Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE), a UPS company, is the world’s largest franchisor of retail shipping, postal, document and business service centers. The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. together comprise approximately 4,800 independently owned locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, providing convenient and value-added business services to the small-office/home-office (SOHO) market, corporate "road warriors," and consumers.
The Mail Boxes Etc. concept was introduced in 1980 as a convenient alternative to the post office. Throughout its 
evolution, it has continued to define and lead the business services category it created. In 2001, UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. In 2003, the two companies introduced The UPS Store brand. The centers remain locally owned and operated, and continue to offer a variety of shipping, freight, postal, digital online printing, document and business services, with convenient locations and world-class service.
Following the re-branding, 500 new The UPS Store locations and 260 Canadian locations were added. It was a record for the company and a record of phenomenal growth for a franchise system celebrating its quarter-century birthday. Non-traditional site development continues to set milestones with steady growth on college campuses, military bases, convention centers, hotels, urban renewal areas and other special venues. This flexibility takes servides to the customers at their point of need.
For 20 years, The UPS Store/MBE has been ranked #1 franchise in the postal and business services category by Entrepreneur magazine. Entrepreneur ranks franchise opportunities based on financial strength, growth rate and size, and The UPS Store/MBE has placed on top every year. Joined with our rich tradition of award-winning marketing and public relations campaigns, the accolades from the media and the public continue.
* 1990-2003 listed under the Mail Boxes Etc. brand