What Annex Brands does

Annex Brands, Inc. is a privately-held franchise platform headquartered in San Diego, California, founded in 1985 by Jack and Martha (Marty) Lentz. The company licenses and supports 800+ independently-owned packing, shipping, and business service locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, operating under eight sub-brands: PostalAnnex, Pak Mail, Navis Pack & Ship, AIM Mail Centers, Postal Connections, Parcel Plus, Handle With Care Packaging Store, and Sunshine Pack & Ship. Retail brands serve small businesses and consumers with multi-carrier shipping (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL), mailbox rental, notary, printing, and passport services; commercial brands (Navis Pack & Ship, Handle With Care Packaging Store) focus on custom crating and freight for large, fragile, or high-value items.

The underlying technology layer is the proprietary ABConnect Operating System, developed over 14+ years and used by commercial franchisees to manage logistics, packing, and business operations. The company does not build or license public-facing software products; its technology stack supports franchise unit operations rather than direct consumer interfaces. A April 2026 partnership embedded 1,700+ Annex Brands locations into the UPS/Happy Returns Return Bar reverse logistics network, layering a new e-commerce returns revenue stream on top of the existing carrier-aggregator model.

Annex Brands generates revenue through initial franchise fees and ongoing royalties from its network of franchisees. Pricing for franchise fees and royalty rates is disclosed through a formal Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) rather than public channels, and franchisees must meet net worth requirements ranging from $300,000 to over $5 million. Growth has been driven by a combination of organic franchise sales (50+ new openings since 2020) and seven brand-level acquisitions since 2006, with the most recent being Postal Connections of America in May 2026. The company remains founder-controlled, has no disclosed institutional investor or parent company, and does not publish financial statements.

Name

Annex Brands

Legal name

Annex Brands, Inc.

Website

https://annexbrands.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Annex Brands is a privately-held franchise platform founded in 1985 that operates 800+ independently-owned packing, shipping, and business service locations across North America under eight sub-brands, generating revenue through franchise fees and royalties from franchisees serving small businesses and consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipping and Business Services Franchising

NAICS

Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251), Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive, Tools & Industrial Supplies (B2B) (CRAEAEAH)

Keywords

• Shipping franchise services
• Multi-carrier pack and ship
• Franchise business services
• Freight and crating services
• Mailbox rental printing

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Annex Brands generates revenue by licensing and franchising packing, shipping, and business service center locations. Individual franchisees pay initial franchise fees and ongoing royalties. The franchisor supports franchisees with brand, operations, technology, carrier relationships, and marketing. The network comprises over 800 licensed and franchised locations across North America.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Annex Brands is a multi-brand franchisor that licenses and operates a network of independently owned packing, shipping, and business service centers across North America. The company sells franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs, providing them with brand rights, training, technology (ABConnect Operating System), carrier relationships, and operational support in exchange for franchise fees and royalties. Franchise locations offer consumers and small businesses multi-carrier shipping (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL), packing, mailbox rental, notary, printing, passport photos, and freight/crating services.

Product overview

Annex Brands operates a multi-brand franchise platform consisting of eight distinct sub-brands in the packing, shipping, and business services industry. The portfolio includes two service categories: retail brands (PostalAnnex, Pak Mail, AIM Mail Centers, Postal Connections, Parcel Plus, Sunshine Pack & Ship) offering consumer-facing services such as shipping through multiple carriers, mailbox rentals, notary, printing, and passport services; and commercial brands (Navis Pack & Ship, Handle With Care Packaging Store) specializing in freight shipping and custom crating for large, fragile, or high-value items. All locations are independently owned and operated franchises operating across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PostalAnnex: Since 1985, PostalAnnex retail stores have been providing shipping, packing, mailbox rental, notary, copying and printing services under one roof.
• Pak Mail
• Navis Pack & Ship
• AIM Mail Centers
• Postal Connections
• Parcel Plus
• Handle With Care Packaging Store
• Sunshine Pack & Ship

Products and services

• PostalAnnex Retail shipping and office services franchise offering shipping through UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL, along with packing services, private mailbox rentals, notary public services, copying, printing, passport photos, and other business services. Locations are often situated in grocery-anchored shopping centers.
• Pak Mail Packing and shipping franchise focused on exceptional service and positive customer experience. Offers professional packing and shipping services through major carriers along with freight shipping, office services, and custom crating solutions.
• Navis Pack & Ship Specialized commercial service brand for custom packaging and shipping of items high in value, large in size, or fragile in composition. Operates 48 locations across the U.S. and Canada offering freight shipping, specialty crating, palletizing, and custom wooden crates for oversized or delicate items. Uses the proprietary ABConnect Operating System.
• AIM Mail Centers Founded in 1985 in Irvine, California as a one-stop shop for office services including shipping, packaging, mailbox rental, copies, and additional business support services for both consumers and businesses.
• Postal Connections Comprehensive shipping, mailing, printing, and business support services brand providing personal and business needs in one convenient location. More than a traditional pack-and-ship store, offering expanded business services.
• Parcel Plus Business services franchise offering complete suite of services since 1986. Locations help customers compare shipping rates among FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL while providing additional business services including mailbox rentals, printing, and notary services.
• Handle With Care Packaging Store Acquired in September 2007, offering over 500 years of combined experience in shipping fragile, awkward, large, and valuable freight. Provides custom crating and specialty packing solutions for items requiring special handling.
• Sunshine Pack & Ship Retail and commercial packaging and shipping centers offering rate comparison across UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, and various freight carriers. Additional services include private mailbox rentals, notary public service, copying, finishing, packaging supplies, key cutting, and office supplies.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 800 locations across the US, Canada, and Mexico as of 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UPS / Happy ReturnscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Annex Brands entered a strategic partnership with UPS and Happy Returns to serve as Return Bar drop-off locations. More than 1,700 Annex Brands locations were added to UPS's 10,000-location Return Bar network in April 2026. The partnership positions Annex Brands as a key node in UPS's end-to-end reverse logistics network, reducing driving time for consumers and enabling returns to move back to retailers in as little as 3.6 days. UPS acquired Happy Returns from PayPal in 2023 to bolster its reverse logistics capabilities.
• PackageHub Business CentersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Annex Brands partnered with PackageHub Business Centers alongside the UPS Happy Returns expansion, adding combined locations to the Return Bar network.
• Safcan Logistics, Ltd.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 August 2023Safcan Logistics, Ltd. serves as the Master Licensee for Parcel Plus in Canada, opening the first Canadian Parcel Plus location in Abbotsford, British Columbia in August 2023. The master license agreement plans for 92 locations over 20 years across Canada.
• UPScoreTechnology or IntegrationUPS is one of the primary carrier partners integrated across all Annex Brands franchise locations. Franchise locations offer shipping services through UPS alongside FedEx, USPS, and DHL, enabling multi-carrier comparison for customers.
• FedExcoreTechnology or IntegrationFedEx is one of the primary carrier partners integrated across all Annex Brands franchise locations. Franchise locations offer shipping services through FedEx alongside UPS, USPS, and DHL.
• USPScoreTechnology or IntegrationUSPS is one of the primary carrier partners integrated across all Annex Brands franchise locations for domestic and international shipping services.
• DHLcoreTechnology or IntegrationDHL is a key carrier partner available at Annex Brands locations, providing international shipping capabilities alongside UPS, FedEx, and USPS.
• International Franchise AssociationminorOthersAnnex Brands is a proud member of the International Franchise Association. The company participates in IFA certification programs (Certified Franchise Executive), awards (Franchisee of the Year), and annual conventions. Multiple Annex Brands executives have earned CFE designations through IFA.
• Transportation Intermediaries AssociationminorOthersAnnex Brands is a member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association, supporting freight and logistics industry standards and networking.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FedEx Corporation: One of the four primary carrier partners at Annex Brands locations. Operates its own retail network (FedEx Office) and drop-off network, making it both a critical partner and a competitor for the same end-customer shipping volume.
• United States Postal Service (USPS): Carrier partner and historical default parcel carrier at every Annex Brands location. USPS financial condition and pricing directly affect franchise shipping cost structure and the multi-carrier value proposition.
• United Parcel Service (UPS): One of the four primary carrier partners at every Annex Brands location and a counterparty in the Happy Returns Return Bar partnership. Strategic significance as both a partner and an indirect competitor (via The UPS Store) makes UPS the most material incumbent relationship for Annex Brands.
• FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko's): Carrier-owned retail chain offering shipping, packing, printing, and office services. Not a franchise system, but the most significant direct competitor in walk-in shipping and document services, with the carrier's brand and pricing power behind it.

Direct peers

• Goin' Postal: Multi-carrier shipping and business services franchise offering UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL drop-off alongside mailbox rentals, notary, and printing. Closely comparable unit-level model, though materially smaller network size than Annex Brands' 800+ locations.
• PostNet: National pack-and-ship and business services franchise with several hundred locations across the U.S. and growing international footprint. Closest direct peer in business model, customer profile (SMB/consumer), and franchise unit economics, but at meaningfully smaller scale than Annex Brands.
• The UPS Store: The largest direct competitor: a franchise network of approximately 5,000+ retail shipping and business service centers owned and branded by UPS. Operates the same one-stop shipping, packing, mailbox, printing, and notary model, but is tied exclusively to UPS as a carrier — a structural contrast to Annex Brands' multi-carrier positioning.

Others

• PostalAnnex (historical subsidiary): Original PostalAnnex brand that is now the flagship sub-brand within the Annex Brands portfolio. Listed here for context rather than as an external peer; useful as the historical anchor for the 35-year Entrepreneur Franchise 500 ranking and Hall of Fame status.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/annex-brands-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Annex Brands