin for error? Pretty much zero. That’s why preparing for open enrollment season isn’t just about having documents ready—it’s about having a system that ensures those documents get into the right hands, at the right time.

When Mailing Becomes the Bottleneck

Let’s be honest: most HR teams don’t struggle with putting benefits information together. They struggle with the logistics.

Printing hundreds (or thousands) of packets. Stuffing envelopes. Labeling. Tracking. Double-checking that every single employee is accounted for. It’s tedious, time-consuming, and frankly, not the best use of a benefits manager’s skills.

That’s where things fall apart—because the people responsible for building great employee experiences get stuck acting like a mailroom.

The Playbook for Getting Ahead

Here’s how smart HR teams prepare:

Start Early. Draft and finalize your documents before the rush. Uploading early to LetterStream means you can schedule jobs to go out exactly when needed.
Segment Your Audience. Remote employees? Different states? Contractors vs. full-time? Tailor packets without duplicating effort.
Track Everything. With reporting and tracking with Certified Mail flats, you don’t have to wonder if packets went out—you’ll know.
Automate the Hard Parts. Upload once, and let the system handle the printing, stuffing, and mailing.

What Happens When You Don’t Prepare

Picture this: an HR director at a mid-size company of 800 employees. She waits too long to organize her mailing and ends up printing packets in-house. Printers jam, staff burn overtime hours, and packets still arrive late to several remote employees. Cue confusion, missed deadlines, and a stream of angry emails.

Now, picture the same director uploading packets through LetterStream. Everything’s queued, printed, and mailed within two days or even better, by the next business day. Every employee has what they need to make informed choices. The director? She’s not pulling an all-nighter—she’s home at dinner.

Why Open Enrollment Mail Deserves Extra Care

Unlike casual reminders or newsletters, open enrollment packets contain sensitive, business-critical information. Employees rely on them to make decisions that impact their health, finances, and families. A late or missing packet isn’t just inconvenient—it’s disruptive.

That’s why using a reliable print and mail service is less about convenience and more about trust. You’re not just sending mail—you’re safeguarding your employees’ futures.

Get Ready For Open Enrollment Season

Open enrollment comes fast. The HR teams that win the season are the ones who prepare their playbook ahead of time. When using a company like LetterStream, you don’t just survive the crunch—you own it.

Upload your documents, set the game plan, and watch your packets get delivered on time, every time.

Because the real win? Giving employees the clarity they need without burning out your team. Learn more about LetterStream here.

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.

How to Avoiding Common Mailing Mistakes During the Busy Fall Season

Ever wonder why fall is the tricky season for sending mail? Read on to find out how to avoid common mailing mistakes during the busy fall season.

Fall is beautiful—pumpkin spice, cooler air, and football games. But for businesses, it’s also one of the busiest seasons for critical mail. Associations are prepping for annual meeting notices, HOAs are mailing budgets and notices, healthcare teams are sending open enrollment packets, and law firms are scrambling with end-of-year deadlines.

And when the workload piles up, mistakes start sneaking in. A missed deadline here. A wrong address there. Suddenly, what should have been routine mail turns into a headache.

The good news? Most of these mistakes are avoidable—with the right prep.

Mistake #1: Waiting Until the Last Minute

Fall is packed with deadlines. If you’re scrambling the day before something’s due, chances are high that mistakes will creep in. Envelopes get mislabeled. Packets get rushed. Some never go out at all.

How to avoid it: Build a mailing calendar. Plan renewals, elections, and budget notices weeks ahead—and if possible, upload jobs early to schedule them for release.

Mistake #2: Not Tracking What You Send

Sending mail without tracking is like handing over homework without keeping a copy. If someone disputes it later, you’ve got no proof.

How to avoid it: Use Certified Mail online or build reporting into your process. Having a timestamped record turns arguments into confirmations.

Mistake #3: Overlooking Address Accuracy

Few things waste time (and money) like returned mail. In fall, when volumes spike, even a 5% error rate can snowball into dozens—or hundreds—of wasted letters.

How to avoid it: Use an online print and mail service that verifies addresses automatically. Clean lists = fewer headaches.

Mistake #4: Treating Every Mailing the Same

Not all mail is created equal. A budget notice might work with First-Class Mail. A legal deadline probably calls for Certified Mail. A vendor contract might even need FedEx 2Day.

How to avoid it: Match the mail type to the importance of the document. Using the wrong class can create risk that’s entirely preventable.

Mistake #5: Burning Out Your Team

Fall mailings have a way of turning into late-night stuffing parties. But tired people make mistakes. Missing one address or sealing one wrong envelope can create more problems than it solves.

How to avoid it: Don’t do it manually. Upload documents online and let LetterStream do the folding, stuffing, and mailing while your team works on tasks that actually grow the business.

Your Fall Mailing Checklist

Start early—avoid the crunch.
Track everything with Certified Mail and FedEx 2Day—proof is your friend.
Verify addresses—because wasted postage is painful.
Match the mail type to the job.
Protect your team’s sanity—automate what you can.

Do that, and fall becomes less about mistakes—and more about progress.

Make This Fall Different

The season is busy enough without mailing mishaps tripping you up. With the right systems in place, you can stay ahead, meet deadlines, and keep your focus where it belongs.

Because fall should be about pumpkin spice and football—not panicking over missed mail. Learn more about LetterStream here.

LetterStream makes printing and mailing a breeze!

LetterStream Sends Out 95% Of All Mail Next Business Day

Let’s talk about waiting. Waiting in line at the Post Office. Waiting for a delivery that’s “out for shipment.” Waiting for confirmation that a critical letter actually made it out the door.

For most businesses, waiting isn’t just inconvenient—it’s expensive. A late assessment notice can throw off HOA collections. A delayed legal letter can push back deadlines. A missed benefit enrollment mailing can create headaches for HR and employees alike.

That’s why 95% of LetterStream’s mail goes out the next business day. Not because speed sounds nice on paper, but because waiting costs money, trust, and sometimes compliance.

A Tale of Two Mailings

Imagine two law firms. Firm A handles its Certified Mail manually. They print, stuff, drive to the Post Office, wait in line, and hope everything goes out that day. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, their attorneys spend hours babysitting paperwork instead of clients.

Firm B uploads documents to LetterStream by 3 p.m. Every piece is printed, barcoded, tracked, and in the mail stream the very next business day. Their attorneys spend zero hours at the Post Office—and 100% of their time on client work.

Both firms sent the same letter. Only one of them kept their focus where it mattered.

Why Next-Business-Day Matters

It’s not just about bragging rights. Here’s why speed matters for critical mail:

Deadlines don’t wait. Whether it’s legal compliance or HOA election timelines, sending mail on time is everything.
Cash flow depends on it. The faster invoices or assessments are out, the sooner payments come in.
Reputation is on the line. When members, clients, or patients receive mail on time, trust grows.
Peace of mind is priceless. Managers sleep better knowing tomorrow’s job is already moving.

The Machine Behind the Magic

There’s no magic wand here—just a system designed for efficiency. LetterStream’s automation ensures jobs move from upload to production without bottlenecks. That’s why 95% of jobs are already out the door the very next business day.

It’s the difference between babysitting paper and knowing it’s handled.

Think Bigger: The Ripple Effect of Speed

When mail moves quickly, it changes more than just delivery times. It changes workflows. Budgets. Even morale.

HR directors stop chasing deadlines.
Property managers stop stuffing envelopes at midnight.
Lawyers stop sweating over compliance logs.

That ripple effect is why speed isn’t just a number on a website—it’s a business advantage.

No More ‘Hurry Up and Wait’

We’ve all been there: the last-minute scramble, the rush to meet a deadline, the sinking feeling when something gets stuck in the queue.

But when 95% of your mail goes out the next business day, that stress disappears. Instead of “hurry up and wait,” it’s “upload and relax.”

That’s not just speed. That’s confidence and LetterStream allows you to have both. Learn more about LetterStream here.

LetterStream makes printing and mailing a breeze!

Come See Letterstream at CINC Up 2025 in Austin!

LetterStream will be at Booth 11. Come check us out!

The countdown is on—CINC Up 2025 is right around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of it once again. From September 3–5, 2025, industry leaders, community managers, and solution providers will gather in Austin, Texas for CINC’s premier annual event. And yes—LetterStream will be there in full force.

Where to Find Us

This year, you’ll catch us at Booth 11 (same one as last year!). Keep an eye out for our team—Marc, Aaron, and Dave—and for anyone sporting our signature “I ♥ LetterStream” ribbons. Be sure to stop and ask them why they love using LetterStream so much!

We’ll also be kicking off the event with a welcome video, so you’ll see us right from the start.

Already Integrated with CINC

Here’s one of the best parts: if you’re a CINC user, LetterStream is already available to you. Our print and mail services are built right into the CINC platform. All you need to do is ask your CINC representative to turn on LetterStream—and you’ll be ready to send accurate, reliable, and even trackable Certified Mail without ever leaving your account.

Why Stop By Our Booth?

We’d love to connect with you personally! Stop by Booth 11 and chat with Marc or Aaron (David will be wandering around, so say hi when you spot him in the wild) to see what’s new.

Visiting our booth gives you the chance to:

See how easy it is to send statements, violation letters, annual mailing packets, ballots, and more using First-Class Mail and Certified Mail, directly through your CINC account.
Ask questions and get answers straight from our team.
Explore how our solutions help HOAs, management companies, and business leaders save time while staying compliant.
Walk away with practical tips for streamlining your mail operations.
Learn how studies show that using accent colors on invoices can help payments come in up to 30% faster.
Explore our Four-up coupon booklets, designed to reduce costs while keeping things simple and organized for homeowners.

It’s a great chance to discover the little tweaks that make a big impact in community management.

Why It Matters

Community managers and HOA leaders already have enough on their plates—managing vendors, compliance timelines, and board expectations. The last thing you need is to wrestle with printers, envelopes, tracking numbers, or vendors that never seem to get your mail out on time. That’s where we step in. With LetterStream and CINC together, your mail gets handled—accurately, securely, and fast.

See You in Austin

If you’ll be at CINC Up 2025, stop by Booth 11 and say hello to Marc, Aaron, and David. Whether you’re already using LetterStream inside your CINC account or want to learn how simple it is to get started, we’d love to connect. See you there!

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.

Behind Every Piece of Mail: Celebrating the LetterStream Team

Wow! Can you believe we’re already approaching the end of August?! Boy, how time flies. But, if you’ve been following along with LetterStream over the years, then you might know that the middle of August means it’s time for one of our quarterly Employee Appreciation Parties (formerly known as Quarterly Bonus Party time), which is always a super fun time for us as a company.

Celebrating Humans In an AI World

With the ever-changing world of AI happening before our eyes, it’s fun to remember the human side of work as well. We embrace AI at LetterStream. It has its place, and it makes for better efficiency. It’s honestly a fantastic tool to utilize.

But, do you know what else we embrace at LetterStream?

People. Our employees. Our customers.

No matter how much AI there is in the world, our people are still the heart of mail (which happens to be our updated Core Values. Check them out here). We don’t say it just to say it. In fact, we say it because we live it. Without the people who run the machines and keep an eye on your business-critical mail pieces, without the tech people, the sales and marketing people, our people in leadership—we wouldn’t be able to do what we do (at least with the same integrity).

Celebrating our hard-working, dedicated, loyal, and just plain awesome employees is something we truly love to do, and it’s not something we take lightly.

Printing and Mailing Made Fun

Every quarter, we invite our team members to join together for a few hours of just plain fun. Every now and then, we have it at our LetterStream headquarters (last year we had Hitachi come in and it was memorable to say the least), but usually we’re out and about at a cool place celebrating.

This year we did it at Bam Kazam (the name itself represents cool and fun, right?), and oh man, did we have an absolute blast! Not that we don’t at all of our parties, but this one was unique. Bam Kazam is part escape room, part adventure fun, part arcade…do we need to say more?

At past events, we’ve done an escape room, we’ve done an arcade, and we’ve done parties where some type of adventure was to be had (remembering our time go-kart racing), but this was the first time we’ve done all of them at once. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something unique that is a great team-building event for your employees that also brings in a lot of laughs. It took place on August 13^th and we’re still hearing rumbles of it between team members in the back… that’s how much fun it was.

Innovation In Mail

During each of our parties, we not only take the time to celebrate but we also take the time to review the quarter—our wins, areas that could possibly use some improvements, milestones, introducing new employees, and preparing for the upcoming season. Our presentations are our way of over-communicating with the team and making sure everyone is kept in the loop, while also recognizing the hard work that each and every person puts in here. Then it’s on to games and prizes and of course, food (this time it was a burger bar!) before the main event. Oh, and we almost forgot to mention that we always have a theme to go along with our parties, and this quarter it was Innovation.

Our People Are the Heart Of Mail

We love sharing about our Employee Appreciation Parties because they truly mean a lot to us as a company. We love screaming about how great our employees are, the people who show up daily for us and for you.

The people who deserve to be recognized, even though you never see or hear from them (except if you’re emailing our awesome support team). The people who have helped shape LetterStream to become, well, LetterStream, for the past 22 years.

They make us more than just a printing and mailing company, a SaaS company, a company that can easily send First-Class Mail and Certified Mail online for you. They help make us different and set us apart from the rest. The innovation we have at LetterStream and our drive and love for what we do are what allow us to show up for our customers every single day.

We’ve said it once, and we’ll keep saying it. Thank you, LetterStream team members, for your dedication to our company, and thank you to our loyal customers who have trusted us with your mail over the years. We will continue to celebrate, innovate, work hard, have fun, and prioritize MAIL by sending fast, accurate, and reliable mail with mad customer love!

HOA Mail Simplified: Best Practices for HOA Managers

Managing HOA mail shouldn’t be the hardest part of the job. In fact, sending HOA Mail with LetterStream makes it a breeze.

HOA management is already full of moving parts—fielding resident complaints, managing vendors, scheduling board meetings, staying compliant with legal timelines.

So why does the simple act of sending mail still take up so much time?

If you’re printing, folding, stuffing, and tracking HOA mail manually, you’re not just overworked—you’re under-equipped.

Let’s talk best practices for HOA mail that actually save time, reduce stress, and keep your board (and residents) happy.

1. Create a Standardized HOA Mailing Calendar

Mailing isn’t just reactive—it should be planned.

Successful HOA managers build an annual calendar for mailings, including:

Annual meeting notices (with quorum and voting deadlines)
Budget announcements
Assessment bills or reminders
Rule changes and policy updates
Violation notices
Welcome letters and postcards for new residents

This lets you avoid last-minute panic (and helps ensure compliance with governing documents or state statutes).

2. Don’t Just Send Mail—Track It With Certified Mail

HOA mail often includes sensitive or time-bound communication. A notice of violation that doesn’t arrive? That’s a liability. A budget letter that gets lost? That’s a board complaint waiting to happen.

That’s why many associations choose First-Class Mail or Certified Mail with tracking—and why it’s critical that your system lets you track each piece from send to delivery.

With LetterStream, you get:

✅ USPS tracking
✅ Delivery status updates
✅ Optional Electronic Return Receipts
✅ One dashboard to manage it all

3. Send Real Mail Online—No Post Office Run Required

Imagine sending 600 annual meeting notices without ever loading a printer.

With LetterStream, you can upload a PDF, choose the mailing class, and click send. We take care of:

Printing
Folding
Stuffing
Barcoding
USPS handoff
Tracking (with Certified Mail and FedEx 2Day)
Return receipts (if needed)

You stay focused on the community. We handle the mail.

It’s especially useful when you’re managing multiple properties or handling mail remotely.

4. Know Your State’s Legal Requirements

HOA mail isn’t just a formality—it’s often legally required.

Some states require:

Specific language in notices
Minimum delivery timelines
Certified Mail for violations
Return receipts for compliance

Using a professional print and mail service ensures you’re hitting those deadlines and can show proof of compliance if questioned.

And if you manage HOAs in multiple states? Even more reason to use a centralized, trackable system.

5. Let Technology Do the Heavy Lifting

You’re not just a manager—you’re also a liaison, organizer, and sometimes even the peacemaker.

So why are you folding letters?

Let automation do what it does best.

With LetterStream’s StreamLogic™ technology, you can view every stage of your mailing—from job upload to USPS delivery (utilizing Certified Mail). No more digging through folders to find a lost tracking number.

6. Say Goodbye to “Did You Mail That Yet?”

The average HOA board sends hundreds of pieces of mail a year. Multiply that by multiple properties and suddenly you’re doing more admin than actual homeowner association management.

With LetterStream, your job is to hit upload. Ours is to do the rest—on time, every time.

And because you have a trackable option, you’re never stuck answering vague board questions without documentation.

HOA Mail Doesn’t Have to Be Manual

Your team is stretched enough. You shouldn’t have to build a mailroom just to send out violation letters.

Whether you’re sending 10 letters or 10,000, LetterStream gives managers the tools to stay on top of every HOA mailing—with speed, precision, and peace of mind.

Less paper. More control. Happier residents.
We call that a win-win.

LetterStream makes printing and mailing a breeze!

Easy Tasks That Take More Time Than Creating a Job on LetterStream

Let’s talk about tasks that take more time than creating a job on LetterStream, because if you didn’t already know, it only takes two minutes or less to send business-critical mail through LetterStream (after you’ve sent a job or two and learned the process).

What Can You Do in 2 Minutes?

You can microwave a burrito.
You can scroll through three LinkedIn posts.
You can watch your email load (again).

Or—you can send a complete, trackable, business-critical mailing job with LetterStream.

Seriously. Two minutes or less.

And once you realize how fast it is to send real mail online, everything else starts to feel… slow.

Let’s put it in perspective.

Here’s What Takes More Than 2 Minutes (Spoiler: Most Things)

Let’s start by talking about some tasks that take more than two minutes. We’re not trying to rush your life—but it’s eye-opening how many small things eat up your day while your mail could be handled in the background.

Making and drinking a cup of coffee or tea
Taking a shower
Preparing a quick breakfast (e.g., eggs, toast, smoothie)
Brushing teeth and flossing
Checking and responding to a few emails
Folding a small load of laundry
Tidying up a room (clearing dishes, fluffing pillows, quick vacuum)
Doing a short meditation or breathing exercise
Watering indoor or outdoor plants
Loading or unloading the dishwasher

Now, let’s go over some of your work tasks when it comes to sending business-critical mail:

Filing one piece of paper in a filing cabinet:
3 minutes (if you can find the right drawer)

Walking to the office printer and printing a job:
2–4 minutes (depending on if it jammed again)

Refilling the paper tray:
2–5 minutes (with a small paper cut bonus)

Waiting in line at the post office:
Minimum 15–20 minutes (on a good day)

Searching for that one return receipt you lost:
Good luck. That’s all we have to say on that one.

Sending a job through LetterStream?
Under 2 minutes, start to finish. From uploading the PDF to clicking “Submit Job,” you’re in and out.

Why Does This Matter? Because Time Is Expensive.

Let’s say your team sends 100 Certified letters a month.

If you’re spending 5 minutes per letter between printing, stuffing, form filling, and tracking… that’s 8+ hours of work. A whole workday—gone.

Even if you only save a couple of minutes per task, those savings stack up fast.

With LetterStream, you just upload your files, choose your settings (First-Class, Certified Mail, FedEx 2Day—your call), and we handle the rest.

You get the mail out fast—without sacrificing accuracy, tracking, or visibility.

Real Mail, Sent Smarter

This isn’t a marketing gimmick. Most customers are blown away by how fast it is to send mail once they create a free LetterStream account and get familiar with the process by sending a job or two.

You log in.
Upload your document.
Pick your options.
Hit send.
Done.

It really is that simple, and if it takes longer than 2 minutes, you probably stopped to grab coffee halfway through.

What About Accuracy? You Can Have Both.

Fast doesn’t mean sloppy. In fact, most errors in manual mail processes happen because people are trying to go too fast—rushing to get envelopes out the door.

LetterStream flips that. You move quickly because the system is designed for speed and accuracy.

“The Stream” ensures every job is barcoded, validated, and trackable—from upload to delivery.

Teams Who’ve Traded Chaos for Two-Minute Jobs

We see it every day:

HOA managers who send annual meeting notices without sorting resident lists
Law firms mailing Certified Mail for court deadlines—without stepping into a post office
Finance departments automating late notices weekly, all before lunch
Healthcare admins sending HIPAA letters and compliance mail with zero manual prep

Once they realize they don’t have to spend hours on mail… they never go back.

If You Have 2 Minutes, You Have Time to Send Mail

Seriously—next time you go to:

Reheat your coffee
Respond to a Slack message
Wait for your inbox to refresh
Load one spreadsheet
Unjam the copier (again)

…ask yourself: could I be using this moment to knock out a full mailing job instead?

Because with LetterStream, you probably could. Create a free LetterStream account here to send mail online in under 2 minutes or less!

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.

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!