The UPS Store

The UPS Store is the largest retail shipping, postal, printing, and business services franchise in the United States, with more than 5,500 independently owned locations. Stores serve small businesses, remote workers, e commerce sellers, and consumers seeking shipping, printing, mailbox, and notary services. Founded as Mail Boxes Etc. in 1980 and acquired by United Parcel Service in 2001, the brand has appeared on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for 42 consecutive years, ranked number one in Postal and Business Centers for 36 consecutive years, and placed in the overall top 10 for 10 straight years. The brand operates in a service category supported by e commerce and remote work.

Gerald Aul, Pat Senn, and Robert Diais founded Mail Boxes Etc. in 1980 as a private alternative to the United States Post Office, offering shipping, mailbox rental, and business support services. The concept grew to more than 4,000 locations worldwide by the turn of the millennium. In March 2001, United Parcel Service acquired Mail Boxes Etc. for approximately $192 million. On April 7, 2003, UPS began converting approximately 3,000 domestic locations to The UPS Store brand. Franchisees received access to UPS direct shipping rates at an average reduction of around 20 percent. The year after the rebrand, the franchise sold more than 500 new locations, setting a company record.

The UPS Store operates approximately 5,776 locations across the United States. The 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document lists 2 company owned locations out of more than 5,200 franchised units. Approximately 52 percent of franchisees own more than one location. About 86 percent of the American population lives within 10 miles of a UPS Store location, and nearly 200 new locations were added in 2025. In November 2024, the international Mail Boxes Etc. network became Fortidia, a separate entity operating nearly 3,100 locations in 57 countries.

A traditional UPS Store requires a total initial investment of $216,417 to $608,975. The initial franchise fee is $29,950, with royalties of 5 percent of gross sales, a national advertising contribution of 2.5 percent, and a local marketing contribution of 1 percent. Store in Store locations start at $58,248, while the Rural Program begins at $166,659. Financial requirements include $60,000 to $75,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $150,000. Franchise agreements run for 10 years, with renewal options for successive 10 year periods. The VetFran program provides military veterans with a $15,000 franchise fee discount.

Top performing locations receive less than 40 percent of revenue from shipping, with printing, mailbox rentals, notary services, and business solutions providing additional revenue sources.

The UPS Store offers domestic and international shipping through UPS, USPS, and other carriers, along with its Pack and Ship Guarantee, which reimburses customers when items do not arrive intact. Private mailboxes provide a street address, package acceptance from all carriers, and mail forwarding. Printing services include color and black and white printing, business cards, posters, banners, brochures, binding, and laminating. More than 4,700 locations offer notary services. Other services include passport photos, document shredding, faxing, office supplies, mailing supplies, direct mail campaigns, graphic design, online printing portals, and business support bundles.

The UPS Store competes with FedEx Office, which operates approximately 2,000 corporate owned locations, through a franchise model that gives local owners community relationships, flexible service, and a larger geographic footprint. Compared with the United States Postal Service, it offers private street addresses, shipping through multiple carriers, and business services. Revenue comes from shipping, printing, mailboxes, notary work, and business services. The UPS brand provides recognition and consumer trust. Package volumes at UPS Store locations have grown to nearly five times their 2019 levels as e commerce has increased use of retail locations for shipping and returns.

In 2020, The UPS Store introduced its first major store redesign in 20 years after four years of testing with design firm Chute Gerdeman. The open concept layout includes a 24/7 access zone with mailboxes, smart lockers, and self service printers, separated from the staffed area by a security gate. The modular design has been tested in spaces as small as 535 square feet and is on track for deployment in 50 percent of locations by 2026. Self service kiosks operate in more than 1,500 locations. Store in Store operations inside pharmacies, hardware stores, and supermarkets extend the brand into other retail settings with lower investment requirements.

The four phase training program begins with online tutorials covering products, services, technology, and business practices. In store training at a Certified Training Center covers print equipment, software, and production procedures. A five day classroom session addresses operations, technical systems, and management, followed by two weeks of hands on training at a certified training center. New franchisees must complete Financial Management Training within six months of signing. Support includes a toll free Help Desk, field consultants, Commerce Ready Services, annual conventions, and national and local marketing support.

PeerSense data tracks 2,183 Small Business Administration loans totaling approximately $576 million across The UPS Store system's history. The average SBA loan is approximately $264,000, and the chargeoff rate is 3.8 percent. Since 2020, 929 SBA loans have been issued. Lending has involved hundreds of unique lending institutions, giving prospective franchisees access to banks and credit unions with experience financing UPS Store acquisitions and new locations. PeerSense provides financing data and introductions to potential financing sources, but it is not a lender.

The UPS Store combines a $216,417 starting investment, multiple revenue sources, disclosed financial data, and an established franchise support structure. Its 42 year Franchise 500 record, 36 year category leadership streak, and number one Forbes ranking for customer service provide additional context for buyers evaluating the brand.