Business Service Centers & Copy Shops Industry Profile

Companies in this industry operate business service centers, including private mailing centers, copy shops, and other document duplication centers. Major US companies include Allegra Marketing Printing Mail, FedEx, Minuteman Press, Sir Speedy, and The UPS Store. Major companies based outside the US include bpost (Belgium), and Quality Post (Mexico).

Worldwide, business activity is a key driver of industry demand. The global business support services market is forecast to reach over $915 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%, according to The Business Research Company.

The US business service center and copy shop industry includes about 10,200 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $9 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by business spending, particularly spending by small businesses that lack in-house mailing and document preparation operations. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and good customer service. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in purchasing or leasing equipment such as printers and copiers. Small companies can compete by offering highly specialized services, superior customer service, or favorable locations. The US industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies account for about 60% of revenue.

Competition may come from government postal services and from retailers -- chiefly office supply stores, consumer electronics outlets, and mass merchandisers -- that offer a variety of document production services. Additionally, business service centers compete with the ...