For small business owners, shipping isn’t just a line item—it’s a daily expense that adds up fast. Between postage, packaging, label printers, and shipping software, every shipment costs money before your product even leaves the door. But what if those everyday expenses could actually earn you rewards?

With the right strategies, you can turn routine shipping costs into a way to gain cashback, rewards, or discounts—without changing how you do business. Here’s how to get started.

Buy Gift Cards With Cashback Rewards

Most small businesses use recurring vendors like USPS, FedEx, Staples, or Office Depot. Instead of checking out with a card or account balance, you can earn cashback with a USPS gift card or get rewards with a FedEx gift card when you purchase through rewards platforms like Fluz. These digital gift cards work just like cash at checkout and give you a return on every transaction.

For supply runs, you can also earn cashback with an Office Depot gift card or get rewards with a Staples gift card, making it easy to save on everything from boxes and tape to printers and mailers.

Use Rewards Credit Cards on Top of Cashback Apps

Stack your savings by using a business rewards credit card in combination with cashback platforms. When you purchase gift cards or shipping supplies through an app like Fluz using a rewards card, you can double up—earning credit card points and app-based cashback at the same time.

If you’re paying for monthly subscriptions like ShipStation or Easyship, make sure they’re tied to the same rewards card to maximize value.

Look for Loyalty Programs from Shipping Carriers

Most major carriers offer business rewards programs. For example:

• UPS My Choice for Business gives shipping insights and delivery controls.
  
• FedEx Rewards allows you to earn points for every shipment, redeemable for gift cards or supplies.

Combining these programs with cashback strategies can significantly reduce your effective shipping costs.

Automate to Cut Down Manual Costs

The more you automate your shipping flow, the fewer errors and overcharges you’ll face. Platforms like Shippo and Pirate Ship let you compare real-time rates across carriers, print discounted labels, and automate order fulfillment.

While these tools don’t offer direct cashback, they save time and prevent common mistakes—like miscalculating postage or using the wrong service level—which can lead to costly re-shipments.

Track Your Rewards and Expenses

To make the most of your cashback and rewards, set up a basic tracker in Excel, Google Sheets, or use software like QuickBooks. This helps you see which platforms give the best return, which vendors offer regular promotions, and where you might optimize future spending.

Staying organized ensures you don’t miss opportunities—like gift card bonuses, rate drops, or limited-time reward multipliers.

Conclusion

You’re already paying to ship every product—so why not get something back? By taking a rewards-focused approach to your shipping routine, you can lower costs, earn perks, and build a more profitable business model. Whether it’s through earning cashback with a FedEx gift card or using automated shipping software to cut down errors, smart choices compound over time.