Private company
Mail delivery designation
In the United States, a commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) is a private business that accepts mail from the Postal Service on behalf of third parties. A CMRA may also be colloquially known as a mail drop. A mailbox at a CMRA is called a private mailbox (PMB).2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated Oct 21, 2026.
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In the United States, a commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) is a private business that accepts mail from the Postal Service on behalf of third parties. A CMRA may also be colloquially known as a mail drop. A mailbox at a CMRA is called a private mailbox (PMB).2
In 1970, there were estimated to be as many as 1,500 CMRAs, costing on average $7 per month for a small mailbox. The private mailbox business grew as a result of shortage of P.O. Boxes.
As of 2000, the USPS regulated 466 private mailboxes in New York City alone.
From Wikipedia’s article on Commercial mail receiving agency, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3
Most business entities are required to register an official mailing address with the state, and that address is part of the public record. A business's use of an invalid address or an inappropriate third party as its official mailing address could result in legal problems, such as the loss of limited liability protection. If a business does not want to disclose its physical location, it may permissibly use a CMRA as its publicly known address.
From Wikipedia’s article on Commercial mail receiving agency, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3
Any person or entity claiming to receive postal mail for a third-party must be properly licensed and registered with the US Postal Service, and such an entity must properly fill out USPS Form 1583. There are specific requirements all CMRA's must adhere to, including granting certain rights to CMRA customers.
From Wikipedia’s article on Commercial mail receiving agency, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
