#mailboxesetc

It’s back to work – but not as we know it

If getting back to work this January means firing up the laptop and deciding whether or not to stay in your PJs, you could be forgiven for feeling a little wistful for the companionship and support you once took for granted in your workplace.

In past years, going back to work meant getting the New Year underway, starting afresh and reconnecting with colleagues. This year, things are going to feel rather different, but that doesn’t mean you have to do without the support you’re used to.

And even if your business has always been based at home, there are still ways to get some buzz into your working week and make 2021 the year that sees your business’s reach and reputation grow.

The support system you need

Whether you want the ease and simplicity of print and copy on demand, or post, parcel and courier services from trusted global providers, we’re here to give you essential business back-up.

Take our contactless copying, for example. While we love to see our customers face-to-face, we also understand that in the current circumstances you want services at the click of a mouse. If you’ve run out of paper or expensive toner cartridges, or your home printer is struggling to cope, use ours instead. Just email us your file, or upload your artwork, tell us the quantities and specifications you need, and we’ll print it in digital colour or black and white. We also bind and laminate, and we can deliver it back to you by post or courier. Ask about our design services too.

Missing the mailroom? If you’re planning a mailout but don’t want to stand in a queue with your post, we offer everything from Royal Mail stamps to printing, folding, sealing, weighing, franking and sending mailshots on your behalf.

Need to send urgent documents, packages or parcels? Concerned about customs rules for overseas shipments now Brexit is a reality? Relax – you can rely on our in-store experts to handle everything on your behalf. We offer a choice of trusted global couriers, including UPS, FedEx, Parcelforce Worldwide and DHL, and our experts know all about customs regulations and country-specific requirements. If you need packaging materials, we’ve got plenty in-store, or we’ll pack for you. We’ll collect from you if that’s easier, too. And for extra peace of mind, our Enhanced Cover compensation scheme offers added protection.

Boost your business, with a little help from MBE

If your business is based at home, why not widen your horizons in 2021 with a virtual office solution? Choose from more than 150 professional ‘high street’ addresses across the UK and Ireland, and keep your business and home lives separate. We’ll accept your mail and signed-for deliveries from any carrier, and we’ll hold your post and parcels until you can safely collect them, or we can forward them to any address worldwide.

But perhaps the best bit is that you get to grow your business’s reputation with a prestigious address that you can use on your company stationery, business cards, website and directory listings. A professional address lets everyone know your organisation is a force to be reckoned with – something that’s crucial for freelancers and consultants who are competing with bigger firms.

A virtual office solution wraps up all our business support services into a one-stop package for all the back-up you need. And our expertise comes as standard.

Why a virtual office makes great business sense

If you’re starting up this year, or looking to grow your current business, it’s worth considering a virtual office address for a professional image with the flexibility of working wherever suits you best.

It’s tempting to work from home as a start-up, keeping overheads low and benefiting from the tax breaks that come with using your home as your office, and there’s no reason why you can’t continue that way.  But for minimal investment, there are lots of benefits to having a virtual business address.

Start with a mailbox

A mailbox lets you separate your business life from your personal life. Using your mailbox address as your director’s service address protects your privacy by keeping your home details off the public register.  

You can also register your company at our address, and we can help with company formation – we currently support over 14,000 business professionals around the UK with company registration and virtual office services.

When you set up your own business, it’s important to start as you mean to go on: a professional address makes the right impression on your customers and contacts from day one.  

At Mail Boxes Etc. we have hundreds of prestigious business locations to choose from – just decide where you want to base your business and use our address as yours.  It’s also a great way to expand your geographical reach without investing in business premises in new locations.

A professional address works hard for you online as well as offline. Google likes business addresses, so why not help boost your Google rankings and ensure you come close to the top in any relevant searches?

Add the services you need

Meanwhile in the real bricks-and-mortar world, your virtual address can be your best friend when it comes to business back-up.  

If you haven’t got a print room, a post room, a parcel despatch bay, an export team or access to a graphic designer, look no further than the team at your local Mail Boxes Etc.  

We also offer mapping services, and you can buy your packaging materials, business supplies and stationery from us too.  And if you’re fed up with missing calls when you’re out on the road, many of our stores also offer a telephone answering service.

As part of our business mailbox service, we’ll accept all your mail and any signed-for packages, so you never need miss another delivery.  

You’ll have 24-hour secure access* to a real, physical mailbox, and you can phone or email us to check for deliveries to avoid any wasted journeys, or we’ll forward your mail at your request – anywhere in the world. We’ll also receive faxes on your behalf and put them in your mailbox or forward them as required.

Wait a minute Mr Postman

One thing you’ll notice once you’re up and running is that you tend to use postal services a bit more – and sometimes a lot more, depending on the nature of your business.  

It’s a pain to run out of stamps, so it’s good to know you can buy them direct from us when you pop in to collect your mail. Need Special or Signed For deliveries?  We offer a range of Royal Mail services to UK and international destinations.  

We also specialise in parcel services from a range of leading carriers, and expert packing if you need it.  Perfect for businesses, our post and parcel services let you avoid the queues and save your precious time.

If you need more from a business mailing service, ask us about franking (drop off your outgoing mail to us at the end of each day and we’ll do the rest), regular postal collections from your premises, bulk mailing (including printing if required) and fulfilment services.

We’re here for you

We understand that it can sometimes get a little lonely when you work for yourself – especially in the early days.  

Most of our stores are owned and run by independent businesspeople just like you, so we understand the pressures and the challenges.  

That’s why we pride ourselves on offering a personal service – if there’s anything you want to know, just ask.  And we’ll always try to turn things around at very short notice when you need a little extra help.

Here’s to your best business year yet.

You’ve got the big idea. You’ve done your business plan, your financial forecasts and your first year’s budget. So how do you get the start-up funding that will get your new venture off the ground? 

Marketing Manager at Mail Boxes Etc., James, shares his top tips for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Tip #1: Start small

Some people are lucky enough to start their business while still working. If you can continue to bring in enough money to support yourself and your family while putting in those extra hours to get your new venture up and running, you may find you don’t need start-up funding. Instead, you’ll want to ensure your outgoings are as low as possible and keep a close eye on your forecasting, so you know when it’s safe to turn pro.

Tip #2: Keep it in the family

It can be tempting to turn to family members for a loan or ask them to support you financially while you get your business off the ground. According to Entrepreneur it’s the most common way for start-ups to finance their new venture. It’s important to treat this as a formal arrangement, though, to avoid misunderstandings down the line.

Tip #3: Could you qualify for grant funding?

It’s worth doing your homework to see if you could benefit from start-up funding from charities and other organisations that support the UK’s entrepreneurs. Websites like startups.co.uk have detailed information about small business grants and how to apply for them.

Tip #4: Crowdfunding

An alternative way to raise vital seed funding from a range of backers is crowd funding. Using an online platform, the idea is that with crowdfunding an entrepreneur can attract a ‘crowd’ of people, each of whom takes a small stake in their business idea, contributing to an overall funding target. As well as helping raise money for your business, crowdfunding helps build a network of supporters and can also create a newsworthy story that will help your start-up get much-needed publicity.

Tip #5: Tried and trusted

For a more traditional approach, your bank may be the best place to start. Most offer loans and in-depth advice and support for business start-ups. You’ll also find a comprehensive guide to sources of business finances on You.gov.