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Business Service Centers in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Brendan McErlaine Brendan McErlaine New York, United States Last Updated: May 2024 NAICS 56143

Revenue

$14.4bn

2024

$14.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

88,759

Businesses

22,526

Wages

$X.Xbn

Business Service Centers in the US industry analysis

Revenue for business service centers has been volatile during the current period. When COVID-19 hit, demand for the industry’s services was constrained by the shutdown of many physical service centers and falling corporate profit. Despite this, soaring e-commerce sales boosted demand from retailers and other sellers of goods and services, causing revenue to rise in 2020. As the economy recovered from the pandemic, e-commerce sales plunged, damaging the industry’s performance. As higher corporate profit slowly raised investment from businesses, revenue rose in 2022. Rising interest rates have constrained consumer spending, heightening recessionary fears. These fears have caused more businesses to save more money for a rainy day, hindering spending on the industry’s services and causing revenue to fall in 2023. Overall, revenue for business service centers is anticipated to creep upward at a CAGR of 1.2% during the current period, reaching $14.4 billion in 2024. This includes a 1.5% rise in revenue in that year.

Trends and Insights

  • The desire for the industry's services has historically been influenced by the number of companies and the level of corporate profit. Steady business formation and corporate profit will spur revenue growth during the outlook period.
  • Technology has advanced into 2024, causing a change in the relative demand for different services offered by the industry. Specifically, the increased popularity of digital media and services has reduced demand for printing services and threaten the viability of copying and reproduction activities.
  • A business service center's location may be a key element in determining its performance. Potential tenants are likely to be more drawn to centers in crowded urban areas near public transportation and other amenities than those that are more secluded or difficult to get to.
  • The level of internal competition is high and growing. The industry is defined by a small number of major players that cater to major corporations, numerous consumers and a sizable number of minor players that target local or regional markets.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $14.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

E-commerce sales soared during COVID-19

  • When the pandemic hit, state and local governments imposed lockdowns and enforced stringent social distancing measures. Many business service centers closed their doors in response to these measures, causing providers to operate completely online. Demand for services typically provided in-person, such as printing, declined.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Business Service Centers in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Steady economic conditions will boost the industry's performance

  • Despite challenges related to rising interest rates, high inflation and recessionary fears, the US economy is expected to perform well during the outlook period. Stable economic growth will spur business formation since new revenue streams will arise. An increase in the number of businesses will increase the supply of potential customers of business service centers, aiding the industry.

Biggest companies in the Business Service Centers in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
United Parcel Service, Inc.
1,515.8
145.6
9.6
Staples Inc.
1,094.9
140.3
12.8
FedEx Corporation
1,026.6
77.8
7.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 11 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Business Service Centers in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Copying and reproduction, Postal, shipping and mailbox rental and Packaging and labeling. Copying and reproduction is the largest segment of the Business Service Centers in the US.

Trends and Insights

Spending on copying and reproduction services makes up most of the industry's revenue

  • Copying and reproduction services include duplicating text, sketches, plans, maps and other materials using blueprinting, photocopying, mimeographing and other methods of replication.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry provides mailbox rental and other postal and mailing services (except direct-mail advertising). Establishments that provide these mailing services along with one or more other office support services, such as facsimile services, word-processing services, on-site PC rental services and office product sales, are included in the industry. Companies typically known as copy centers or copy shops are also included in this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Providing copying and reproduction servicesOffering postal, shipping and mailbox rental servicesProviding packaging and labeling servicesOffering printing servicesProviding faxing servicesOffering on-site computer leasing services

Companies

United Parcel Service, Inc.Staples Inc.FedEx Corporation

Purchase this report to view all 11 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

QUICK PRINTPRIVATE MAILBOXCOPY CENTERFACSIMILENONEMPLOYER

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 56143 - Business Service Centers in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The desire for the industry's services has historically been influenced by the number of companies and the level of corporate profit. Steady business formation and corporate ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Technology has advanced into 2024, causing a change in the relative demand for different services offered by the industry. Specifically, the increased popularity of digital m...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

A business service center's location may be a key element in determining its performance. Potential tenants are likely to be more drawn to centers in crowded urban areas near...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The level of internal competition is high and growing. The industry is defined by a small number of major players that cater to major corporations, numerous consumers and a s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Market share concentration is low because the industry's four largest players comprise less than 40.0% of revenue. Consolidation is constrained by low barriers to entry and h...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of United Parcel Service, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Staples Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of FedEx Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 8 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for United Parcel Service, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Staples Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for FedEx Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 8 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

There are many employment-related rules that must be followed, but there are no laws that are specifically applicable to business service centers. Relevant regulations relate...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry is fairly profitable because business service centers don't have to invest in expensive equipment like manufacturers. Rising e-commerce sales have increased prof...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States is $14.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Business Service Centers in the US industry in 2024?

There are 22,526 businesses in the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Business Service Centers in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Business Service Centers market in United States are United Parcel Service, Inc., Staples Inc. and FedEx Corporation

What does the Business Service Centers in the US in United States include?

Providing copying and reproduction services and Offering postal, shipping and mailbox rental services are part of the Business Service Centers in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Business Service Centers in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is United Parcel Service, Inc..

How competitive is the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Business Service Centers in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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