QuickBooks Shipping Manager General Settings: Profiles, SmartPost, and Return Addresses

QuickBooks Desktop’s integrated Shipping Manager includes a General settings screen that serves as the control center for shipper account information, return-address configuration, and specialized FedEx service options. While many users ship under a single company identity, the General tab also supports more complex workflows — including drop-shipping on behalf of multiple clients and enabling contract-based services like FedEx SmartPost.

Accessing the General Settings

From the main Shipping Manager screen, users select Settings to open the configuration area. The General tab is the landing page, displaying the core shipper account information tied to the connected FedEx (or UPS) account. This is also the screen where additional shipping profiles can be created — a feature designed for businesses that need flexibility in how the sender’s identity appears on labels.

FedEx One Rate and Freight Services

Two checkboxes near the top of the General tab control how certain FedEx services appear within Shipping Manager. The first governs the visibility of FedEx One Rate pricing. The second — Hide Freight Services — is checked by default. Businesses that use FedEx Freight for heavy or oversized shipments need to uncheck this option to make freight services available in the Shipping Manager interface.

Enabling FedEx SmartPost

FedEx SmartPost is a hybrid shipping service in which FedEx handles the long-haul transport and the United States Postal Service performs final-mile delivery. It is a contract service, meaning it must first be activated on the shipper’s FedEx account before it can be used inside QuickBooks.

Once the account is provisioned, users check the Enable SmartPost option in the General tab. A required field — the SmartPost Hub ID — must also be entered. This identifier tells the system which FedEx hub will process the handoff to USPS. Users who do not know their Hub ID need to obtain it from their FedEx representative. If the Hub ID does not appear in the dropdown list within Shipping Manager, it can be typed in manually.

Choosing the Right Tracking Number

SmartPost shipments generate two distinct tracking numbers: a FedEx tracking number and a USPS tracking number. Both work for tracking at fedex.com, but only the USPS number functions at usps.com. The General tab lets users choose which number Shipping Manager returns as the primary shipment tracking number. The decision should be based on where the business or its recipients are most likely to check tracking status — the USPS site, the FedEx site, or both.

Default Address and the Return Address

The Default Address field controls what prints as the FROM address on shipping labels. This is the address recipients see as the origin point and the address carriers associate with the shipment.

A notable exception applies to SmartPost shipments. To override the FROM address specifically for FedEx SmartPost, the Alternate Return Address setting must be used rather than the Default Address. Users who notice incorrect or unexpected return information on SmartPost labels should check this setting.

Profiles for Multiple Sender Identities

The Profiles feature is one of the more useful tools in the General tab for businesses managing shipments under more than one brand or client name. A profile lets a user print different FROM information on a shipping label while keeping all shipments under the same shipper account.

A common scenario is drop-shipping. A fulfillment operation shipping products on behalf of several clients can create a separate profile for each client. Each profile contains its own company name and address, which then prints in the FROM area of the label. The underlying shipping account does not change — only the visible sender identity on the label differs.

Creating a profile is straightforward: click Add Profile, complete the required information, and close Settings. The new profile appears in the list of available FROM addresses within Shipping Manager.

Accuracy in the FROM Address

QuickBooks documentation emphasizes that the FROM address on a label should accurately reflect the physical location from which the shipment originates. This matters most when shipments are undeliverable and need to be returned. If the FROM address does not match the actual pickup or origin location, carriers may have difficulty routing returns or handling delivery exceptions correctly. Businesses using profiles for branding purposes should keep this practical consideration in mind — the name can differ, but the address should be real and reachable.