send mail online | LetterStream Blog

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.

How to Improve Company Culture With Your Mailing Strategy

Ever seen a company that still prints invoices one at a time, seals them by hand, and hopes they don’t run out of envelopes again this week?

It might seem harmless—or even charming—but here’s the truth: the way your business handles its mail says more about your internal culture than you might realize.

Whether you’re a growing healthcare practice, a multi-location law firm, or a property management company juggling thousands of statements, your mailing strategy reflects your values. Speed. Precision. Accountability. Flexibility. It’s all there, hidden in the way you send that Certified Mail notice or First-Class billing reminder.

So, what does your mail say about you?

Your Operations Are a Mirror

Let’s say your office manager spends two hours a day printing, folding, and stuffing envelopes. That’s not just inefficiency—it’s culture signaling. It says you’re okay with manual tasks eating up valuable time. It suggests you might be slow to adopt automation, or that you prioritize tradition over scale.

Now flip the script. Imagine a streamlined system where someone uploads a document, clicks a button, and it’s out the door—automatically tracked, printed, and handled. That doesn’t just save time. It communicates trust in technology, intentionality in operations, and care for your people’s time.

And yes, it says you’re serious about getting important documents where they need to go—without excuses.

The Hidden Impact on Employee Experience

Culture isn’t just what you say in your handbook—it’s how your team feels when they show up to work. If your staff is bogged down with printer jams and envelope glue, they’re not doing their best work. They’re surviving the work.

When companies use a print and mail service to handle time-consuming document delivery, they free up space for employees to focus on meaningful tasks. That shift sends a message: We value your time. We want your role to scale with the business. We invest in tools that support your success.

It’s one of the quietest, most powerful morale boosters out there.

Trust Starts with Precision

If your mail is inconsistent, delayed, or missing tracking info, your customers notice—even if they never say a word. Slow mail can erode trust, especially when dealing with invoices, legal notices, or anything compliance-related.

Automating your Certified Mail online or First-Class notices communicates professionalism. It shows that you don’t just say you care about details—you prove it with reliable, traceable systems.

A modern mail strategy shows you value transparency and accuracy. It reinforces that you’re a company people can count on.

Adaptability Matters More Than Ever

Let’s talk about 2020. (Briefly, promise.)

The businesses that adapted—who already had scalable systems in place or pivoted quickly—came out stronger. Those clinging to in-person processes struggled. Your mail strategy needs to be as adaptable as your business model.

Using an online platform to send mail allows your team to upload and send from anywhere. Whether they’re at headquarters, in a remote office, or working from a laptop at home, the system stays the same. That’s culture. That’s flexibility. That’s long-term thinking.

What Industry Leaders Are Already Doing

Forward-thinking organizations in legal, healthcare, and property management already rely on automated platforms like LetterStream. Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s smart.

They’ve realized that outsourcing print and mail doesn’t just solve a logistics problem. It sets the tone for how their business operates: efficiently, reliably, and without bottlenecks.

Plus, they get access to features like StreamLogic™ to automate recurring sends, track every mailpiece, and get real-time delivery data.

That’s not just better mail—that’s a better organization.

Where to Begin: Start Small, Then Scale

You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. Start by identifying your most repetitive, high-volume mailing tasks:

Monthly statements
Legal notices
Internal HR documents
Certified Mail to clients or vendors

From there, integrate a print and mail service that lets your team send them online, with tracking and delivery confirmation. Over time, you’ll build a smarter, more resilient mail operation—and a more empowered team.

Culture Is in the Details

At the end of the day, your mailing strategy is about more than envelopes and paper trays. It’s a reflection of what you stand for.

Do you prioritize people’s time?
Are you ready to scale?
Do you invest in the right tools for the job?

When your mail says yes to all of those questions—your company culture becomes something your employees and clients actually feel. And that makes all the difference.

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 Schools and Institutions Can Easily Get Mail Sent Out

LetterStream helps schools and institutions send mail online.

The back-to-school season doesn’t just mean new pencils, packed cafeterias, and orientation emails—it also means a mountain of critical mail. Universities, community colleges, K–12 schools, and trade institutions are flooded with time-sensitive documents: financial aid letters, tuition statements, admissions decisions, policy updates, transcripts… you name it.

And if you’re still relying on in-house printers, overworked office staff, or worse—hoping the copier doesn’t jam again—it’s time to rethink your strategy.

Because yes, you can send mail online. And for schools, that’s not just a convenience—it’s a necessity.

Why Physical Mail Still Rules in Education

While email is convenient, important communications for educational institutions still depend on print. Why? Because mail adds formality, visibility, and compliance, especially when it comes to:

Financial aid decisions (FERPA-compliant formats, dated proofs of delivery)
Transcripts and graduation paperwork (often require original signatures or secure handling)
Admissions packets (first impressions matter—and physical mail carries weight)
Policy updates or disciplinary notices (Certified Mail ensures legal protection)

Even in 2025, there are moments where digital just doesn’t cut it. And that’s where a modern print and mail service comes in.

A Better Way to Send School Mail: Online Platforms Built for Volume and Urgency

Imagine this: your admissions team uploads a PDF. It’s printed, stuffed, sorted, and sent—without you ever touching a printer. That’s what platforms like LetterStream offer: scalable mail automation that’s FERPA-friendly and built for accuracy.

Whether you’re sending 25 dorm move-in letters or 25,000 tuition notices, LetterStream can handle it, tracking each piece with delivery confirmation (using Certified Mail online) and keeping your staff free for more strategic work.

No supply closet stocking. No copier repairs. No “who forgot to seal the envelopes?” chaos.

Start-of-Year Chaos? Not Anymore.

The beginning of a semester brings serious mail traffic. Here’s what’s typically on your list:

Financial aid re-approvals
Parking permits and ID badge instructions
Class schedule confirmations
Housing assignments and rule packets
Student conduct updates
Billing notices for late tuition payments

That’s… a lot. And if you’re managing all of that in-house, your administrative staff is likely overwhelmed before you even begin.

By using a send mail online solution, you’re not just improving operations—you’re protecting your team’s sanity.

Bonus Points for Compliance (Yes, That’s a Thing)

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) compliance isn’t optional. Neither is securely handling sensitive documents that include personal, academic, or financial data.

LetterStream’s systems are built to keep your mail secure and your records in line with industry regulations. You get audit trails, tracking numbers, and digital proofs of delivery. Need to send a transcript with Certified Mail? Done.

Oh, and we keep your data encrypted and protected—so IT can rest easy too.

From Admissions to Alumni: Supporting the Entire Student Journey

Let’s not forget the departments beyond admissions:

Registrar → Sends graduation verification, transcript requests, and enrollment status updates
Housing → Sends room assignments, checklists, and policy reminders
Financial Aid → Sends FAFSA status letters, disbursement timelines, and appeals notices
Student Conduct → Sends disciplinary notices and appeals by Certified Mail
Alumni Relations → Sends reunion invites, updates, and donation letters

Each department has mail needs—and different audiences to reach. However, with a centralized print and mail service, you can route everything through one streamlined platform.

The Real Win? Your People Focus on People

Most educational institutions don’t hire admin teams to fold letters and feed paper into trays. They hire them to support students, solve problems, and lead change.

When you move your mail operations online, you give your team the chance to do just that.

Less folding. More focus. Better service.

The Final Grade

Let’s be honest—printing and mailing shouldn’t feel like detention. Whether you’re prepping for move-in day or midterms, your students and faculty deserve systems that work. Modern, compliant, trackable, and fast.

Make the switch this semester. Your staff will thank you. And your copier? It can finally retire in peace.

The Security Behind Online Printing and Mailing Services at LetterStream

Let’s talk security in mailing.

Not the “reset your password again” kind of security—I’m talking about the kind that makes sure your sensitive mail gets where it’s supposed to go, without detours, delays, or drama.

Because here’s the thing: when you send important mail—statements, violation notices, ballots, financial docs—you’re not just trusting us with paper. You’re trusting us with information. And that trust is everything.

So let me pull back the curtain a bit on how security actually works around here at LetterStream.

Not Just a Mailroom—A Lockbox with Printers

People tend to imagine online printing and mailing as this kind of vague cloud system—some portal, a few clicks, and poof! Your mail is out.

And yes, that’s basically how easy it is to send with us. But behind the curtain? It’s more like a highly controlled environment with restricted access, audit trails, secure handling practices, and daily internal checks. Think Fort Knox meets FedEx meets a team that drinks too much coffee and really loves precision.

We don’t let just anyone near your data or your mail. Our employees undergo background checks. Our building has access control. Our systems have layers of protection—digital and physical. Every file that comes through is tracked, logged, encrypted, and then processed with care. We’re not messing around.

We Take Privacy Seriously—And Personally

Here’s something else you should know: LetterStream does not share or sell customer information—period.

Your data stays your data. We don’t mine it, market it, or pass it off to third-party vendors. From the moment you upload your job to the moment it’s mailed, everything stays in our secure environment. We handle it ourselves—from file receipt to final postage—because we believe your privacy isn’t just a feature, it’s a non-negotiable promise.

If you’re curious, this philosophy is baked into how we serve sensitive industries like HOAs, legal offices, financial services, and healthcare.

Your Files Don’t Roam

Unlike sending attachments via email or bouncing files between vendors, your documents stay in one secure ecosystem. When you upload them to LetterStream, they don’t leave our environment. We’re the ones printing, inserting, sealing, and mailing them. No third-party handoffs. No “we’ll get back to you.” No weird delays.

Which also means—fewer opportunities for error. (And honestly, way less stress.)

Certified Mail, First-Class, and Everything in Between—All Logged, All Secure

If you’re sending Certified Mail or First-Class Mail with us (and a lot of our customers are), you already know how critical it is that every piece goes out correctly, with tracking to back it up. But that’s only half the story.

We track every order internally too. Our systems log not only what was printed and mailed, but also when, how, by whom, and through what exact process. We’re basically your out-of-house compliance department.

Want to go deeper into how Certified Mail works? Read this: Why Certified Mail is Better Managed Online

We Keep the Data, But We Don’t Keep the Data

Here’s how it works: by default, we retain your jobs and documents indefinitely. Why? Because most of our clients like having a digital paper trail they can revisit any time. That said, if you’d rather not hang onto your files forever, we’ve got options. Account owners can configure their settings to automatically purge old jobs after a set period. So yes, you can keep everything—or nothing. Your call.

The Human Layer of Security

We also train our team not just on operations, but on why it all matters. That part doesn’t show up on an audit form, but it’s how you build a culture of care. Everyone here understands that we’re handling real information from real people—often at really high stakes.

That’s what makes the difference. That’s what makes it secure.

So, Is Online Printing and Mailing Secure?

When you’re doing it with LetterStream? Yes. Fully. End-to-end. Auditable. Traceable. Lock-it-down kind of secure.

We know trust isn’t a feature—it’s earned. So we show up every day ready to earn it.

If you’re new here and want to see how this all works in action, start here.

Easily Send Postcards Online and Why They Work

You know what’s wild? Postcards still work.

Even in a world of cluttered inboxes, push notifications constantly going off, Slack pings, and at least one text thread you forgot to answer last week—an old-fashioned postcard still finds a way to be seen. Touched. Read. Maybe even pinned to the fridge.

We send a lot of mail here, and let me tell you: business postcards punch way above their weight.

This is especially true when you’re not just sending them to say hi—you’re using them to remind, alert, warn, or get someone’s attention fast, especially from a business perspective.

Let’s break this down.

Why send postcards in the first place?

Because they skip the envelope. That’s it. That’s the post.
(Just kidding—but also kind of not.)

Okay, here it is. When someone pulls a postcard out of their mailbox, your message is right there. No extra steps, no tearing it open, no wondering if it’s junk. Whether it’s a reminder for an HOA meeting, a past-due notice, or a friendly “Hey, don’t forget,” a postcard is the fastest way to get seen.

And bonus: they’re usually cheaper than full letters, which adds up if you’re sending hundreds (or thousands).

Ok, so what’s the catch?

Honestly? The only catch used to be that you had to design them, print them, cut them, stamp them, and then physically go to the Post Office to send them. Or you had to pay to have someone else do the first part to then have them send the postcards to you, and then again, you still have to go to the Post Office to send them off.

But we built not one but two postcard options that solve all that—so you can literally upload a file, pick your postcard, and let us do the heavy lifting. (Like, within 24–48 hours kind of fast.)

What are the two postcard options?

Glad you asked. They’ve got very official names: Express and PRO.
Here’s the simplest way to think about them:

📨 Express Postcard

Size: 4.25″ x 5.5″
Image on one side
Black-and-white or color
Printed on 80# white paper
Quarter-inch white margin
Simple, fast, gets the job done
Great for reminders, updates, or “hey, you missed a payment” types of messages
Mailed First-Class

Think of this one as your reliable little workhorse. No fuss, just results.

Learn more about Express Postcards here: High Quality Postcards | Full Bleed Color | Easy To Use – LetterStream

📣 PRO Postcard

Size: 5.5″ x 8.5″
Full-color, full-bleed on both sides
Bigger, bolder, and much more “look at me”
Printed on 120# premium paper
Best for announcements, events, or anything visual you want to pop
Mailed First-Class

This one? This is your show pony. It’s got stage presence.

Learn more about Pro Postcards here: High Quality Postcards | Full Bleed Color | Easy To Use – LetterStream

But how hard is it to actually send one?

Here’s the magic:
It takes less time than it does to complain about your postage meter.

You just:

Upload your PDF (front/back or just one side)
Upload your addresses
Pick Express or PRO
Hit send

That’s it. No minimums. No templates to wrestle with. No Post Office runs. We’ll even show you a real-time proof online before you approve it.

Let LetterStream send your postcards for you

You’ve got enough to do. If you need to get a clear, important message in front of someone—fast—skip the envelope and go with a postcard. And even better, skip doing it all yourself!

If you’ve got a message to send, we’ve got a postcard for it. Click here to create a free account and start sending your postcards instantly.

(And yes, you really can send one right now. We’re ready when you are.)