Use established online package tracking systems to get you going

Business friendly sites and established package shippers can do most of the work for you by combining label printing, calling for pick up and tracking an online package. If you're not ready to dive in with your own package tracking software system, this may be the way to go.

I recommend: PayPal, friend to businesses everywhere who want to be paid, has opened its own shipping center with an online package tracking program, another payoff for the small business owner. PackTrack.com's online package tracker services will let you track most of the major shippers in a one-stop shop.

Buy a low cost package tracking application to help you compete with the big boys

New applications are popping up constantly, so you don't have to sink a lot of money into your shipping costs. You are able to use your own PC and printer or a label printer with these products that won't break the bank.

I recommend: Pitney Bowes Shipstream Manager is a middle of the road, all in one tool that uses USPS tracking. Take advantage of a 60-day free trial offer. In order to become more user friendly, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has added printable labels, call for pick up and online tracking, though that tracking tends to update less frequently than the private shippers.

Get a parcel tracking program to ship and track your parcels to clients or within your business

When you have more than you feel commercial shippers can handle and you are ready to go out on your own, using trusted software applications will be to your advantage. Some can help you track from your door to your client's. Others will help you do that, plus keep track of what you are shipping within your own business.

I recommend: The eTrac system from Datatrac will help you streamline your service by thoroughly examining current practices and implementing their technology. Bear Tracks specializes in internal tracking systems and offers a wide variety of products online in their Bear River Store.