A method for printing indicia on mailpieces at an increased average speed. The system includes: a postal scale for determining a postage amount for a mail piece; a printer; and a postage meter responsive to the postal scale to control the printer to print an indicium representative of the postage amount. The postage meter further includes: a programmable controller; a secure mechanism for accounting for postage amounts expended; and an indicia generator. The programmable controller is programmed in accordance with the method of the present invention to: respond to a first signal from the postal scale to debit the secure mechanism for a minimum postage amount and to generate an indicium representative of the minimum amount; and, if the determined postage amount equals the minimum amount, respond to a second signal representative of the determined postage amount to print the indicium representative of the minimum postage amount; and, if the determined postage amount is greater than the minimum postage amount, respond to the second signal to debit the secure mechanism for the determined postage amount less the minimum postage amount; delete the indicium representative of the minimum postage amount; generate an indicium representative of the determined postage amount; and print the indicium representative of the determined postage amount on the mail piece.