Written by Sabrina Dougall Reviewed by Heleana Neil Updated on 20 March 2023 On this page How much will a franking machine save you? Why rent a franking machine? Franking machines: rental costs Top franking machine rental suppliers Best entry-level franking machines to rent Best high-volume franking machines to rent Next steps: how to get your franking machine Expand Franking machine rental costs start at £16 a month, with possible postage cost savings of up to £2,761 per year.Of course you should factor in the cost of consumables such as ink and envelopes. However, the advantage you have of renting over buying a cheap franking machine outright is that machinery maintenance is usually covered. Sometimes you can sweet-talk suppliers into postage credit deals as a welcome bonus.Read on to find out more, or fill in this short form to get quotes tailored to your business and start saving money on postage. How much will a franking machine save you?So, you’ve heard that a franking machine can save you money. But just how much money are we talking? Let’s take a look.These are the Royal Mail 2022 prices for sending franked letters or using stamps: ClassFranking costCost of stampSaving per letter1st84p95p12%2nd60p68p12%With the above in mind, you could save up to £2,761 per year on First Class postage costs or £2,008 on Second Class if your business sends 100 items of post each working day. Get Great Franking Machine Deals from Our Trusted Suppliers How many items of post do you send each week? Fewer than 500 items Over 500 items a week Take a few seconds to tell us your needs Why rent a franking machine?Franking machines are fantastic tools for saving time and money. That said, renting a franking machine can often be a more affordable option than buying one outright, especially for a small business.Other reasons why you might want to rent a franking machine, rather than buy one, include:1. Busy periods at workBig event coming up? Planning to send out a newsletter, or a Christmas brochure? Or maybe you’re processing a lot of contracts in the next month? These are just a few examples of when the postage demands of your business will be particularly high. In these scenarios, it makes sense to rent a high-volume franking machine to help lighten the load, allowing you to focus on other areas within your business.2. Periods of rapid growthYou might be a small start-up at the moment, but if you plan to grow quickly in the near future then you should really think about leasing a franking machine. With flexible rental contracts, you can easily upgrade your model as your needs change. Franking machine rental deals start from as little as £16 per month, but higher-volume machines will cost more, as you’d expect. Maintenance is usually included as part of rental packages, which means it’s your supplier’s responsibility to fix any issues you encounter. Best of all, they should replace the machine free of charge if it can’t be repaired.By renting a franking machine, you avoid the high initial outlay but start enjoying heavy discounts on mailing costs immediately. Find out more: How much do franking machines cost? Save with Tailored Franking Quotes from Recommended Suppliers Do you already have a Franking Machine? Yes No Top franking machine rental suppliersThere are three leading suppliers for franking machine rentals: FP, Pitney Bowes and Quadient. You can see in-depth reviews of each by clicking the links below, or read on below for a quick summary:FPPitney BowesQuadient FP FP Mailing is a family company with a reputation for great customer service. But don’t just take our word for it, check out its impressive Trustpilot reviews – it has a score of 7.8/10. They offer a real variety of quality products to suit businesses of all shapes and sizes, too. FP Review Pitney Bowes Pitney Bowes is a well-established household name in the world of printing and faxing, and its product portfolio reflects this. This company really does have a franking machine for everyone, whether you need to frank 20 letters a day or 5,000. Pitney Bowes Review Quadient Quadient (formerly Neopost) was founded in 1924, and has a reputation for providing robust machinery and cutting-edge software to businesses across the world. It has a Trustpilot review score of 9.0/10, with customers praising the quick and helpful customer services team. Best entry-level franking machines to rentThese models are ideal for smaller businesses that don’t send much mail, but still want to look professional and enjoy a discount on postage costs: PostBase Mini (FP) The PostBase Mini is compact, with a sleek and modern design. It’s perfect for businesses with little space.***Processing speed (letters per minute) – 24Maximum scales weight – 2KGNumber of accounts – 10 Overall Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DM60 (Pitney Bowes) A reliable, no-frills option for a small or home business. The DM60 will automatically update with new Royal Mail prices when they are available, so you don’t need to worry about using the wrong prices and delaying your post.***Processing speed (letters per minute) – 18Maximum scales weight – 2.5KGNumber of accounts – 10 Overall Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ IS-280C (Quadient) The IS-280C is efficient, fast and well-priced. It delivers a crisp and professional look, and is easy to use.***Processing speed (letters per minute) – LowMaximum scales weight – 2KGNumber of accounts – 10 Overall Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Tempted to look into franking machine rental for your business? Get quotes now Best high-volume franking machines to rentMake no mistake, these models mean business. Only companies sending out very large quantities of mail will need to invest in such a hi-spec option. PostBase One (FP) This is one of the highest-regarded franking machines around. The PostBase One can print up to 50 logos with incredible quality, and has every feature a large business could want.***Processing speed (letters per minute) – 150Maximum scales weight – 7KGNumber of accounts – 200 Overall Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Connect+ 2000 (Pitney Bowes) The Connect+ has unrivalled speed, making it the ideal choice for the busiest mail rooms. Its intelligent account system makes it easy to budget per department, and the large touch screen means it is easy to operate.***Processing speed (letters per minute) – 180Maximum scales weight – 5-35KGNumber of accounts – 50 Overall Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ IN-700 (Quadient) The IN-700 is another speedy model. It has rapid document feeding, and the ability to process up to 500 accounts (for an extra cost). This is a great machine, but keep in mind that it is over a metre long, so will need a dedicated desktop.***Processing speed (letters per minute) – 50Maximum scales weight – 3-30KGNumber of accounts – 70 Overall Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Next steps: how to get your franking machineThis guide has demonstrated that there are many benefits to renting a franking machine. If you think renting is right for your business, your next step should be to discuss your options with the top suppliers to get tailored quotes to suit your needs.That’s where we come in.We have a great relationship with the best franking machine suppliers in the business, and a proven track record of helping businesses save money on their franking machines. To get started, all you have to do is fill in this short form form with a few key details to receive your free quotes. FAQ Can you buy your own franking machine? Yes! Unlike in the USA, where the sale of franking machines is strictly prohibited, you can buy and use any new or used franking machine in the UK so long as you have a valid Royal Mail license for the year. You can buy a franking machine directly from suppliers, through third-party retailers or from private sellers on the second-hand market (such as eBay). You should carry out enough research on your own to make sure you have a rough idea of what you’re after in terms of workload and features. Then feel free to dive into one of our guides such as the best franking machines for small businesses. Good luck! How much are franking machines? Purchase of a basic franking machine costs around £1,000 new and £200-£700 used. This is the lower end of workload for volumes of post no greater than 30-50 items of post per day. A mid-range model will set you back around £2,500 and a top-end machine with super speed and extra large weighing scales can ring in around £17,000.Given such eye-watering figures, it’s no surprise many companies choose to rent rather than buy outright. You can rent a low volume franking machine for around £20 per month, a mid-range one for £50 or a high end for £100+. Written by: Sabrina Dougall Web Marketing Expert Sabrina is a business journalist whose career began in news reporting. She has a master's in Investigative Journalism from City University London, and her work has appeared in The Times, The Daily Express, Money Saving Expert, Camden New Journal, Global Trade Review, and Computer Business Review. She specializes in writing about SEO (search engine optimization). Having run her own small business, Sabrina knows first-hand how critical digital marketing is to building a client base and local reputation. Reviewed by: Heleana Neil Business Services Editor Heleana Neil specialises in Business Services, managing the strategy and production of content for SMBs, helping businesses with the challenges and opportunities they face today. Covering everything from payroll to payment processing, Heleana uses her expertise to help business owners make better, informed decisions and grow their companies.