How Do Franking Machines Work?

Wondering how franking machines work? Our simple and very useful infographic shows you exactly how simple and easy it is to use. See how to weigh your letters/parcels and how to pop them into your post box.

Franking machines have been around for a long time – over 90 years in fact! They have been helping businesses of all sizes benefit further when sending their mail in the post, making the entire process quicker and more efficient for all. However not every business in the UK uses a franking machine. If you are new or fairly new to this new way of sending your mail or you simply have no clue how a franking machine works, our infographic is just for you.

Do you know how a franking machine works? Our simple Infographic below will provide you with a simple how to guide on using franking machines to your advantage (our entry level Mailstart+ franking machine) . From weighing your mail to popping it into the post box, our guide has it all.

How Does A Franking Machine Work Infographic

1. Place your letter/parcel on the scales.

First of all you need to place your letter or parcel on to the scales. Every franking machine should come with some scales and these can either be integrated into the franking machine (as per the example) or they will be seperate. Either way, by weighing your item you will get the exact weight. Exact weight = correct postage.

2. Select the size & service

Secondly, by using the franking machines navigation menu system, you need to select the exact size and service that you wish to use. Within a few clicks you will have selected your options. Your mail, your choice.

3. add a message

A very useful benefit of using a franking machine is that you can add a personalised message and/or logo onto your outgoing items. This will give your mail items that professional finish, helping increase brand awareness. Promote your business at no extra cost and make an immediate impact on your customers and potential customers.

4. Calculate the exact postage

Next you need to calculate the postage of the item that you are sending. Again by using your franking machines weighing scales you can ensure that the exact postage is paid every time, automatically. This will help reduce any risk of miss paying for your items. By benefitting from the Royal Mails lower Mailmark postage rates you will also make huge franking savings at the same time.

5. Insert your envelope or label

Following on, the next step is to insert your envelope or franking label (for your larger parcels & packets). Every franking machine comes with a feeder and slot for your envelopes/labels to be inserted and franked. Your franking machine will then apply a franking machine and this includes the postage amount, date, company logo/message and 2D barcode.

6. Pop your mail into a post box

Finally, now that your item has been successfully franked, you can repeat this process for all the items you wish to send on that day. If you have done this then it is time to take them to your local post office, post them into a business posting box or post into a regular post box using meter posting envelopes. That’s really all there is to the entire franking process!

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Happy Parcel Man

Mailcoms are proud to offer our customers automatic recurring orders without the need to remember to keep ordering the same essential business supplies products time and time again. This also allows us to forecast our stock requirements so you don’t have to worry about running out ever again.

Most importantly, with us automatically creating your order at a frequency of your choice you can always be confident that the products supplied will be guaranteed genuine Mailcoms products.

When you subscribe & save you will automatically create an order based on the subscription duration and frequency that you select. Your payment details will be stored securely with the world renowned trusted payment gateway ‘Stripe’ and you’ll be charged for each of these deliveries, unless you choose to pay in advance.

We will send you a reminder a few days before your order is generated to allow you to add to, amend, skip, delay, or cancel should you need to. If you want to cancel or change your subscribe & save products, you can do so at any time. Your order confirmation emails have links to your order where you can manage your subscription from.

See our terms & conditions for more details on returns and refunds. See more here.

RISK FREE - 100% Total Satisfaction Guarantee

We provide a FREE visual photo of your item and will not process and print your complete order until you have approved by either our proof approval application, email or video. You can make amendments as required until you are satisfied with your samples before your order is put into full production. If you wish to order a physical sample first, you can do so by getting in touch with us. Amendments can still be made after receipt of the item however these will be visual approvals only. The full cost of the sample will be refunded off your first full order*. If you are not happy with the quality of the printed sample we will refund your order in full without quibble.

Delivery Information

We offer a free standard 3-5 working day delivery service on most of our website orders (£100 minimum order spend for packaging supplies). Please see additional details below for clarification, alternatively please add your required items to your basket where the total shipping costs will be calculated for you.

Please note our delivery cut off times are as follows:

  • Franking Supplies: 4:00pm
  • Packaging Supplies: 3.00pm

Please note that parcels can be delivered any time between the hours of 7am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, unfortunately we are unable to offer specific times for deliveries or offer Saturday deliveries. Delivery times detailed below can be affected by national and / or local disruption, seasonal and / or weather conditions as our deliveries are carried out by third party couriers.

Franking Supplies

Standard 3 – 5 Working Day Delivery

Working days are Monday to Friday, we do not deliver on bank holidays or weekends or include these days within our time scales. We cannot make deliveries outside of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Unfortunately we cannot deliver to a PO Box or a BFPO address. Please note a minimum delivery charge of £9.95 will be quoted on the following postcodes, irrespective of the value of the order; AB31-38, AB41-56, BT, FK19-21, HS1-9, IV41-49, IV51, IV55-56, KA27-28, PA20, PA41, PA60-88, PH42-44, GY, JE, IM, PO31-41, TR21-25. Please be aware that an additional charge will be added before your order is processed due to the postcode location. A member of our team will be in touch once we have received the initial order.

48 Hour Delivery Upgrade

48-hour delivery charges will be at a standard rate of £4.95. Orders received before 4:00pm Monday – Friday we will aim to deliver within 2 working days. Please note a minimum delivery charge of £9.95 will be quoted on the following postcodes; AB31-38, AB41-56, BT, FK19-21, HS1-9, IV41-49, IV51, IV55-56, KA27-28, PA20, PA41, PA60-88, PH42-44, GY, JE, IM, PO31-41, TR21-25. Deliveries to this post code may take longer therefore please allow 3-5 days delivery. Please be aware that an additional charge will be added before your order is processed due to the postcode location. A member of our team will be in touch once we have received the initial order.

Next Working Day Delivery Upgrade

Next Working Day delivery charges will be at a standard rate of £6.95. Please note that this is not a guaranteed service. Orders received before 4:00pm Monday – Thursday we will aim to deliver next working day. Orders received before 4:00pm Fridays we will aim to deliver the following Monday. Please note a minimum delivery charge of £9.95 will be quoted on the following postcodes; AB31-38, AB41-56, BT, FK19-21, HS1-9, IV41-49, IV51, IV55-56, KA27-28, PA20, PA41, PA60-88, PH42-44, GY, JE, IM, PO31-41, TR21-25. Please note we are unable to offer a guaranteed next day delivery service to these areas and they may take longer therefore please allow 3-5 days delivery. Please be aware that an additional charge will be added before your order is processed due to the postcode location. A member of our team will be in touch once we have received the initial order.

Packaging Supplies

Standard 3 – 5 Working Day Delivery

Standard 3 – 5 Working Day Delivery is FREE on orders over £100.00, if your order is under this value, the charge will be at a standard rate of £6.95. Working days are Monday to Friday, we do not deliver on bank holidays or weekends or include these days within our time scales. We cannot make deliveries outside of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Unfortunately we cannot deliver to a PO Box or a BFPO address. Please note a minimum delivery charge of £9.95 will be quoted on the following postcodes, irrespective of the value of the order; AB31-38, AB41-56, BT, FK19-21, HS1-9, IV41-49, IV51, IV55-56, KA27-28, PA20, PA41, PA60-88, PH42-44, GY, JE, IM, PO31-41, TR21-25. Please be aware that an additional charge will be added before your order is processed due to the postcode location. A member of our team will be in touch once we have received the initial order.

Next Working Day Delivery Upgrade

Next Working Day delivery charges will be at a standard rate of £9.95. Please note that this is not a guaranteed service. Orders received before 3:00pm Monday – Thursday we will aim to deliver next working day, orders received before 3:00pm Fridays we will aim to deliver the following Monday (with the exception of Bank Holiday Mondays, where deliveries will be on the Tuesday). Please note we are unable to offer a guaranteed next day delivery service to the following postcodes; AB31-38, AB41-56, BT, FK19-21, HS1-9, IV41-49, IV51, IV55-56, KA27-28, PA20, PA41, PA60-88, PH42-44, GY, JE, IM, PO31-41, TR21-25 therefore please allow 3-5 days delivery. Please be aware that an additional charge will be added before your order is processed due to the postcode location. A member of our team will be in touch once we have received the initial order.

Exceptional/Bulk Consignments

Depending on your total basket order, delivery charges may increase compared to the above and advertised postage charges. This is due to multi-consignment/overweight items and/or delivery locations. Please add the items required to your basket to update your delivery charge. Occasionally we may need to requote your packaging cost if the delivery location and consignment size is outside of our current couriers capabilities, if this is case we will contact you to discuss and clarify.

Please also note that dependent on product and/or quantity your order may be despatched on a pallet, if you are unable to accept pallet deliveries then please contact us to discuss your options.

Subscribe & Save

Happy Parcel Man

Mailcoms are proud to offer our customers automatic recurring orders without the need to remember to keep ordering the same essential business supplies products time and time again. This also allows us to forecast our stock requirements so you don’t have to worry about running out ever again.

Most importantly, with us automatically creating your order at a frequency of your choice you can always be confident that the products supplied will be guaranteed genuine Mailcoms products.

When you ‘Subscribe & Save’ we will automatically create an order based on your requested duration and frequency. Your payment details will be stored securely with the world renowned trusted payment gateway ‘Stripe’ and you’ll be charged for each of these deliveries, unless you choose to pay in advance.

We will send you a reminder a few days before your order is generated to allow you to add to, amend, skip, delay, or cancel should you need to. If you want to cancel or change your ‘Subscribe & Save’ products, you can do so at any time. Your order confirmation emails have links to your account where you can manage your subscription from.

See our terms & conditions for more details on returns and refunds. See more here.

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Did you know?

You can now get FREE PROOF OF DELIVERY with every Royal Mail 1st Class & 2nd Class parcel and packet sent. ALSO FULLY COMPATIBLE ‘Signed For’ & ‘Special Delivery’ with Mailcoms’ latest franking machine range.

Mailsend Lite Parcel Franking Machine
Mailsend Plus Franking Machine