The Real Cost of Franking Machines vs. Micom: Which Saves You More?

Are Franking Machines Still Cost-Effective?

For decades, franking machines were the go-to for reducing postal costs compared to stamps. They promised efficiency, letting businesses weigh, stamp, and send post without queuing at the post office.

But in 2025, the reality is different. Franking machines are expensive to lease, maintain, and run. Between high ink costs, service contracts, and manual processes, many organisations are spending far more than they realise.

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The True Cost of a Franking Machine

A franking machine isn’t just a one-off purchase. Businesses face a combination of monthly lease fees, Royal Mail licences, maintenance, ink, and staff time.

Upfront and Ongoing Costs

• Lease or purchase: £20–£100+ per month.
• Royal Mail licence fees: Paid annually.
• Maintenance contracts: £100–£300 per year.

Consumables and Hidden Expenses

• Ink costs: Around 3p per impression, franking ink costs 3x more than gold per gram.
• Paper and envelopes: 6–9p per letter.
• Admin time: Manual weighing, feeding, and tariff updates can cost hours each week.
• Downtime: Breakdowns or paper jams delay mail.

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Example: Real Cost of a Franked Colour Letter (from Whitepaper Data)

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Even without colour printing costs, franking still adds up due to ink, lease, and service contracts.

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Why Hybrid Mail Beats Franking Machines

Hybrid mail removes all these headaches.
You upload your documents online, and the provider handles printing, enveloping, and posting,  without expensive hardware.

Lower Per-Letter Costs

With Micom, you only pay for what you send.

• From price: £0.80 per letter (based on tiered pricing).
• Savings: Up to 67% compared to £2.45 per franked letter (as per whitepaper example).

No Hardware or Maintenance

• No leases, no costly ink, no repair contracts.
• Send 1 or 50,000 letters with the same platform.

Time and Resource Savings

• Digital submission replaces manual franking.
• No stock management or equipment downtime.

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Franking Machines vs. Micom – Side-by-Side Comparison

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Real-Life Savings with Micom

Sending 5,000 letters a year?

• Franking machine cost: ~£12,250 (£2.45 per letter).
• Micom cost (from 80p): £4,000.
• Annual saving: ~£8,250.

The savings grow as volumes increase, and you save hours of staff time.

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FAQs About Franking Machines vs Hybrid Mail

1. Is hybrid mail cheaper than franking?
Yes. Even at Micom’s highest tier, hybrid mail is significantly cheaper per letter and has zero equipment costs.

2. What are the hidden costs of a franking machine?
Ink, maintenance contracts, machine leases, downtime, and staff time all add up, often tripling the price of postage.

3. Can hybrid mail handle all my mail types?
Yes. Micom supports letters, invoices, statements, and direct mail campaigns.

4. How quickly can I switch?
Micom’s setup is instant. You can start sending mail the same day — no contracts, no hardware.

5. What about security and compliance?
Micom is ISO 27001, 9001, and 14001 certified, GDPR-ready, and listed on G-Cloud and Crown Commercial Service frameworks.

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Final Verdict – Why Businesses Are Ditching Franking Machines

Franking machines are outdated and expensive, while hybrid mail platforms like Micom offer:

• Cheaper per-letter rates (from 80p)
• No leases, no ink costs, no headaches
• Faster, simpler, and scalable workflows
• Omnichannel options (email + SMS)

Ready to cut your mailing costs?

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Disclaimer: Cost examples are based on data from a 2023 whitepaper and Micom’s current pricing (July 2025). Actual savings will vary depending on mailing volumes and contract terms.

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