A new way to stamp a corporate image on customers’ minds might be on the way: Custom postage stamps that include commercial images, the U.S. Postal Service said this week.

In Monday’s Federal Register, the postal service said the program could launch as early as next week. Executives at stamp companies expected it to start no later than the end of April.

“Every single day we get orders that we have to reject because of this restriction,” said Robert Beaver, chief executive of Zazzle, which prints custom stamps. “Lots of people are really interested in getting their message out on mail.”

Stamps.com, the pioneer in PC Postage printing, participated in a 7 1/2-week program allowing advertising and logos on stamps in 2004, and the program accounted for a third of the company’s business, said Ken McBride, president and chief executive of Stamps.com.

The postal service didn’t provide details on the pilot program. But McBride said this plan likely would allow for logos and advertising.

The test would be an expansion of the postal service’s current pilot program, started last May, which allows custom stamps with noncommercial photos and images.

PhotoStamps.com, which is part of Stamps.com, Endicia .com and Zazzle.com plan to take part in the new program, and other companies may participate.