For a while, it seemed like the prevalence of electronic communication might negatively affect the chains of mailing centres. But everyone is still shipping packages, and these chains have further reinvented themselves into small business centres with all kinds of services. This is why the pack – and – ship franchise industry is still worth a healthy $2 billion.
Franchises in this industry provide parcel packing and shipping, mailbox rental, other mail services and office support services. The Packing and Shipping Service Franchise industry provides business outsourcing services, such as parcel packing and shipping, mailbox rental and other mail services, in addition to office support services.
Even though the industry has witnessed a decline in its traditional mailbox services as electronic communication has grown, e – commerce has conversely boosted demand for packaging and shipping from small businesses that have increasingly begun to sell their products to faraway customers. In addition, even though competition in business services has been on the rise, national brands have helped grow average sales for remaining franchisees, increasing revenue and profit.
Note that the most prominent threat to the industry is the transfer of business and consumer communication to digital forms negating the need for copying, storage and transportation of physical documents. Have it in mind that this ongoing shift will be propelled by the rapid adoption of cloud – based computing; causing a greater number of businesses to transfer documents and files online.
Nonetheless, packing and shipping service franchises will more or less benefit from the rising volume of packages, mainly from online purchases, that are shipped domestically and internationally between consumers, businesses and the government. Business opportunities like these have distinct advantages and rewards for the right person.
In the United States, there are low – cost shipping franchises that ship business – to – business. Having a low – cost franchise business is an additional perk to the franchise. Many of these resources make for faster startups that are more lucrative than creating a business model from scratch.
Acquiring a franchise ultimately means venturing into a strategic partnership with a franchisor that can help attract and retain customers through proven methods of doing business and brand recognition. Even though franchisors offer a lot of resources, the level of support varies with each franchise delivery business opportunity. That is why it is imperative to understand the many shipping opportunities and other business service franchises out there.
It is important to note that most of the chains mentioned below started in the 1980s when transportation was deregulated, which paved the way for all the shipping companies we know today – DHL, UPS, FedEx, and so on. The mailing centres of yesteryears are now shipping centres to help people send things anywhere and everywhere.
With so many people starting their own small businesses, these chains can play a very crucial role in helping them get off to a good professional start.
13 Best Shipping Franchise Opportunities and Their Cost
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BlueGrace Logistics
BlueGrace Logistics is a renowned transportation management company focused on providing comprehensive logistics services to customers at a great price. Established in 2003, the company has rapidly grown from a small startup to a leader in the transportation industry.
Focused on creating value for small and medium sized businesses without the ability or capital to develop proprietary shipping systems, BlueGrace Logistics enables companies to streamline and simplify their logistics needs into one resource.
BlueGrace partners with 95 percent of asset based shipping companies to provide tailored solutions for customers, allowing customers the opportunity to define exactly what they need in logistics without having to manage and own their own fleets and warehouses
Financial Requirements
- Liquid cash requirement: $100,000
- Net worth requirement: $100,000
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InXpress Franchise
This company has already gained popularity in 13 countries and continues expanding globally. The company provides quality shipping services. The franchise fees highly depend on the size, location, population, and country of the business. However, InXpress franchise opportunities are equally favourable for all the franchisees who own an InXpress shipping franchise.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $85,600 – $170,000
- Net – worth Requirement: $150,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $25,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $50,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 30 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee: 1 percent
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Packaging and Shipping Specialists
Packaging And Shipping Specialists was established by Mike Gallagher in 1981 in Hobbs, New Mexico. With an awareness of the increased scattering of families across the nation, Mike saw a gap developing. Along with the remarkable expansion of mail order companies and the need of consumers to return unwanted merchandise, Mike recognized the gap between the limited hours, locations, and services offered by standard package carriers and the needs of the shipping public.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $91,300
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Pak Mail
Pak Mail offers a full range of packing and shipping services, including crating and custom packing for unique items. It also provides commercial and industrial freight services. Other available services for consumers and small businesses include package receiving, mail forwarding, copying/printing/faxing, electronic mail notification, notary services, document shredding, office supplies, and mailbox rentals.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investments: $153,500 – $230,450
- Net – worth Requirement: $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $50,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $29,950
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee: 2 percent
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Parcel Plus
Parcel Plus has four categories of services: pack and ship (UPS, FedEx, USPS, shipping and mailing supplies, crating and freight shipping); copy/print/fax (including business cards, stationery, posters, banners, A – frame sidewalk signs, postcards, brochures, flyers, website design, and more);
office services (mailbox rental, notary public, key duplication, passport photos); and ParcelPlus Online – My Digital Doorman (notifications and information about incoming mail and packages) and My Order Desk (online printing orders based on the electronic files the customer uploads with online proofing)
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $65,000
- Total Investment: $207,000 – $246,000
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The UPS Store
This company boasts of shipping upwards of 750 million packages during the holiday season. This company started out as Mail Boxes Etc. back in the early 1980s. It wasn’t until 2001 that UPS bought the company and started rebranding all locations as The UPS Store. The rest, as they say, is history. Note that this chain is the clear leader of the industry.
Although the core of the business is discounted UPS – direct shipping (20 percent lower on average), there are many more services available to consumers and small business owners. Consumers can take advantage of faxing, computer access, notary services, passport and ID photos, shredding, office and mailing supplies, and design services.
Small business owners can also take advantage of all of that, along with accounting and bookkeeping, business management, communications, direct mail, financial services, house accounts, human resources, IT support, marketing, and more. And you can still rent mailboxes as well.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investments: $168,885 – $398,323
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $60,000 – $100,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $29,950
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee 2.5 percent
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Handle with Care Packaging Store
Handle with Care Packaging Store, as the name implies, buttresses careful handling of customers’ items so they arrive safely at their final destination, which could be nearly anywhere in the world. The list of items it can handle is long and includes just about anything you can think of.
Packing and shipping services include white glove delivery, crating, trade show logistics, custom packaging, warehousing, freight insurance, on – site packing, international shipping, long – term storage, moving supplies, fulfilment services, ocean shipping, custom foam, packaging supplies, senior downsizing, and more. But unlike other companies on this list, it does not offer a wide range of other small business services.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $99,700 – $244,350
- Net – worth Requirement: $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $50,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $29,950 – $29,950
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5 – 6 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee: 2 – 3 percent
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Safe Ship
Safe Ship can move anything pretty much anywhere in the world, no matter the size or shape. Note that each location has its own BoxMakerPRO machine, developed and built by the company that can make any size custom box, at any cardboard thickness, for any need.
These boxes are as strong as wood crates but are made of cardboard. Additional offerings include mailing supplies, office supplies, notary services, incoming and outgoing fax service, mailboxes, mail forwarding, colour copies, internet downloading and printing, a professional print shop, virtual mail, and more.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $54,900
- Net – Worth Requirement: $75,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $55,000
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Postal Connections
Postal Connections provide a unique service offering that makes it different from every other company in the industry: the iSold It eBay program. It will accept items from customers and sell these online for them, collecting a sales fee when the item sells.
It mostly sells on eBay, but could also use other platforms such as Amazon or Craigslist. Note handles everything from start to finish, researching what a good price would be based on the item and its condition, listing it, and then packing and shipping it when it sells.
Other core services include packing/shipping (DHL, UPS, FedEx, USPS), including overnight shipping when needed, packing supplies, freight services, stamps, printing/copying, scanning and storage of documents, public computer access, mailbox rental, faxing (sending and receiving), office supplies, passport photos, and notarizing documents.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $62,220 – $240,250
- Net – worth Requirement: $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $75,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $33,900 – $33,900
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 4 percent+
- Ad Royalty Fee: To 2 percent
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AIM Mail Centers
AIM Mail Centers offers a similar array of services as the other companies on this list, including office services (mailbox rentals, notary, passport photos, keys, laminating, shredding, rubber stamps, and promo products), copy/print/fax services (B&W copies, colour copies, printing services, faxing, and document uploads), and pack and ship services (with price comparisons between FedEx, UPS, and USPS, shipping materials, freight services, and postal services).
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $164,300 – $244,350
- Net – worth Requirement: $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $50,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $29,950 – $29,950
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee: 2 percent
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Navis Pack and Ship
Navis Pack and Ship specializes in custom packing and expert shipping. Note that unlike the other companies on this industry, it does not offer other services – it is solely focused on packing and shipping.
It can handle antiques, computers/electronics, auction items, art, equipment, freight, furniture, or anything else that needs to be properly packed and shipped. The company offers packing, crating, shipping, small moves, pickup and delivery, white glove delivery, and international shipping from both the US and Canada.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $99,700 – $172,750
- Net – worth Requirement: $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $50,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $29,950 – $29,950
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee: 3 percent
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PostalAnnex+
PostalAnnex+ compares pricing between USPS, FedEx, and UPS for each package a customer wants to ship so they can have the lowest price of the three. Freight shipping services are also available, whether by land, air, or sea. Additional services include duplicate key cutting, greeting cards, rubber stamps, office supplies, mailbox rentals, printing/copying, document binding, laminating, notary services, faxing, stationery, website/eCommerce services, document scanning, and passport photos.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investments: $153,500 – $230,450
- Net – worth Requirement: $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $50,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $29,950
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee: 2 percent
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PostNet Neighborhood Business Centers
PostNet Neighborhood Business Centers offer a broad array of printing, shipping, and design services. In addition to mailbox rentals, customers ship packages by whatever carrier they desire, including USPS, DHL, FedEx, and Ups. However, it makes a bigger deal out of its design and printing services, including business stationery, logo design, marketing materials, personal projects and gifts, brochures,
flyers, posters, signs, banners, invitations, business cards, blueprints, calendars, canvas prints and wraps, postcards, yard signs, door hangers, labels and stickers, passport photos, and more. Small businesses can get notary public services, secure shredding, vehicle wraps, binding and finishing, fax and scan, virtual mail, and much more.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investments: $174,767 – $217,275
- Net – worth Requirement: $350,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $60,000
- Initial Franchise Fee: $35,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5 percent
- Ad Royalty Fee 2 percent
You can simply join the United States shipping industry by choosing one or more of the shipping and delivery franchise business opportunities above. However, ensure to complete your due diligence before making any investment.