Cheapest Shipping for Small Business: How to Save on Shipping from China Without Sacrificing Reliability

Small businesses are running on thin strings to balance the costs and margins. When they sell the products, shipping comes out as an elephant in the room.

The shipping is not a bed of roses. However, the right partner and trusted shipping options can help save the pocket and keep the money refilled in your business.

If you are looking for the right shipping options with the cheapest shipping, this guide is for you. We’ll show the most affordable shipping options for small businesses and how JustChinait helps B2C sellers and small importers cut costs, consolidate orders, and ship smarter.

What Makes Shipping Expensive for Small Businesses?

Shipping does not break the bank until you run on uneven terrain. You have to run fast and think about the factors that make shipping expensive.

Low order volumes (not enough to get big discounts).

Big discounts require big bucks. Do you have that? Many shipping companies require you to ship bulk products. If you do that:

• Fuel surcharges are less.

• Discounts increase due to combined shipping.

• Shipping costs are reduced by 30-40% compared to the individual products.

Shipping multiple small shipments separately.

Suppose you have ten suppliers on board and want to ship products. How do you ship? Shipping products from each supplier can boreholes into your pockets.

Can you afford that? It is better to go for consolidation and keep your pockets green!

Lack of consolidation and optimized packaging.

There is a consolidation that combines the packages from multiple suppliers. Then, there is optimized packaging. Many sellers don’t know the ABC and juggle with the improper packaging. They don’t give proper dimensions to the products.

So, what exactly do they do? They elevate the shipping costs due to packaging issues. Cut their legs on time.

Not knowing which shipping method suits order size and urgency.

Order size and urgency matter a lot. For urgent shipping, you should go for the express when there is a single or small parcel. Otherwise, the air shipping is suitable. For bulk shipping, you should vote for sea shipping. Many vote for air shipping for bulk inventory and get killed in their first attempt.

Keep financial burden less with the right method.

The Cheapest Shipping Options for Small Businesses

Choosing the right method is necessary but with the right strategy. Let’s shower light on different shipping options based on order size and urgency.

Sea Freight LCL (Less-than-Container Load)

LCL freight is a bread and butter that stretches the dollar when you have a bulk quantity of orders but can’t fill a whole container. It helps revive the money from the dead!

Best for: Shipments over 100kg where speed isn’t critical.

Pros

• Very low cost per unit

• Ideal for heavier or bulkier items

Cons

• Slower (25–40 days)

• Requires planning and scheduling

Air Freight Consolidation

Air consolidation is an undisputed king for speedy shipping but with a moderate package weight. Many people take it seriously for 100 kg or less weight. However, you should select it based on your urgency.

Best for 2–100kg shipments that need to arrive in 7–12 days.

Pros

• Cheaper than express courier

• Faster than sea freight

Cons

• Requires a freight forwarder to consolidate multiple shippers’ cargo

Cross-Border Small Parcel Shipping (Express Economy)

Express economy sounds good for all the sellers working on Shopify, eBay, or Amazon. They want lightning speed for the small parcels to satisfy the ego of their consumers. This shipping method suits their tastes and helps manage the shipping.

Best for: Items under 2kg

Carriers: 4PX, Yanwen, ePacket, China Post

Pros

• Very affordable

• Good for B2C orders

Cons

• Slower (10–20 days

• Less tracking visibility

Courier Services with Business Accounts (DHL, FedEx, UPS)

DHL, FedEx, and UPS are prominent players that have won awards for their impactful shipping for years. But don’t worry; JustChinaIt has led the way for the past few years.

Here is what you should consider for all the courier services.

Best for: Urgent shipments, fragile items, branded unboxing experience

Pros

• Fast and traceable

• Trusted delivery partners

Cons

• Expensive unless subsidized through a freight partner

How Order Consolidation Saves Small Businesses Money (Key Strategy)

Order consolidation is the comprehensive process of combining orders from multiple suppliers and shipping them as one!

Here is how it saves money and keeps the bugs miles away!

Lower Shipping Costs per Unit

Consolidated shipments use space more efficiently. You pay once to ship a combined volume—no multiple charges for smaller shipments.

Fewer Customs Clearance Events

Each shipment typically incurs customs brokerage fees. With one consolidated shipment, you clear customs only once, reducing costs and paperwork.

Reduced Packaging Waste and Dimensional Charges

Consolidated orders are packed with smarter techniques to avoid oversized or oddly shaped boxes that trigger high dimensional weight pricing. This leads to lower overall volume charges.

Tips to Reduce Shipping Costs for Small Businesses

You can cut the arms and legs of shipping costs. How? Here are a few tips to do it.

Plan and ship in batches instead of multiple small orders.

Individual packages are the price eater and headache. For example:

• You have to invest money in each package shipping.
• Tracking is a major headache causing colossal problems.

If you want to save money and avoid getting painkillers for a longer period, there is a solution. Do you know that? It is to shake hands with the batch shipping and tracking.

Use smart packaging

First, use flat shipping. It keeps the prices low and depends on the package dimensions. Here are a few more tips in this case.

• Use boxes that are tailored to the product’s shape and size.

• Eliminate extra air in the packaging to avoid dimensional weight charges.

Consider DDU or DDP shipping to avoid unexpected fees.

DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid): Receiver pays duties.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): Duties are prepaid, reducing delays and surprise costs.

DDP is often safer and more predictable for e-commerce businesses selling B2C.

Work with an experienced partner who can advise on the best method (JustChinait).

Expert partners like JustChinaIt are the game-changers. They walk you through the different steps and get the optimal results. You can:

• Evaluate your shipping needs

• Suggest the best method (air, sea, express)

• Handle customs and compliance issues

• Negotiate discounted rates you might not get on your own

Avoid peak seasons (like Chinese New Year or Q4 rush) if not urgent.

Avoid the following season:

• Chinese New Year (Late Jan–Feb): Long factory shutdowns and shipping delays.

• Labor Day (May 1st): 3–5 day holiday, slower processing and port congestion.

• Dragon Boat Festival (June): 2–3 day holiday; minor delays in shipping.

• Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept or Oct): 1–3 day break; affects warehouse and factory operations.

• National Day Holiday (Golden Week) (Oct 1–7): One-week closure across China; heavy shipping backlog.

• Q4 Peak Season (Oct-Dec): Global e-commerce demand spikes; higher freight rates and limited space.

Comparison Table: Cheapest Shipping Options by Order Size

Order Size	Recommended Shipping Method	Transit Time	Cost Level	Best For
Small Parcels (<2 kg)	Cross-border Package (Economy Express)	10–20 days	Very Low	Light items, eCommerce samples, low-value goods
Small–Medium (2–100 kg)	Air Freight Consolidation	7–12 days	Moderate to Low	Moderate-sized shipments with tighter deadlines
Medium–Large (100+ kg)	LCL (Less than Container Load) Sea Freight	25–40 days	Lowest per unit	Bulk orders, inventory replenishment
Large & Urgent (100+ kg)	Express Air Freight (e.g. DHL, FedEx)	3–7 days	High	Urgent, high-value, or time-sensitive shipments

How JustChinait Helps Small Businesses Ship Cheaper and Smarter

JustChinaIt is a game-changing player that is taking the whole industry by storm after offering the cheapest shipping options and affordable prices.

Do you want to know how JustChinaIt stays at the top with its cheaper and smarter shipping?

Collect and consolidate shipments from multiple Chinese suppliers.

If you are scrolling through multiple suppliers, don’t scratch your head to figure out the shipping. Leave shipping on the JustChinaIt and let it collect all the orders from your suppliers in a central warehouse. We will combine the shipping and ship it as one.

The pros:

• No headache about multiple separate shipping.

• Reduced shipping costs as the package is shipped as one.

• Ease of tracking and handling.

Warehousing, picking & packing

Our smart warehouses are there to monitor your packages 24/7. We have the best monitoring technology.

Know:

• Product Status

• Items left

• Condition and quality

Once we ship to you:

• Our team chooses the right packages having anti-moisture features.

• Optimization of packages is on our end.

• Save money with optimized packaging.

Access to discounted air freight and express rates for small businesses.

Multiple shipping options are there. We are waiting for you, the BOSS!!

Choose and enjoy the discounts. For example, you get 10-20% discounts on bulk shipping through air freight. Sea shipping is even cheaper only for you. Access all rates at your desk.

Advice on customs, documentation, and best shipping routes.

Let’s agree to the import regulations imposed by various countries. Keep your heads straight with our expert team. We advise on:

• Required invoices and permits

• HS Codes (to correctly declare products)

• Avoiding unnecessary duties or rejections

Handle everything from purchase to delivery.

From product sourcing to delivery, we are standing in line for you. Please keep us informed or get help; we are the first line of defense for your business. You can keep your consumers 100% satisfied with our services.

Conclusion

If you are looking for the cheapest shipping, it is a web of decisions. First, you have to decide on order size and urgency.

The quality of shipping is another topic. However, the key is smart consolidation, the right shipping method, and working with an experienced partner.

Do you want the right shipping partner? Relax! We have one— JustChinait, which makes it easy for small businesses to save on shipping and grow faster. Our impeccable strategy and timing keep you onboard, so let’s become the pro driver of shipping!

Contact JustChinaIt to consolidate, optimize, and ship smarter so you can boost margins and scale faster.