Go to the Post Office and start the conversation by saying that you would like
to set up a business P.O. Box, and that you are interested
in the prices. The postal worker worker should ask your name, and you would say "R.S. software," for example, or whatever the name of your company is.
They will probably suggest the very small boxes for a price, and a
more modest sized box for a larger price. You choose one,
and they will give you a form to fill out. You fill out
the home address as it appears on your license, write in your license number, and give a phone number.
Also, the larger the Post Office, the higher the prices will probably be
for P.O. boxes. However, they usually allow a person to get a rebate
if they close the box early (before the 6 month to 1 yr.
period). Smaller Post Offices can be quit a bit cheaper, but
may not allow a rebate for their smaller boxes (during what
is often a 6 month period).
If you start at software business and send a computer disks through the mail, you will need
to write on the front in red letters "DO NOT X-RAY" as x-rays may hurt
the magnetic material of the disk.
A wide variety of services are available at Mail Boxes Etc., or similar
postal service stores in your area. These may include: P.O. Boxes, mail drop
services, money orders, fax, etc. In addition, home-based business may use
a company that offers a remailing service to advertise with a home address
(even though it's really the remailer's address). Studies show that it
makes the customer feel more at ease and much more willing to buy. Remailing services
remail for reasonable fees. One good mail forwarding service
is Secure Mail Drop.com, which offers a free trial offer and accepts many forms of payment.
This Mailbox and Packaging Stores Database lists over 9000 stores offering services such as copying, faxing, mailbox rental, packaging and shipping through various shippers, mail forwarding, voice mail, and many, many more services. It is searchable by zip code.
A growing number of people selling computer software use
call answering services. These people can then have
a voice mail box so that customers can leave a message on their
business answering machine.
A company like Mail Boxes Etc, or a local call answering
service, should offer voice mail services. One company offering a nationwide live answering service
for business people is Your Answering Service. They even offer a 10 day free trail.
AnserveAmerica is a particularly cost-effective service for offering voice mail at only $19.95 per month.