Mail Shop 101: Quick Start Checklist for Pack & Ship Businesses

Ready to earn more from your pack‑&‑ship shop? Here’s a quick-hit list of proven revenue boosters — from local outreach to value-add services — to get your cash flow humming.

📬 Become a USPS Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)

To legally offer private mailbox rentals, you need USPS approval. Here’s how:

  • Create an account on the USPS Gateway

  • In your dashboard, click CMRA Location (1583-A)

  • Enter your ZIP code → click Find

  • Locate your business → click Request Admin

  • USPS will send you an Admin Code by mail (valid for 25 days)

  • Once received, return to the dashboard → select Pending Admin Code → enter the code, and click Validate

  • For more detailed instructions, here is the full USPS guide

📦 Become a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet (ASO)

Requirements

  • Have a customer counter to receive packages

  • Have regular weekday hours of operation

  • Provide packing services and help customers with shipping

  • Provide UPS packing materials at no charge

  • Accept UPS packages at no charge

  • Have a scale that measures at least 100 pounds (45 kg)

How to Apply

  • Apply online here

  • Follow up with an email to asoawards@ups.com introducing yourself along with your contact information and store details

  • NOTE: You will very likely get rejected at first, don’t worry, this is an auto reply and they reject everybody. If you get a rejection email, follow these steps.

  • Pro Tip: If you ever call the UPS 1-800-742-5877 hotline, tell the automated system you’re “returning a call” to skip the robot maze and reach a human faster

Alternative

  • You can always schedule daily pickups for $36/week even without approval — but you won’t earn drop-off commissions.

Why Become a UPS ASO?

  • Increased foot traffic from customers looking for UPS services

  • Earn commissions on UPS shipments and drop offs

  • Get better shipping rates compared to standard retail rates

  • Marketing exposure through UPS’s store locator

📦 Become a FedEx Authorized ShipCenter (FASC)

Requirements 

  • Have a retail store with a customer counter

  • Have a calibrated scale that can weigh at least 100 lbs

  • Use an approved shipping system, such as FedEx Ship Manager

  • Offer FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services

  • Sell and ship a minimum number of FedEx packages per day

  • Accept FedEx packages dropped off by FedEx account holders at no charge

  • Be a registered FASCnet user

  • Maintain a good financial standing with FedEx

How to Apply

Why FASC?

  • Increased foot traffic from customers looking for FedEx services

  • Earn commissions on FedEx shipments and drop offs

  • Get better shipping rates compared to standard retail rates.

  • Marketing exposure through FedEx’s store locator📦 Become a DHL ServicePoint Partner

📦 Become a DHL Service Point Partner

Requirements

  • A retail storefront with a store trading name sign and a counter to receive and process parcels

  • Enough space to store flat-packed packaging that will be provided to you. These will be ready for quick and easy self-assembly and will take up approximately 140cm (L) x 120cm (W) x 70cm (D) of space

  • A secure place to store customer parcels (not accessible to the general public)

  • Regular weekday and some weekend opening hours are a must

  • Computer with internet access and a printer

How To Apply

  • To apply, call 888-262-4462

  • If necessary, send a follow up email to dasc@dhl.com with your contact information and details about your business

Why DHL?

  • There are large profit margins on international shipping

📩 Basic Shipping Supplies

Boxes

  • 6x6x6", 8x6x4", 10x8x6", 12x12x12", 20x20x20", etc.

  • A good mix of small, medium, and large

Mailers & Envelopes

  • Bubble mailers: 4x8”, 6x10”, 8.5x12”

  • Poly mailers: 9x12”, 12x16”

  • Envelopes: #10 regular, 9x12 legal

Other Essentials

  • 4x6 direct thermal label rolls

  • Heavy-duty clear packing tape

You can buy all of these on Amazon for low quantity orders

📪 Mailboxes

💻 Software

  • Bullship – Handles mailboxes, automated mailbox subscriptions, shipping labels, POS, sales reporting, package alerts, etc.

🖨️ Hardware

Label Scanner

Label Printer (4x6)

Shipping Scale

You can use any computer, laptop, MacBook, PC with Bullship, as well as any hardware and printer as long as its compatible with your computer (we try to keep it simple around here).

🌐 Website

Bullship Website

  • Integrates directly with your Bullship account so customers can sign up for mailboxes online

  • Customers can rent boxes online

  • $500 setup + $15/mo

Squarespace

  • Easier DIY builder, looks great

  • Doesn’t integrate with Bullship

  • $23/mo

💳 POS Terminals

  • Stripe – full Bullship integration ($350)

  • Square – easy setup, no Bullship sync ($299)

🧠 More Helpful Stuff