Frequently asked questions about Business Reply envelopes

Using Royal Mail Printed Business Reply and Freepost envelopes is easy - when you know how!

We'll help you all the way. These are some of the frequently asked questions.

If none of the information below helps, or if you want some help or advice, just fill in our enquiry form or telephone us on 01902 402693 office hours.

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How do Royal Mail Business Reply Envelopes work?
You apply to Royal Mail for a licence number, which we print on a standard envelope, together with your address. You only pay the postage to Royal Mail on envelopes that are actually used, so there is no waste. There is also a an annual licence fee, payable to Royal Mail for the use of the service. | Apply for a Royal Mail Business Reply Licence | Click here to visit the Royal Mail website where you can learn more about using business reply envelopes.

How to I pay for the postage used?
You pay Royal mail a deposit up-front, when you apply for your licence. As you use us the postage, Royal Mail will ask for a top-up, so that your account is always in credit. check the current cost | Click here to visit the Royal Mail website where you can learn about using business reply envelopes

What is the minimum quantity?
Centreprint produce any quantity from just 1000 envelopes upwards.

Can you produce other quantities?
Yes, we can produce any quantity over 1000 envelopes, up to many millions. If you require a quantity that is not listed, please ask for a quote on the quantity and size that you require.

Will I be charged for unused postage?
No. You only pay for postage used, on envelopes that are sent back to you by your customer or enquirer. There is no waste. Unused envelopes incur no postage cost. check the current cost

Do the envelopes ever expire or become obselete?
No. You only pay for the postage as it is used, so if there is a postal increase in the future, the current rate will be charged when the envelope is used. They never go out of date. However, the self adhesive gum used does eventually dry up, so it is best to only order enough envelopes to last you about twelve months.

What size should I order?
DL size (110mm x 220mm) is the most popular. This takes a standard A4 letter, folded into three. It also fits a C5 envelope.
C5 size (162mm x 229mm) takes an A5 sheet, or an A4 letter folded twice.
C4 size (324mm x 229mm) takes an A4 sheet unfolded. C4 can only be used for business reply standard service, not PLUS.

Should I use Business Reply Standard or Business Reply Plus?
Royal Mail give you a discount on the envelope postage if you apply for a Business Reply PLUS licence. The reason for this is that we print the envelopes using a special "optically recognisable" typeface. This makes the envelopes machine sortable by Royal Mail - saving you both time and money. The PLUS service can only be used on envelopes up to C5 size as C4 is not machine sortable. Unless you have to use C4 size reply envelopes, we recommend that you apply for the Royal mail PLUS service as the licence is the same price, but the postage costs are lower. The only difference between business reply plus and business reply standard is that with the "plus" service, Royal Mail charge you 2p LESS for using standard size machineable envelopes, such as our standard size DL or C5.
Remember, you CANNOT use C4 envelopes for Business Reply PLUS. Further details are available on the Royal Mail website.
See Royal Mail advice pages on Business Reply Plus or Business Reply Standard for more details.

Are the printing prices different for first class envelopes?
No. Our printing charge is the same whatever service you choose to use. Once you have your Royal Mail licence and you have chosen either the Royal Mail Business Reply Standard service or the Royal Mail Business Reply PLUS service, you can order either fist class or second class envelopes from us at the same price. You will however, pay the higher first class postage rate to Royal Mail if you choose the first class design. check the current cost

What hidden extras are there?
There are no hidden extras. Royal Mail will charge you an annual licence fee, plus an deposit on the postage that you are going to use in future. Centreprint charge only for the envelopes that you order from them. There is no extra charge for layout, proofing, platemaking or delivery. The only extra is VAT on the prices below.

How do I place an order?
Stage 1. Firstly, you need a licence number for Royal Mail. Choose the Royal Mail reply service that you require. There are four services available from Royal Mail. These are Business Reply Standard Business Reply PLUS Freepost Standard and Freepost PLUS (Freepost means free to the person who posts the envelope, not to you)
Click to apply for a Royal Mail Business Reply Licence

Stage 2. Select the size that you require. DL (110mm x 220mm) is the most popular. Then choose whether you need first class or second class.

Stage 3. Place your order from the chart below. Just select the size that you need and click on one othe the blue "order now" buttons. If you need any help or advice first, just send us an enquiry

C6 Size Printed Business Reply Envelopes - 114mm x 162mm white self seal

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How to order

Printed face only in black ink on 80gsm white envelopes. Free layout and proofing.	Printed	To Order	1000	2000	5000	10000	20000	50000
V0804 Any Business Reply or Freepost design			£84	£99	£149	£241	£349	£693

DL Size Printed Business Reply Envelopes - 110mm x 220mm white self seal

Get quote

How to order

Printed face only in black ink on 80gsm white envelopes. Free layout and proofing.	Printed	To Order	1000	2000	5000	10000	20000	50000
V0194 Any Business Reply or Freepost design			£85	£99	£151	£237	£342	£675

C5 Size Printed Business Reply Envelopes -162mm x 229mm white self seal

Get quote

How to order

Printed face only in black ink on 80gsm white envelopes. Free layout and proofing.	Printed	To Order	1000	2000	5000	10000	20000	50000
V0806 Any Business Reply or Freepost design			£91	£116	£186	£291	£491	£999

C4 Size Printed Business Reply Envelopes - 324mm x 229mm white self seal

Get quote

How to order

Printed face only in black ink on 80gsm white envelopes. Free layout and proofing.	Printed	To Order	1000	2000	5000	10000	20000	50000
C4BHF Business Reply Standard service only Why			£107	£146	£264	£439	£825	£1739
(RM say that C4 cannot be used for Business Reply PLUS)

What do the different styles look like?
There are four styles of Business Reply envelopes and four styles of Freepost envelopes. The only difference between Business Reply PLUS and Business Reply Standard is in the licence number that Royal Mail will issue to you and the use of the word "Plus" after "Business Reply" in the top left hand corner of the envelope. There is a similar difference on Freepost envelopes.

DL Business Reply styles	(click image for a larger view)

Business Reply Plus 1st class order - get quote	Business Reply Plus 2nd class order - get quote	Business Reply Standard 1st class order - get quote	Business Reply Standard 2nd class order - get quote

DL Freepost envelopes	(click image for a larger view)

Freepost Plus 1st class order - get quote	Freepost Plus 2nd class order - get quote	Freepost Standard 1st class order - get quote	Freepost Standard 2nd class order - get quote

Can you mail bulk mailings out to my customers or enquirers?
Yes. We have our own mailing house, sending out millions of mailshots each year. May we quote on sending your mailing?

How can I apply for a Royal Mail reply licence?
To be able to have a first or second class business reply licence number, you will need to apply to Royal Mail for a licence and follow Royal Mail guidlines on artwork preparation for printed envelopes. Click here to visit the Royal Mail website where you can learn about using business reply envelopes and download an application form or check the current cost.

How to Centreprint get the envelopes to me?
Envelopes are delivered by carrier and require a signature upon delivery.

How long does it take?
Our studio will create the original artwork and send you a proof within two days. Once you accept the proof (having checked it carefully, of course) we will print the envelopes and despatch them to you within 5-7 days. If yoy are desparate, please let us know when you order and we'll do our best to improve on these times.

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