NAICS 491110 Quarterly Industry Report
Postal Service
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 491110Sector: 49Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 491110 industry profile draws from Census Bureau[3] establishment data, Bureau of Labor Statistics[4] employment and wage statistics for postal service workers, and SBA[5] size standard thresholds. Fair Market Value updates this report quarterly, tracking mail volume trends, package delivery growth, and contract postal unit performance. Our research team monitors USPS financial reports and legislative developments to provide NAICS 491110 valuation benchmarks for businesses operating within the postal service ecosystem.
Industry Definition & Overview
Postal Service (NAICS 491110) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing mail services under a universal service obligation. These services include the carriage of letters, printed matter, and mailable packages, covering acceptance, collection, processing, and delivery to addresses throughout the country. Due to the infrastructure requirements of maintaining universal service coverage, postal establishments often provide parcel and express delivery services alongside traditional mail.
Approximately 4,873 establishments operate in this industry across the United States. Census Bureau data[3] confirms that the U.S. Postal Service dominates this sector as a government-established entity, operating a network of over 31,000 post offices, processing facilities, and distribution centers. Mail carriers, clerks, and mail processing equipment operators form the core workforce. Annual mail volume has declined over the past two decades as electronic communication replaced first-class letters, though package delivery has grown substantially driven by e-commerce.
Revenue comes from postage sales, shipping fees, and special service charges. Bureau of Labor Statistics[4] data shows postal service workers earn wages structured by collective bargaining agreements with multiple unions. Contract postal units operated by private retailers supplement the post office network in rural and suburban areas. International mail services, money orders, and post office box rentals provide additional revenue streams beyond standard letter and package delivery.
What's Included in This Industry
- Collection, processing, and delivery of first-class letters and mail
- Priority and standard package delivery services under postal authority
- Operating post offices, mail processing centers, and distribution hubs
- Rural and city mail carrier route delivery services
- Post office box rental and general delivery services
- International mail and package forwarding services
- Money order issuance and postal financial services
- Bulk mail processing and presort services for commercial mailers
- Contract postal unit operations through authorized retail partners
- Mail forwarding and address change processing services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Postal Service | 491 |
| Industry Group | Postal Service | 4911 |
| NAICS Industry | Postal Service | 49111 |
| National Industry | Postal Service | 491110 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 492110 | Couriers and Express Delivery Services | Courier and express delivery services that provide parcel transportation without a universal service obligation, competing with postal package services on speed and tracking |
| 492210 | Local Messengers and Local Delivery | Local messenger and delivery services providing same-day intra-metropolitan delivery that postal service operations handle through standard mail routes instead |
| 488510 | Freight Transportation Arrangement | Freight transportation arrangement firms that coordinate parcel logistics across multiple carriers, including postal services for certain shipment categories and weights |
| 493110 | General Warehousing and Storage | General warehousing facilities that store bulk mail and packages for distribution processing at postal service hubs and sorting centers nationwide |
| 561431 | Private Mail Centers | Private mailbox rental services and commercial mail receiving agencies that provide alternatives to post office boxes for personal and business addresses |
| 488999 | All Other Support Activities for Transportation | All other transportation support activities including transportation ticket sales and miscellaneous services that complement postal operations at retail locations |
SBA Lending Summary
152
Total SBA Loans
$60.0M
Total Loan Volume
$395K
Average Loan Size
9 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.44%
Average Interest Rate
928
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[2]
Key Insight: Under SBA size standards[5], NAICS 491110 businesses qualify as small with average annual receipts up to $9 million. While the U.S. Postal Service itself is a government entity not subject to SBA lending, private contract postal operators and mail processing firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[6] for facility setup, equipment purchases, and working capital. The 504 loan program[7] supports commercial real estate acquisition for contract postal unit locations and mail processing facilities.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 48 | $42.5M | $885K |
| 2 | Zions Bank, A Division of | 8 | $3.9M | $489K |
| 3 | Harborstone CU | 8 | $2.8M | $356K |
| 4 | Centerstone SBA Lending, Inc. | 8 | $2.6M | $320K |
| 5 | Mechanics and Farmers Bank | 8 | $1.9M | $242K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 491110?
The U.S. Postal Service, contract postal units, mail sorting and routing subcontractors, and establishments performing parts of the basic mail service under universal obligation are classified here. Courier and express delivery firms operating without universal service requirements are classified separately under NAICS 492110[8].
How is NAICS 491110 structured within the transportation sector?
NAICS 491110 is the sole six-digit code in Subsector 491 (Postal Service), sitting alongside couriers and messengers (Subsector 492) and warehousing (Subsector 493) within the broader Transportation and Warehousing sector. Universal service obligation distinguishes postal operations from private delivery companies.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 491110?
The SBA size standard[5] for NAICS 491110 is $9 million in average annual receipts. This threshold primarily applies to private contract postal operators and mail processing subcontractors, as the USPS itself is a government entity.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 491110?
Related codes include 492110 (Couriers and Express Delivery Services), 492210 (Local Messengers and Local Delivery), 488510 (Freight Transportation Arrangement), and 493110 (General Warehousing and Storage). These codes cover competing and complementary delivery services within the broader logistics sector.
What industries interact most with postal service operations?
Direct mail advertisers, e-commerce retailers, financial institutions sending statements, and government agencies generate the bulk of postal volume. Express carriers (492110) both compete with and partner with postal services. Bureau of Labor Statistics[4] employment data shows postal service workers numbering in the hundreds of thousands nationally.
What activities are included in NAICS 491110?
Included activities cover mail collection, sorting, processing, and delivery; post office operations; rural and city carrier routes; package delivery under postal authority; money orders; post office box rentals; and international mail services. Express delivery without universal obligation is excluded per Census Bureau[9] guidelines.
Are NAICS 491110 businesses eligible for SBA loans?
Private contract postal operators and mail processing subcontractors under $9 million can access SBA 7(a) loans[6] and 504 loans[7] for facility setup and equipment. The USPS itself is a government entity and does not use SBA financing. Contract postal units in retail locations represent the most common small business application within this code.
Where are NAICS 491110 businesses geographically concentrated?
Postal operations span every state and territory through the USPS network of over 31,000 locations. Processing centers concentrate in major metropolitan areas for volume efficiency, while small post offices serve rural communities per Census Bureau[3] establishment data. Contract postal units cluster in suburban retail centers where standalone post offices are not present.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [3]Census Bureau data data.census.gov
- [4]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [5]SBA sba.gov
- [6]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [7]504 loan program sba.gov
- [8]NAICS 492110 census.gov
- [9]Census Bureau census.gov
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