The name recognition of a trusted, international brand is typically a big draw for those investing in a franchise business opportunity. With The UPS Store, that instant familiarity is just part of an attractive package that appeals to many first-time franchise investors.
The UPS Store is Canada’s largest network of business centres. It’s a one‐stop shop for small-business needs such as printing, mailbox services, shredding, mailbox rentals, packing and shipping.
Besides boasting an industry-leading reputation, The UPS Store supports franchise owners with comprehensive training before launch, plus ongoing support and marketing assistance once the owners are up and running.
Interested in learning more about why The UPS Store could be a smart choice for your first franchise investment? Here’s a closer look at some of the main benefits.
Brand strength
UPS and The UPS Store are massive, global brands with decades of history behind it, and a strong recognition factor. The positive association most people have with brand gives potential customers at each new location an important level of credibility, reliability and trust.
This reputational boost is immediate, meaning it doesn’t have to be earned over time as it would with most new businesses. By investing in The UPS Store, new franchise owners get to associate themselves with years of world-class brand positioning and customer service delivery and can reap the rewards of that name recognition.
A reliable, affordable business model
Fashions change, and food fads fade, but business services don’t go out of style. Even amid times of economic uncertainty, businesses still need the services and support that The UPS Store offers.
Unlike some franchises, the business model for The UPS Store isn’t especially complicated and doesn’t require costly equipment or inventory. Even better, none of that inventory is perishable, so franchise owners never have to worry about facing additional costs because of spoilage or waste. Theft-related costs are also low.
For many franchisees, another benefit of The UPS Store’s business model is the opportunity for work-life balance, with predictable weekday hours, limited weekend hours and almost no evening work.
Availability of locations
When you sell business services, you can find clients anywhere there are businesses, which is pretty much everywhere. The UPS Store offers investors the opportunity to choose from a broad range of available locations in urban and rural environments across the country.
Besides traditional brick-and-mortar locations, The UPS Store also offers unique store-in-store locations inside larger Walmart stores. These smaller stores get up and running in about half the time of a traditional franchise location. Importantly, they leverage the recognition of another major brand to boost foot traffic and attention while providing customers with an elevated level of convenience. Marketing data has shown that being inside a Walmart store exposes each location of The UPS Store to one million people every year.
Ongoing training and support
At The UPS Store, all new franchise owners complete a four-phase training program before they launch their own location. After an introductory phase, the training includes two stints in a store accompanied by a certified trainer, one before and another after a two-week workshop at The UPS Store University in Ontario. Besides store operations and technical training, new franchise owners also receive instruction in human resources, marketing, operations, sales, and financial management.
The support doesn’t stop once a new franchise opens its doors. Franchise owners attend ongoing networking and information-sharing sessions and are regularly invited to webinars. Twice each year, franchisees also attend conferences, where they can pick up new skills, discover new products and programs, and broaden their connections across the franchise network.
Multiple revenue streams
The UPS Store does a whole lot more than shipping, offering a suite of different services to individuals and small business owners, including shipping, printing, mailbox rentals, shredding, and passport photos. These complementary services provide multiple ways for franchise owners to generate revenue and keep their business strong.
Franchising with The UPS Store
If you are interested in franchising with The UPS Store, please check out our detailed FAQ page that can help answer some of your initial questions. You can also use our free online form to request more franchise information.
