The meter does not require a service contract because the owner - the manufacturer - is responsible for repairs on the unit. Before leasing a meter, make sure you understand how the manufacturer will handle repairs: will you have to ship it somewhere? Or do they have technicians in your area that can come to your office?

Service contracts for the base will typically cost 5 percent to 10 percent of the cost of the base. However, bases are quite reliable; you will probably spend less by just attending to it on an as-needed basis.

Postage refills

Gone are the days of lugging your meter to the post office to add more postage. The USPS requires that all refills be done over the phone.

Most modern meters have a simple phone jack that allows you to plug your meter in and download more postage from an account with the post office; some also allow you to purchase refills online. If there is a change to postage rates, the meter will automatically recalculate how much postage you’ll receive.