The UPS Store Canada

What The UPS Store Canada does

The UPS Store Canada is the Canadian master franchise network operating under The UPS Store brand, owned and operated by MBEC Communications Inc., a subsidiary of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS). Founded in Canada in 1988, the company operates 400+ independently owned and operated franchise locations across the country, making it Canada's largest network of printing and copying centers and the largest franchised business services center chain in the country. It serves small business owners and SOHO (small office/home office) operators as its primary segment, with secondary segments in mid-market/corporate customers, individual consumers, and franchisees.

Core products span three service pillars: printing (business cards, flyers, brochures, posters, banners, plus online ordering via Pressero), mailbox rentals (real street addresses, mail forwarding, 24/7 access), and packaging/shipping (domestic and international UPS shipping with Pack & Ship Guarantee and certified packing experts). Adjacent services include document shredding (via Iron Mountain NAID-certified partnership), passport and ID photos, fax services, custom rubber stamps, corporate retail solutions (alternate delivery locations, returns and exchanges management), and incorporation/business registration filings. Technology infrastructure is conventional franchise-retail: online printing platform, store locator, package tracking, mobile app for the Get More Rewards loyalty program, and email marketing.

The business model operates as a franchise network. MBEC Communications Inc. generates revenue through initial franchise fees ($174,000-$198,500 CAD, with $80,000-$100,000 liquid capital required) and ongoing royalties, while individual franchise locations generate revenue from in-store transactions across printing, shipping, mailbox rentals, and ancillary services. Customer retention is driven by the Get More Rewards loyalty program (10% discount on most services) and the Aeroplan partnership (1 point per $1 spent, up to 1,000 points/day). Distribution is primarily physical retail with 400+ locations, supplemented by an online printing e-commerce channel, direct corporate sales for retail solutions, and a mobile app for loyalty engagement.

Name

The UPS Store Canada

Legal name

MBEC Communications Inc.

Website

https://theupsstore.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The UPS Store Canada operates 400+ franchise locations providing printing, shipping, mailbox rentals, and bundled business services to small businesses, SOHO operators, and consumers across Canada, licensed from UPS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Print, Pack & Ship Services

NAICS

Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110)

SIC

Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Forms, Labels & Shipping Supplies Retail (CRALABAI)

Keywords

• Printing services
• Pack and ship
• Mailbox rentals
• Business services
• Document shredding

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalties: The company generates revenue through franchise fees from independently owned and operated store locations. Initial franchise investment ranges from $174,000 to $198,500, with liquid capital requirements of $80,000 to $100,000.
2. In-Store Retail Services: Revenue from retail transactions including printing services, shipping, mailbox rentals, shredding, fax services, passport photos, and document finishing at independently owned store locations.
3. Get More Rewards Membership: Loyalty program driving customer retention and increased transaction frequency through 10% discounts and Aeroplan point accumulation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The UPS Store Canada operates a franchise network of over 400 retail locations across Canada offering integrated business and consumer services. Core offerings include professional printing, UPS domestic and international shipping with certified packing and the Pack & Ship Guarantee, mailbox rentals with real street addresses, NAID-certified document shredding, passport and ID photos, and corporate retail solutions such as Alternate Delivery Locations and Returns & Exchanges for businesses.

Product overview

The UPS Store Canada is a franchise network offering an integrated suite of business services centered around printing, shipping, and mailbox solutions. The core product portfolio includes Printing Services (business cards, flyers, brochures, posters, banners, and online printing), Mailbox Services (real street address with 24/7 access), and Packaging & Shipping Services (domestic, international, and certified packing). Additional service modules include Shredding Services (via Iron Mountain partnership), the GET MORE Rewards Program (10% discount loyalty), Aeroplan Points earning program, Passport & ID Photos, Fax Services, Custom Rubber Stamps, and Corporate Retail Solutions (Alternate Delivery Locations, Returns & Exchanges). The network operates over 400 franchise locations across Canada, serving small businesses and individuals with bundled business services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Get More Rewards: A small business rewards program offering 10% discounts on in-store products and services including UPS shipping, packaging supplies, mailbox rentals, printing, shredding, and more.
• Aeroplan Program
• Certified Packing Experts
• Pack & Ship Guarantee
• Alternate Delivery Locations

Products and services

• Printing Services Comprehensive printing services including business cards, flyers, brochures, manuals, presentations, menus, forms, personalized calendars, postcards, invitations, posters, and banners, offered in-store and through an online printing platform with in-store pickup.
• Mailbox Services Mailbox rental services providing a real street address (not a PO Box), mail receiving, package receipt from any carrier, mail forwarding, and 24/7 access to private mailboxes for individuals and small businesses.
• Packaging & Shipping Services Domestic and international UPS shipping with certified packing experts and the Pack & Ship Guarantee, plus professional packing of fragile, oversized, and irregularly shaped items and moving supplies for sale.
• Additional Store Services Additional retail services including faxing (sending and receiving), custom rubber stamps in various sizes and styles, computer rentals, internet services, and access to the House Account program for frequent customers.
• Shredding Services Secure document shredding delivered in partnership with Iron Mountain using NAID-certified locked shred bins, transported to off-site facilities for destruction, then baled and recycled. Available to small businesses and personal customers.
• Passport & ID Photos Canadian and international passport photos and identification photos for various purposes, produced in-store at participating The UPS Store Canada locations.
• Corporate Retail Solutions Corporate offering bundling Alternate Delivery Locations, Returns & Exchanges management, and customized business accounts for companies whose employees or customers cannot receive packages at home or office. Sold through direct sales to enterprise customers.
• Alternate Delivery Locations Service allowing businesses to designate The UPS Store locations as delivery points for employees or customers who cannot receive packages at home or office, with secure storage until pickup and ID verification.
• Returns & Exchanges Service Corporate service enabling businesses to offer customers and employees easy product returns through any UPS Store location in Canada, with optional professional packing and consolidated monthly invoicing.
• House Account Program Monthly billing account for frequent customers and small businesses that provides group authorization for multiple users and centralized access to all packaging, shipping, and document services across The UPS Store locations.
• Incorporation & Business Registrations Business registration and incorporation filing services for small businesses in Canada, offered through The UPS Store retail locations.
• Franchising Opportunities Franchise ownership opportunities for The UPS Store locations across Canada, with initial investment from $174,000 to $198,500 CAD, liquid capital requirements of $80,000 to $100,000 CAD, and veterans incentives of a $10,000 discount plus 50% reduction on initial enrollment fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save up to an additional 30% on UPS Domestic Ground Shipping
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iron MountaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIron Mountain is The UPS Store's shredding partner, providing NAID-certified document destruction services. Documents are placed in locked shredding bins provided by Iron Mountain, transported to off-site facilities for destruction, and then baled and recycled. This partnership enables secure, compliant document destruction for small business and personal customers.
• Aeroplan (Air Canada)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAeroplan partnership allows The UPS Store customers to earn 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on in-store purchases (up to 1,000 points per day). This loyalty partnership drives customer acquisition and retention by providing rewards incentives. Excludes postage stamps, non-UPS courier services, gift cards, and taxes.
• The UPS Store, Inc. (UPS)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMBEC Communications Inc. holds the master license for The UPS Store brand in Canada, sub-licensed from The UPS Store, Inc., a subsidiary of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. The UPS brand and related trademarks are owned by UPS and used under license in Canada.
• Canadian Franchise Association (CFA)minorOthersThe UPS Store is a proud member of the Canadian Franchise Association. President David Druker received the CFA's Volunteer Leadership Excellence Award in 2026 for contribution to the franchise community.
• Driven (formerly Thinking Capital)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSmall business financing partner mentioned on The UPS Store website. Driven provides loans between $10,000-$500,000 to Canadian small businesses. The UPS Store directs customers seeking financing to Driven, who in turn refers customers to The UPS Store for business services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Staples Canada: Staples is a major office supplies retailer in Canada offering in-store printing, copying, and shipping services alongside its core office products business. It competes with The UPS Store on printing services but as part of a broader office supplies portfolio, not as a print-and-ship specialist.

Emerging players

• Cimpress (Vistaprint): Cimpress operates Vistaprint and other online printing brands, serving small businesses with custom printing and marketing materials. While primarily digital/e-commerce, it competes with The UPS Store's printing services by offering lower prices and convenience for standard print products, representing a digital substitute rather than a physical location competitor.

Direct peers

• Canada Post Corporation: Canada Post operates retail postal outlets across Canada offering shipping, mailbox, and postal services. As Canada's national postal operator with broad geographic coverage, it competes directly with The UPS Store for shipping transactions, mailbox rentals, and small business mail services.
• The UPS Store (US Network): The US parent network of The UPS Store Canada, operating 4,300+ North American locations under the same UPS master license model. It is the closest operational and brand peer, sharing the same franchise model, services portfolio, and master licensing structure through The UPS Store, Inc.
• PostalAnnex / Annex Brands: PostalAnnex is a US franchise network of shipping, mailbox, and business service centers. It operates with a similar franchise model and competes directly with The UPS Store in the print, pack, ship, and mailbox service category.
• FedEx Office: FedEx Office (formerly Kinko's) operates a US-based network of retail locations providing printing, copying, and shipping services. It is the most direct competitor to The UPS Store in the print-and-ship retail category, with comparable service bundles and target customers (small businesses and consumers).
• AIM Mail Centers: AIM Mail Centers is a US franchise network providing shipping, mailbox rental, and business services. It shares the franchise retail model and core services (packing, shipping, mailbox, printing) with The UPS Store, targeting similar small business and consumer segments.
• Minuteman Press International: Minuteman Press is a franchise printing services network with locations primarily in North America, including Canada. It directly competes with The UPS Store in commercial printing, design, and marketing collateral services for small and mid-sized businesses.
• Pak Mail: Pak Mail is a US franchise network offering packing, shipping, and business services through independently owned retail locations. It shares the franchise model and core service mix (pack & ship, mailbox, business services) with The UPS Store, serving similar small business and consumer customers.

Regional players

• PostNet: PostNet is a franchise network of print, shipping, and business service centers with a presence in Canada and other countries. While operating with a similar service model and customer focus, its primary geographic footprint is outside Canada, making it a regional player relative to The UPS Store Canada's domestic-only operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theupsstore_can
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheUPSStoreCA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The UPS Store Canada