Forwarding business mail when you change locations

Changing your address for some reason or another is the hardest part about changing locations. Forwarding business mail when you change locations requires three things:

1. Picking up a change-of-address form from the Post office


2. Getting temporary forwarding service


3. Contacting everyone you know and that uses your service or product

Picking up a change-of-address form
If you want any hope of receiving your business mail after you have changed locations then you will need to make a visit to the Post office to pick up (or just fill out there) a change-of-address form. The United States Postal office offers a mover's guide free of change; in this envelope is where you'll find the change-of-address form. Here's what's in the kit:


• The official change-of-address form. You can also find this online if you don't want to waste precious moving time by taking a trip to the Post Office.


•  Address Notification cards that you will be able to use to help notify other businesses, clients and potential clients, friends and family, etc. where you have changed locations to.


•  You will also find some coupons in the kit which can be used for discounts with moving needs.


•  A pamphlet that gives you some instruction on how to move. There are useful phone numbers and websites that give you suggestions and timelines of how to help you stay on schedule. Which for businesses can be crucial.

Temporary Forwarding Service
Since the change of address form is only a temporary solution you are going to have to find a way to notify customers and other businesses about the move. The Post Office will only forward your mail for so long and it actually depends on the type of mail that they are forwarding. The United States Postal Service will forward first class mail, priority mail and express mail for up to one year. Check with your local Post Office to see how long they will forward your business mail.

Contact everyone you know
Forwarding business mail when you change locations will only last for so long; if you have magazine subscriptions or other things that come to your business by mail weekly, monthly, or even yearly you are going to have to contact those companies or individuals personally. This can take quite some time, especially if you're the only one in your business. If you have a secretary however, they can help with making some of those contacts. You can call people, send out emails, or mail out post cards with new address on them. Try and keep it simple and to the point. Here is a list of a few of the companies and people you will want to have on your contact list:

• Telephone company


•  Utility company


•  The Bank


•  Magazine Subscriptions


•  Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers


•  Family and Friends


•  Past, present, and future customers or clients

Depending on your type of business you may need more or less than that, but that gives you starting point.

Forwarding business mail when you change locations can be almost as bad as actually moving all of the stuff. Just remember to get to the Post Office and contact people through mail, phone, or the internet. Don't make it harder than it already is; and don't lose potential business by forgetting to forward your mail.

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