24 June 2021
The UPS Store, Inc., Enhances Commitment to Diversity Ownership Program
Initiative expands access and promotes inclusivity in retail ownership
The UPS Store, Inc., the retail channel of UPS® which provides business solutions to entrepreneurs and small business owners, today announced an expansion of its Diversity Ownership Program. Formerly called the Minority Incentive Program, the program initially launched in 2020 to equip underserved groups with resources to become a retail owner of The UPS Store® franchise. It offers an affordable path to business ownership by offering an approximate 50% discount off the franchise fee to eligible first-time Black, Asian, Hispanic and Native American buyers and will include eligibility to LGBTQ+ franchise applicants starting this August.
“Our retail network of more than 5,000 stores are owned and operated by individuals who know and love their local communities,” said Michelle Van Slyke, interim president of The UPS Store, Inc. “We must be deliberate in our efforts and actions to ensure that all groups, especially those who have been historically underrepresented, have the opportunity to thrive as entrepreneurs who serve the communities they call home.”
According to a 2018 study from the IFA Foundation, 31 percent of franchised businesses are minority-owned, compared to 19 percent of non-franchised businesses. As part of The UPS Store commitment to foster diversity in business ownership, first-time buyers of a new The UPS Store franchise who self-identify as belonging to a racial or ethnic minority group and/or the LGBTQ+ community would be eligible to receive $15,000 off the franchise fee, provided that they commit to developing their location under the company’s new store design.* The company offers educational resources and expertise to build on helping retail owners make their stores sustainable and successful.
Entrepreneurs interested in learning more about the Diversity Ownership Program can visit: theupsstorefranchise.com/minority-opportunities.
* Additional conditions may apply
Copyright © 2021 The UPS Store, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is not intended as an offer of a franchise. Any franchise offer is made only by delivery of the Franchise Disclosure Document.
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