# BusinessSupplyTested

> Buying guides for small businesses: thermal label printers, shipping scales, custom packaging, labels and stickers, business printing, POS hardware and fulfillment supplies, compared by cost per unit and minimum order.

BusinessSupplyTested publishes business supplies reviews, buying guides and reader discount codes. Every review states who the product suits, the current price from the brand's own store, and any active reader code.

## Key pages
- [Reviews](https://businesssupplytested.com/reviews): every product we recommend
- [Buying guides](https://businesssupplytested.com/guides): how to choose
- [Glossary](https://businesssupplytested.com/glossary): business supplies terms defined
- [How we test](https://businesssupplytested.com/testing-methodology)

## Topics
- [Shipping & fulfillment](https://businesssupplytested.com/category/shipping-fulfillment): Thermal label printers, shipping scales, poly and padded mailers, tape and packing stations.
- [Packaging](https://businesssupplytested.com/category/packaging): Custom printed boxes, mailer boxes, tissue, inserts and branded tape.
- [Labels & printing](https://businesssupplytested.com/category/labels-printing): Product labels, custom stickers, business cards, flyers, direct mail and signage.
- [POS & office](https://businesssupplytested.com/category/pos-office): Barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers, office paper and bulk consumables.
- [Promotional merchandise](https://businesssupplytested.com/category/promo-merch): Printed apparel, branded drinkware, giveaways, employee kits and trade-show merchandise.
- [Print production gear](https://businesssupplytested.com/category/print-production): Cutting machines, laminators, binding tools and in-house print production equipment.
- [Procurement & reordering](https://businesssupplytested.com/category/procurement): Bulk purchasing, vendor comparisons, price breaks and reorder management for physical supplies.

## Buying guides
- [Barcode Scanners for Small Retail: 1D vs 2D, Wired vs Wireless](https://businesssupplytested.com/guides/barcode-scanner-guide-for-small-retail): Most small retailers should buy a 2D imager scanner. It reads standard UPC and EAN barcodes plus QR codes and barcodes on phone screens, which 1D laser scanners cannot. Choose USB for a fixed counter, Bluetooth for a mobile setup, and check your POS system's supported hardware list. To sell your own products in other retailers, register barcodes through GS1.
- [Custom Stickers and Product Labels: Materials, Cuts and Files](https://businesssupplytested.com/guides/custom-sticker-and-label-printing-guide): Choose vinyl for durable, water-resistant stickers and product labels, and paper for low-cost indoor labels. Die-cut stickers are cut to shape through the backing; kiss-cut stickers are cut through the vinyl only, leaving a backing border. Roll labels suit hand or machine application on products; sheets suit small runs. Send vector artwork with about 1/8 inch of bleed and check the proof.
- [Dimensional Weight: Choosing Box Sizes That Cost Less to Ship](https://businesssupplytested.com/guides/dimensional-weight-box-sizing): Carriers bill the greater of a package's actual weight and its dimensional weight: length × width × height in inches divided by a divisor, commonly 139 for UPS and FedEx daily rates. USPS applies dimensional weight to larger parcels using a divisor of 166. A box just 2 inches too big on each side can add pounds of billable weight, so right-sizing boxes is often the cheapest saving available.
- [How to Calculate Packaging Cost per Shipment](https://businesssupplytested.com/guides/how-to-calculate-packaging-cost-per-shipment): Packaging cost per shipment is the sum of every item that goes into one order (box or mailer, void fill, tape, shipping label, insert) plus the labor to pack it. Divide each bulk price by the units in the pack, add them up, then add packing time at your hourly cost. Small changes, like a cheaper label or a mailer instead of a box, compound over thousands of orders.
- [Poly Mailer vs Box: Which Is Better for Shipping Your Products?](https://businesssupplytested.com/guides/poly-mailer-vs-box): Poly mailers are the cheapest and lightest option for soft, unbreakable items such as clothing, and they rarely trigger dimensional weight charges. Padded mailers add light protection for small items. Boxes cost more and can raise billable weight, but they protect fragile, rigid or stackable products and give more space for branding. Choose by what breaks, not by habit.
- [Thermal Label Printer Buying Guide for Small Businesses](https://businesssupplytested.com/guides/thermal-label-printer-buying-guide): For shipping labels, a direct thermal printer that handles 4x6 inch labels is the standard choice: no ink, fast output and cheap labels. Check that it supports your computer and shipping software, prints 203 dpi or better, accepts generic fanfold or roll labels, and connects by USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth as you need. Choose thermal transfer only for labels that must last for years or resist heat.

Contact: info@businesssupplytested.com