Women and minority-owned businesses are a driving force in the U.S. economy. According to the State of Women-Owned Business Report, 42 percent of American businesses, nearly 13 million, are owned by women. This represents an increase of 21 percent since 2014, compared to an increase of just 9 percent in all business in the same time period. Women-owned businesses employ 9.4 million workers and generate $1.9 trillion a year in revenue. Almost 30 percent (or approximately 8 million) American businesses are minority-owned. These businesses provide employment for 7.2 million Americans and produce over $1 trillion in revenue annually. According to the Minority Business Development Agency, these numbers have been steadily increasing over the last decade.
The UPS Store is proud to support and contribute to this growth. We’re committed to ethnic diversity and are devoted to empowering women and minority franchisees. As an essential business, The UPS Store provides critical services to communities and has franchise opportunities available across the country.
Now Could Be a Good Time to Start Your Own Business
While the coronavirus pandemic hit many small business owners hard, it left many entrepreneurs chomping at the bit to start their own business. Data collected May 23-27, 2020 for the Small Business Startup Sentiment IndexTM shows that nearly 56 percent of aspiring owners intend to start a business within the next three months. Almost 61 percent of respondents (compared to 76 percent pre-COVID-19) feel that now is a good time to start a business. The pandemic hasn’t squelched the entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, nearly 37 percent reported that the pandemic actually increased their desire to have more control over their own future through business ownership.
Whether you want to be your own boss, pursue a passion, advance your career, or are motivated by a life event or dissatisfaction with corporate America, there are a wide variety of reasons for starting your own business. Owning a The UPS Store can be a great option for achieving your entrepreneurial dreams and is one of the best franchise opportunities for women and minorities.
Benefits of Franchising with The UPS Store
Joining a franchise network can help overcome many obstacles along the path to business ownership. One of the biggest concerns for starting a business, especially for women and minorities who are faced with gender and race-based barriers, is access to capital. However, starting a business doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, The UPS Store has been ranked number one on Entrepreneur’s Top 100 Franchises for Less than $150K. We also offer flexible financing options to help our franchisees get started off on the right track. But our support doesn’t end there. We’re committed to the success of our franchisees and provide them with support and guidance every step of the way.
The UPS Store is a nationally renowned brand with nearly 40 years of franchise experience. We’ve honed a proven business model and operating system, are dedicated to the continual development of innovative solutions and know how to transfer that knowledge to our franchisees. Our comprehensive training program includes web-based training, interactive workshops and hands-on, in-store experience to ensure our franchisees are well prepared before opening their centers. The UPS Store also provides franchisees ongoing support like troubleshooting help and expert advice not only from home office staff but also fellow franchisees. Our franchise system network of thousands of owners are happy to share insights and learn from one another. We also provide multi-level marketing and advertising support including nationwide brand awareness campaigns, regional and local advertising efforts and tools to support individual store promotion.
The UPS Store Supports Diversity
The UPS Store is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive franchise community.We believe in sharing franchise opportunities with anyone who has the entrepreneurial spirit and drive required to make their business successful. Ideal franchisees have strong problem solving and leadership skills, can effectively manage time and resources, are willing to learn new systems and procedures and are committed to providing outstanding customer service. The UPS Store has helped thousands of individuals of all backgrounds own their future, like Sahar Al-Furaiji. After fleeing terrorists in her home country, she leveraged logistics and business management experience gained running a non-profit in Iraq to open her The UPS Store location in Arlington, VA.
The UPS Store franchise owners also bring valuable resources to their communities. And not just in the form of the products and services their center offers. Franchisees serve as positive role models and mentors for others and actively participate in community leadership. For example, New York City minority franchise owner Brandon Phillips has made a positive impact on his neighborhood in Queens. He shares, "The UPS Store brought something different to the community. I've received many awards and recognition from local officials because of the store."
Owning Your Own Business Can Change Your Life
Although it takes a significant amount of time and effort to build your business, once established, business ownership allows you to have more control over your work-life balance. While everyone can benefit from more time to enjoy personal or family activities, this can be especially important for women. Donna Trainor, The UPS Store franchisee agrees, “Owning my own UPS Store has changed my life tremendously. I’m a single parent, so being able to have the time to go to my children’s functions has given me a different lifestyle versus someone dictating when I can leave.”
In addition to allowing more direct control over your schedule, owning your own business also provides an opportunity for personal growth. Franchisee Maria Daly says, “I think more for myself now, I make business decisions today which I would never have made before, my confidence has grown, I'm more secure, my management skills have grown immensely, and I feel like I could probably do any job now from what I've gained working with The UPS Store.”
The UPS Store is committed to creating equal opportunities for all franchisees, regardless of gender or race. Reach out to our franchise development team to learn more. You can also explore The UPS Store locations for sale and open markets ready for development on our website.
