Re-Think Return Envelopes to Cut Costs and Clutter and Increase E-Adoption

Published 2/6/25

Looking for an easy way to trim your budget this year? Consider removing return payment envelopes from your mailed invoices. On average, surprisingly few return envelopes are actually used meaning you’re spending money for the majority of your payers to simply throw them away.

Customers that do NOT use return payment envelopes:

• AutoPayers and online payers that are on paperless
• Cash payers
• Payers who come into the office in person (regardless of payment method)

Discontinuing the use of return envelopes could motivate more check writers to adopt online payments instead of mailing their checks.

By choosing to NOT include return envelopes your organization will:

• Save time – by not having to manually open and process payments
• Save money – by not purchasing/printing additional envelopes
• Streamline reconciliation – by getting more online payments
• Reduce waste – unused envelopes will no longer be tossed out

Additionally, you can always keep a stock of return payment envelopes in your office so customers who insist on using them can stop by to pick up a supply for future payments.  This is a great compromise approach toward eventually discontinuing the use of supplying return envelopes altogether.

Still need convincing to give up return envelopes this year?

Check out our latest infographic.

Save trees, money, and time by eliminating return payment envelopes.  We have materials in the Marketing Resource Center (MRC) to help you effectively communicate this to your payers. (search remove reply envelopes)