We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Retail e-commerce sales totaled nearly $299.1 billion during the fourth quarter of 2022, representing 16% of retail sales in the United States during that time period. Shipping companies can help small businesses maintain good customer relationships by delivering orders on time and at reasonable rates. Some even help businesses by providing logistical assistance and managing inventory. We evaluated over a dozen shipping providers to simplify your selection process. We considered each company’s reputation, cost, speed, and customer service. Review our list of the best shipping companies for small businesses to find one that fits your needs. Best Shipping Companies for Small Businesses Best Shipping Companies for Small Businesses Final Verdict Compare Providers FAQs Methodology Why We Chose It The United States Postal Service (USPS) is our pick for the best overall shipping company for small businesses because it ships goods both domestically and internationally, offers discounts and loyalty credits to small businesses, and delivers goods within two to eight days, on average. Pros & Cons Pros Longevity in the shipping business Volume-based discounts and loyalty credits are available Shipping usually takes two to eight days, but varies with the mail type Free APIs are available to integrate shipping tools into small business websites Cons Deliveries on Sundays and holidays typically come with an added cost Overview The USPS has been in the shipping business for a very long time. It's been around since 1775, and it's unlikely to disappear any time soon. The USPS' shipping costs vary based on package size, delivery location, and delivery speed. For example, the retail rate for a Priority Mail small flat-rate box shipped domestically with delivery in one to three business days starts at $9.35. Businesses can also receive discounted pricing and loyalty credits. For example, companies using the online Click-N-Ship service from the USPS can earn spending-based shipping credits. The USPS has free application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow small businesses to easily add shipping tools to their websites. You can even get some deliveries on Sundays and holidays in major U.S. markets for an additional fee. Why We Chose It Sendle is our pick for the best shipper for small packages because of its competitive pricing for shipping domestic and international packages up to 20 pounds. Plus, shipping is 100% carbon neutral. Sendle also offers volume-based discounts, with a discount of up to 80% for businesses shipping at least 200 packages a month. Pros & Cons Pros No subscription fees or contracts Free pickup Shipping is 100% carbon neutral Certified as a B Corporation Cons Packages must be 20 pounds or less Integration with Amazon is unavailable Overview Sendle ships small packages throughout the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can also ship internationally from the U.S. with Sendle to over 180 countries. The standard cost to ship a small package domestically starts at $3.95. There aren’t any contracts or subscription fees. Although Sendle doesn’t offer an express shipping service, packages are usually delivered within one to five days with Sendle Preferred. Sendle makes it easy for even low volume e-commerce businesses to use its shipping, as it offers free integrations with Shopify, eBay, WooCommerce, and Etsy. Why We Chose It We chose UPS as the best small business shipping company for large packages because it offers competitive rates, excellent shipping resources, and guidance on how to prepare your goods for shipment. That includes step-by-step instructions for palletizing them. In addition, the company has a great reputation and tools designed specifically for small businesses. Pros & Cons Pros Retail cost of a large flat-rate box starts at a low rate of $21.05 Tools designed specifically for small businesses are available Same-day delivery available in some cases Cons Some APIs can’t be used on customer-facing websites Overview The retail cost of a large flat-rate box shipped domestically with UPS starts at $21.05 (price will vary depending on shipping speed). You’ll pay a retail price of $22.80 for a similar large flat-rate box from the USPS at the post office or online. Small businesses can get discounts of up to 50% for having a UPS account. While not all of the UPS APIs can be used on customer-facing websites, UPS has other services tailored for small businesses. These services include dashboards to give you insight into your shipments' status and tools built explicitly for e-commerce businesses. Why We Chose It We chose DHL Express as the best shipping company for international shipping because of its expertise and its wide variety of resources specifically designed to help small businesses engage in global trade. Pros & Cons Pros International shipping expertise Excellent resources to help businesses ship internationally Detailed service and rate guide Cons Many surcharges and optional service fees Overview DHL Express' service and rate guide provides detailed information about how much shipping costs when using its service. Costs vary widely based on your package’s size, whether it’s an import or export, the shipping speed, surcharges, and any optional services you choose. You’ll need to get a quote or use DHL’s rate guide to calculate your shipping costs. Pay attention to the details, including the terms of your shipping agreement, so you’re not hit with any surprises. DHL Express' shipping speed varies depending on the shipping details and how much you’re willing to pay. However, if speed is what you need, DHL Express has several plans to make delivery by the end of the next possible business day. Why We Chose It ShipBob is our choice for the best shipping company for e-commerce because it offers a full suite of e-commerce logistics services. It will also take care of warehousing and inventory management. Plus, small businesses may pay less for shipping with ShipBob than they might on their own since ShipBob has negotiated bulk discount rates with the four major carriers. The e-commerce software offered by ShipBob is free, with integrations to many key e-commerce applications, including e-commerce platforms and marketplaces like Walmart, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, and more. Pros & Cons Pros Includes a full suite of fulfillment services Provides bulk shipping discounts from the four major carriers Cons Company has only been in business since 2014 Overview ShipBob is great for e-commerce businesses, particularly those needing logistical help. After obtaining a quote from ShipBob, you’ll pay a one-time implementation fee to sign up. You'll also pay fees for ShipBob to receive your inventory (e.g., $25 per person per hour for the first two hours), warehouse your inventory (e.g., $5 per bin a month), and ship each order (discounted carrier rates, with free packing after the first five orders). Shipping boxes are free. With available two days shipping, orders placed before noon are shipped the same day. Orders made after noon will ship the next day. ShipBob has negotiated discounted bulk rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL for domestic and international shipping that might be less than you could get on your own. Moreover, ShipBob will give you a quote from all the major carriers for each order, making it easier to obtain the best shipping rate. Why We Chose It We chose FedEx as the small business shipping company that's best for quick shipping since it makes standard home deliveries every day, including Saturdays and Sundays. With every-day delivery, packages could be delivered up to two days more quickly than by other carriers. FedEx also offers tools to help small businesses streamline the fulfillment and shipping process, set up and grow their online businesses, and provide customer support. Pros & Cons Pros Home deliveries available every day in the U.S. Discounts and perks Small business grants are issued annually Cons Small package shipping costs are higher than USPS Overview FedEx ships internationally and to all 50 U.S states, including home deliveries on Saturdays and Sundays. Domestic FedEx Ground delivery takes 1 to 5 days in the contiguous United States and 3 to 7 days to Alaska and Hawaii. Shipping costs vary depending on delivery speed, which FedEx clearly displays on its website. You’ll need to get a quote to figure out precisely what it will cost you to ship your goods. When comparing quotes we generally found FedEx to be more expensive than the USPS. However, your packages could be delivered faster since FedEx makes home deliveries on Sunday. Why We Chose It EasyPost is our winner for the best affordable option for small business shipping because it’s a platform that allows you to compare the shipping costs and speeds of more than 100 carriers. EasyPost’s API is free to use for up to 120,000 shipments per year, making it easy for small businesses to find the most affordable shipping option. Pros & Cons Pros Free API for up to 120,000 shipments per year Ability to shop prices with 100+ carriers Helps simplify, automate, and control the shipping process Cons Doesn’t directly ship goods Quote required for 120,000+ shipments Overview Creating an account with EasyPost is free and its APIs can be set up and integrated in a day.You will, however, need to build an integration to access the API. The base Developer package offered by EasyPost is free and allows you to check prices, review shipping speeds, create shipping labels, and track shipments for 120,000 packages a year. If you have a higher shipping volume, you’ll need to get a quote from EasyPost on its Enterprise package. However, the package volume included in the Developer package should be sufficient for most small businesses. While all of the small business shipping companies on our list are good options, we chose the USPS as the best overall shipping company for small business because it has a long history of operations, typically offers the best shipping rates, and can deliver packages at the quickest speeds to meet the shipping needs of most small businesses. Ground shipping is the most common way that small businesses ship their goods. The major carriers in the U.S. used by most small businesses to ship their goods are the USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL.In 2021, the USPS' shipping volume was 7.6 billion packages. UPS delivered about 6.4 billion packages in 2021. Charges vary based on a package’s size, destination, and how quickly it needs to arrive. You can expect to pay an average retail price of $8 to $12 to ship a small package and $17 to $21 to ship a large package domestically, with delivery speeds ranging from one to five business days. Although the USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL are the largest carriers in the U.S., there are other carrier options. Small businesses can use APIs that make it easy to compare shipping prices across multiple carriers. That can help reduce their shipping costs. Actually, where pricing is concerned, the USPS may be the better choice for shipping if you're a small business. However, UPS and FedEx may get your packages to their destinations faster (at an extra cost). The USPS offers attractive shipping costs. However, EasyPost is an attractive option for small businesses as well because it lets you compare carrier pricing so you can select the best price for a particular shipment. To find the best shipping companies for small businesses, we reviewed over a dozen providers to learn how much their shipping costs, how quickly you can get your goods shipped, and how easy it is to do business with them. We also evaluated the reputations of each small business shipping company. The best shipping companies offer affordable rates and quick shipping speeds, plus they have tools and resources specifically designed for small businesses. All of our small business shipping company selections are reputable companies that can help you get your goods shipped affordably, quickly, and reliably. Article Sources U.S. Census Bureau. "Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales." U.S. Postal Service. "About the United States Postal Service." United States Postal Service. "Mail & Shipping Service." Sendle. "Spend Less on Deliveries." Sendle. "International Delivery Coverage." Sendle. "Spend Less on Deliveries." Sendle. "Save Up to 83% on Small Business Shipping When You Send With Sendle." U.S. Postal Service. "Priority Mail." UPS. "Open a UPS Account for Shipping Discounts and Other Benefits." ShipBob. "Clear Order Fulfillment Pricing." ShipBob. "Fulfillment Costs Explained." FedEx. "FedEx Home Delivery." EasyPost. "The Complete Shipping Solution." EasyPost. "Easy API. Easy Pricing." EasyPost. "Easy API. Easy Pricing." United States Postal Service. "A Decade of Facts & Figures." UPS. "Company Profile."Best Shipping Companies for Small Business of 2023
Best Overall : United States Postal Service
Discounts Plan Loyalty Credits Base Loyalty Program $40 credit/$500 spent (automatic enrollment) Silver Tier $50 credit/$500 spent (enrollment with $10,000 or more spent during the prior calendar year) Gold Tier Commercial Base Pricing — up to 20% off (enrollment with $20,000 or more spent during the prior calendar year) Best for Small Packages : Sendle
Best for Large Packages : UPS
Best for International Shipping : DHL Express
Best for e-Commerce Business : ShipBob
Best for Quick Shipping : FedEx
Best Affordable Option : EasyPost
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Shipping Companies for Small Business
Shipping Company Why We Picked It Domestic Delivery Speed United States Postal Service Offers the best rates and quickest speeds for most small business shipping needs 2 to 8 days on average Sendle Competitive with the retail price of the major carriers for small packages up to 20 pounds 1 to 5 business days on average UPS Offers lower pricing than other carriers for large packages As soon as same day in some areas, otherwise varies with distance and service type DHL Express Shares its international shipping expertise with small businesses who need to ship globally Time-critical next-day delivery available ShipBob Provides a full suite of logistic solutions to e-commerce businesses, including shipping 2-day delivery available FedEx Delivers domestic shipments to homes every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5 business days is standard EasyPost Allows small businesses to find the most affordable price from 100+ carriers Depends on the carrier Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Most Small Businesses Ship Goods?
How Much Do Shipping Companies Cost?
What Shipping Options Do Small Businesses Have?
Is UPS or FedEx Better for a Small Business?
What Is the Cheapest Way to Ship for a Small Business?
Methodology
Best Shipping Companies for Small Business of 2023 (2024)
Table of Contents
Best Shipping Companies for Small Business of 2023
Best Overall : United States Postal Service
Best for Small Packages : Sendle
Best for Large Packages : UPS
Best for International Shipping : DHL Express
Best for e-Commerce Business : ShipBob
Best for Quick Shipping : FedEx
Best Affordable Option : EasyPost
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Shipping Companies for Small Business
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Most Small Businesses Ship Goods?
How Much Do Shipping Companies Cost?
What Shipping Options Do Small Businesses Have?
Is UPS or FedEx Better for a Small Business?
What Is the Cheapest Way to Ship for a Small Business?
Methodology
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