Operator guides
Written for the owner of a pack-and-ship store, coworking space, or independent mailbox store. Each guide opens with the short answer, then works through the detail. USPS rules are cited to the DMM.
Start a virtual mailbox business
To start a virtual mailbox business you need a commercial address, CMRA registration on PS Form 1583-A, a Form 1583 and two IDs from every customer, three priced plans, software that scans and forwards mail under your brand, and a plan to sign your first 25 customers. Independent stores typically charge $15 to $50 per box per month.
Read the guideHow to become a CMRA
To become a CMRA, file PS Form 1583-A with the postmaster of the Post Office that delivers to your commercial address. USPS does not charge a registration fee. Once registered you collect a Form 1583 and two IDs from every addressee, enter them in the USPS Customer Registration Database, and certify your records every quarter.
Read the guideHow to price virtual mailbox services
Independent stores typically price virtual mailboxes in three tiers at $15 to $50 per box per month, with a set number of scan pages included and $0.25 to $1 per page beyond it, forwarding at postage plus $3 to $10 handling, setup at $0 to $50, and package storage at $1 to $3 per day after a free window.
Read the guideVirtual mailbox startup costs
Starting a virtual mailbox business costs little if you already have a commercial storefront: USPS charges no CMRA registration fee, a document scanner is a few hundred dollars, shelving or mailbox units depend on whether boxes are physical, and the software is a flat per-customer platform fee. The biggest line for a new location is the lease.
Read the guideOwn brand vs marketplace
A marketplace sends you customers and keeps the relationship and a share of the revenue. Your own brand costs a software subscription and some marketing, and keeps everything else. Stores with a walk-in base usually do better on their own brand. Stores with no local demand often start on a network. Many run both.
Read the guideForm 1583 online notarization
Yes. USPS accepts Form 1583 acknowledged before a notary, including a remote online notary (DMM 508.1.8). The other two paths are signing in the CMRA's physical presence or its live video presence. Innbocks builds the form from the customer's ID, connects them to an online notary from their phone, and files the notarized copy to their record automatically.
Read the guideThe ROI calculator uses your own numbers. It takes about a minute.