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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc.

Postal, business & communications services

Background

Founded: 1980 Franchising since: 1980
The first Mail Boxes Etc. store was opened in Carlsbad, California by Gerald Aul, Pat Senn and Robert Diaz, who designed it as an alternative to the U.S. Postal Service. In 2001, Mail Boxes Etc. became a subsidiary of UPS and began re-branding as The UPS Store in 2003. The UPS Store locations provide packaging, shipping, copy and print services, mailbox services, computer time rentals and more. Franchises are located throughout the United States and in over 40 countries.
6060 Cornerstone Ct. W.
San Diego, California 92121
Phone:
(877)623-7253

Franchisee Association
Franchise Advisory Council

Franchisor is a publicly-held company with 300 employee(s); 84 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 4445 340 0 0
2008 4,461 330 1,191 0
2007 4,454 312 1,134 0
2006 4,428 286 1,046 0
2005 4,260 273 932 0

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Outside the U.S.: Canada

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Varies

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $154.95K-293.5K
Franchise fee: $29.95K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs Yes Yes
Equipment Yes Yes
Inventory No Yes
Accounts Receivable No Yes
Payroll No Yes

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $150K
Cash liquidity requirement: $60K+
Business Experience:
  • General business experience
  • General computer skills

Operations
  • 33% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 5
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
  • At franchisee's location: 2 weeks
  • Ongoing support

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations
  • Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support
  • Co-op advertising
  • Ad slicks
  • National media
  • Regional advertising

Other marketing support
  • Local store marketing

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#8 (2009); #11 (2008); #5 (2007); #4 (2006); #5 (2005);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2009; 2008; 2007; 2006; 2005;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#81 (2008); #19 (2007); #8 (2006); #10 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#8 (2009); #10 (2008); #5 (2007); #4 (2006); #6 (2005);