UPS Business Account Review: Rates, Perks, and Who It’s Best For

For any American entrepreneur, managing logistics is a critical component of success. Getting your products to customers reliably and affordably can make or break your business. United Parcel Service (UPS), a global leader in shipping, offers a dedicated UPS Business Account designed to streamline this process. But with various fees, features and competitors, is it the right choice for your growing company?

This comprehensive review will break down everything you need to know. We’ll cover key features, the fee structure, and the benefits and drawbacks to help you decide if a UPS Business Account aligns with your business goals.

UPS Review: Quick Overview

UPS Business Account Key Features

A UPS Business Account is a suite of tools designed to give businesses more savings and on their shipping operations.

Product Details

Opening an account unlocks several powerful features not available to individual shippers. Key offerings include:

• Discounted Shipping Rates: Businesses can save up to 74% on every shipment.¹
• UPS My Choice® for Business: This is a free platform that provides a comprehensive dashboard for managing all your outbound and inbound shipments. It offers enhanced visibility and control, allowing you to track packages, provide delivery instructions and manage returns more efficiently.³
• Specialized Software: For businesses with higher shipping volumes, UPS offers software like WorldShip® and CampusShip®. These tools provide advanced features for processing international shipments, creating customs documentation, and managing shipping across different departments or locations.^4,5

Ease of Use

The process for how to set up UPS business account is straightforward. You can register online in a few minutes by providing basic information about your business.⁶ Once registered, the user dashboard is relatively intuitive for creating shipments, ordering supplies, and scheduling pickups.

Customer Service

UPS offers several customer service channels, including a virtual assistant on their website, email support and a toll-free phone number.

UPS Fees

A common question from business owners is how much does a UPS business account cost? The good news is that opening and maintaining a UPS Business Account is free, there are no monthly subscription fees.¹

The costs you will incur are directly related to the shipping services you use. The main fees include:

Shipping Rates: This is the base cost of sending a package, determined by its origin, destination, weight, dimensions and the selected service speed.

Surcharges and Additional Fees: This is where UPS pricing can become complex. UPS applies numerous surcharges that can significantly impact the final cost. Common surcharges include:⁷

• Fuel Surcharge
• North American and International Air Freight Charges
• Peak Season Surcharges
• Merchandise Processing Fee
• Harbor Maintenance Fee

Beyond its core features, UPS also comes with a set of benefits and considerations that businesses should weigh before choosing it as their shipping partner.

Wise Business Could Help Your Company Save on Global Payments

UPS Benefits and Considerations

What are the benefits of UPS?

The core benefit of a UPS Business Account is leveraging the company's vast and reliable logistics network at a reduced cost. For a growing U.S. business, the ability to offer customers dependable, trackable shipping is a major competitive advantage. The detailed tracking information and delivery guarantees build customer trust and reduce inquiries about package status.

Furthermore, the suite of business tools simplifies logistics management, from billing to handling returns, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on other aspects of their business. The significant discounts, especially for frequent shippers, can lead to substantial savings over time, directly improving the bottom line.

What are the considerations of UPS?

The primary consideration of UPS lies in its pricing complexity. While the base rates are discounted, the array of potential surcharges can make final shipping costs unpredictable and hard to budget for, especially for smaller businesses. For companies that primarily ship small, lightweight items, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is often a more cost-effective option.⁹

The higher cost for residential deliveries and during peak seasons can eat into profit margins if not planned for. Finally, while reliable, resolving issues through customer service can sometimes be a frustrating process, which is a key consideration for businesses that need quick solutions to shipping problems.

When businesses consider a private shipping carrier, the choice often comes down to UPS vs. FedEx. Both are excellent options with global networks, but they have key differences.

UPS vs. FedEx

UPS is often cited as having a slight edge in U.S. domestic ground shipping, sometimes offering faster delivery times at a lower cost for ground services.¹⁰

FedEx is frequently praised for its express and international air shipping services, often being the preferred choice for time-sensitive overnight deliveries.¹⁰

Ultimately, the better choice depends on your specific shipping patterns. Ultimately, the better choice depends on your specific shipping patterns. A business that ships heavier goods domestically might find UPS more economical, while one that relies on fast international delivery may prefer FedEx.

Is UPS the best choice for your business?

A UPS Business Account is a smart choice for established small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. that have a consistent shipping volume. If your company frequently sends packages domestically, relies on robust tracking and can benefit from volume-based discounts, UPS offers a powerful and reliable solution. Its comprehensive tools can streamline your logistics and save you money.

However, if your business primarily ships very light packages or has unpredictable shipping needs, it's wise to compare rates with USPS. The complex surcharge system means you must be diligent about understanding the total cost of each shipment. For American entrepreneurs, UPS is a strong contender, but the “best” choice always depends on your unique shipping needs and business model.

Save Time and Money On Overseas Payments With Wise Business

Wise Business can help you save big time on international payments.

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in currencies.

Signing up to Wise Business allows access to BatchTransfer which you can use to pay up to 1000 invoices in one go. This is perfect for small businesses that are managing a global team, saving a ton of time and hassle when making payments.

Some key features of Wise Business include:

• Mid-market rate: Get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees on international transfers

• Global Account: Send money to countries and hold multiple currencies, all in one place. You can also get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local

• Access to BatchTransfer: Pay up to 1000 invoices in one click. Save time, money, and stress when you make 1000 payments in one click with BatchTransfer payments. Access to BatchTransfer is free with a Wise Business account

• Auto-conversions: Don't like the current currency exchange rate? Set your desired rate, and Wise sends the transfer the moment the rate is met

• Free invoicing tool: Generate and send professional invoices

• No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees: US-based businesses can open an account for free. Learn more about fees here

Use Wise Business >>

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a UPS Business Account?

A UPS Business Account is an account that provides businesses with access to discounted shipping rates, a centralized dashboard for managing inbound and outbound shipments, streamlined billing, and other logistics management tools.

Is UPS cheaper if you have an account?

Yes, unequivocally. A UPS Business Account provides access to significant discounts on various shipping services compared to the retail rates you would pay without an account. Savings can be substantial, especially for businesses that ship regularly.

How do you delete a UPS business account?

To close or delete a UPS business account, you typically need to contact UPS customer service directly by phone. There is no simple "delete account" button in the user dashboard. You’ll need to verify your identity to initiate the closing process.

Sources:

1. Open a Free UPS Account for Discounts and Other Benefits | UPS
2. UPS | Trustpilot
3. UPS MyChoice® For Business | UPS
4. UPS WorldShip® for High Volume Shipping | UPS
5. Streamline and Monitor Employee Shipping | UPS
6. Get Your Discount: How it Works | UPS
7. UPS Supply Chain Solutions: Surcharges | UPS
8. UPS Packaging and Shipping Supplies | UPS
9. USPS vs UPS vs FedEx: How You Can Get the Best Shipping Rates | Pitney Bowes
10. FedEx vs UPS Shipping: Which is Best For Your Business | Shopify