Post Net vs The UPS Store
Post Net vs The UPS Store: Post Net costs $45K to $145K to open; The UPS Store costs $216K to $609K. Post Net has 216 units, The UPS Store has 915. SBA loan history: Post Net = 217 loans (17.5% default); The UPS Store = 1,108 loans (7.1% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Post Net vs The UPS Store: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Post Net requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($45K vs $216K for The UPS Store), a 79% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Post Net versus $30K for The UPS Store, The UPS Store has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Post Net and 5% for The UPS Store, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, The UPS Store operates 915 units to Post Net's 216, roughly 4× the system size. The UPS Store has been operating 46 years (founded 1980) versus 41 for Post Net (founded 1985), a 5-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
The UPS Store has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 1,108 7(a) approvals compared with 217 for Post Net.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 17.5% for Post Net and 7.1% for The UPS Store, The UPS Store has the cleaner SBA loss record by 10.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 28 (Fair) for Post Net and 48 (Fair) for The UPS Store, giving The UPS Store the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 28/100 | 48/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 217 | 1,108 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 17.5% | 7.1% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $45K to $145K | $216K to $609K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2.5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 216 | 915 |
Franchised Units | 216 | 915 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1985 | 1980 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | AUSTIN, TX | San Diego, CA |
Category | Private Mail Centers | Private Mail Centers |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2024 |
Which Is Better, Post Net or The UPS Store?
Lower upfront capital required
Post Net
Post Net: $45K starting · The UPS Store: $216K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The UPS Store
Post Net: 217 SBA loans · The UPS Store: 1,108 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
The UPS Store
Post Net: 17.5% · The UPS Store: 7.1%
Larger system & brand presence
The UPS Store
Post Net: 216 units · The UPS Store: 915 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Post Net: 5% · The UPS Store: 5%
More lender financing options
The UPS Store
Post Net: 81 unique lenders · The UPS Store: 263 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Post Net vs The UPS Store: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Post Net and The UPS Store is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $45K to $609K.
Post Net has 217 SBA loans on record and The UPS Store has 1,108. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Post Net vs The UPS Store, Frequently Asked Questions
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman