<PAGE>
 
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 1996

                                                           Registration No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC  20549

                                    FORM S-8

            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            CORPORATE EXPRESS, INC.
                            -----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Colorado                                             84-0978360
-------------------------------                             ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                 325 Interlocken Parkway, Broomfield, CO  80021
                 ----------------------------------------------
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)

     Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for United TransNet, Inc. 
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Optionholders
                                 -------------

   Stock Option Assumption Agreements with Various Employees Relating to an 
      Aggregate of 85,838 Shares of Corporate Express, Inc. Common Stock
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Full title of the plans)

                     Jirka Rysavy, Chief Executive Officer
    Corporate Express, Inc., 325 Interlocken Parkway, Broomfield, CO  80021
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                                    copy to:

          Rhonda R. Cohen, Esquire, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll
       1735 Market Street, 51st Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103

                                 (303) 373-2800
          -----------------------------------------------------------
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Proposed maximum   Proposed maximum
 Title of securities       Amount to      offering price       aggregate          Amount of
   to be registered      be registered      per share        offering price    registration fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                     <C>                <C>               <C>                <C> 
Common Stock             189,805 shares      $27.13*          $5,149,409.65*      $1,560.43
</TABLE>

* Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) based upon the weighted average
  exercise price of $27.13 per share for outstanding options.
<PAGE>
 
                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


            The documents containing the information required to be included in
  PART I of this Registration Statement will be given or sent to all
  participants in the Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for United
  TransNet, Inc. Optionholders and the Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan
  for Courier Dispatch Optionholders, as specified by Rule 428 under the
  Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


  Item 3.   Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
            ----------------------------------------------- 

            The following documents filed by Corporate Express, Inc. (the
  "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
  pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
  Act") (File No. 0-24642), are incorporated by reference into this Registration
  Statement:

            (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
  March 2, 1996;

           (ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
  ended June 1, 1996 and August 31, 1996;

          (iii) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on June 19,
  1996 and the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 1996
  and September 20, 1996;

           (iv) the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 
  333-13217); and
  
            (v) the description of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.0002
  per share, contained in the Company's Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on
  August 4, 1994.

            Each document filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
  filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
  offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
  remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
  Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
  documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference
  herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
  purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein (or any other
  subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein)
  modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or
  superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof except as so
  modified or superseded.


  Item 4.   Description of Securities.
            ------------------------- 

            Not applicable.


  Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
            -------------------------------------- 

            Not applicable.

  Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
            ----------------------------------------- 

            Section 7-109-101, et seq., of the Colorado Business Corporation Act
  generally provides that a corporation may indemnify its directors, officers,
  employees, fiduciaries and agents against liabilities and reasonable expenses
  incurred in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit
  or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and
  whether formal or informal (a "Proceeding"), by reason of being or having been
  a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation, if such
  person acted in good faith and reasonably believed that his conduct, in his
  official capacity, was in the best interests of the corporation (or, with
  respect to employee benefit plans, was in the best interests of the
  participants of the plan), and in all other cases his conduct was at least not
  opposed to the corporation's best interests.  In the case of a criminal
  Proceeding, the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent must have had
  no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  Under Colorado law,
  the corporation may not indemnify a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
  agent in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation if
  the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent is adjudged liable to the
  corporation, or in a Proceeding in which the director, officer, employee,
  fiduciary or agent is adjudged liable for an improper personal benefit.

            The Company's Articles of Amendment and Restatement to the Articles
  of Incorporation and By-Laws provide that the Company shall indemnify its
  officers and directors to the full extent permitted by the law.  The
  indemnification provisions in the Company's By-Laws are substantially similar
  to the provisions of Section 7-109-101, et seq.  The Company has entered into
  agreements to provide indemnification for the Company's directors and certain

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
  officers consistent with the Company's Articles of Amendment and Restatement
  to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws.


  Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
           ----------------------------------- 

            Not applicable.


  Item 8.  Exhibits.
           -------- 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
           Exhibit Number
           --------------
              <S>           <C>                                                          
                5            Opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll.               
                                                                                         
               23(a)         Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.                         
                                                                                         
               23(b)         Consent of Horne CPA Group.                                 
                                                                                         
               23(c)         Consent of Schutrumpf & Koren, P.C.                         
                                                                                         
               23(d)         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                             
                                                                                         
               23(e)         Consent of KPMG.                                            
                                                                                         
               23(f)         Consent of McGee, Wheeler & Co., P.C.                       
                                                                                         
               23(g)         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                               
                                                                                         
               23(h)         Consent of Samson Belair Deloitte & Touche.                 
                                                                                         
               23(i)         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                             
                                                                                         
               23(j)         Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.                            
                                                                                         
               23(k)         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                               
                                                                                         
               23(l)         Consent of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll (included in   
                             its opinion filed as Exhibit 5).                            
                                                                                         
               24            Power of Attorney (included on signature pages to this      
                             Registration Statement).                                    
                                                                                         
               99(a)         Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for United        
                             TransNet, Inc. Optionholders.                               
                                                                                         
               99(b)         Form of letter agreement relating to assumption of          
                             certain United TransNet, Inc. stock options.                 

</TABLE> 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
  Item 9.   Undertakings.
            ------------ 

            The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

            (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
  made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

             (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
  Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
  the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-
  effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
  registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
  decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
  securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
  deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may
  be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
  Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
  more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
  the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
  statement;

           (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
  of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
  material change to such information in the registration statement;

            Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply
  if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information
  required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
  contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to section 13
  or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated
  by reference in the registration statement.

            (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
  Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
  be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
  initial bona fide offering thereof.

            (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
  amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
  termination of the offering.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
            The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
  determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
  registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
  employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
  registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
  relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
  thereof.

            Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
  Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
  persons of the registrant pursuant to its Articles of Amendment and
  Restatement to the Articles of Incorporation, its By-Laws or otherwise, the
  registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
  Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
  Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
  indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
  registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
  person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
  proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
  connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
  in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
  precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
  such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
  and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES


            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Broomfield, State of Colorado, on
  November 18, 1996.

                                 CORPORATE EXPRESS, INC.


                                 By:/s/ Jirka Rysavy
                                    ----------------------------------      
                                    Jirka Rysavy
 


            KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
  appears below constitutes and appoints Jirka Rysavy, Robert L. King and Gary
  M. Jacobs, and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
  and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
  his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
  amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration
  statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
  documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
  Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
  full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
  requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all
  intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
  confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or his
  or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
  virtue hereof.

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.


          Signature                   Title                        Date
          ---------                   -----                        ----

/s/ Jirka Rysavy                Chairman of the              November 18, 1996
------------------------        Board and Chief
Jirka Rysavy                    Executive Officer
                                (Principal
                                executive officer)
 
<PAGE>
 
          Signature                   Title                        Date
          ---------                   -----                        ----


/s/ Robert L. King              President, Chief             November 18, 1996
------------------------        Operating Officer
Robert L. King                  and Director
 

/s/ Sam R. Leno                 Executive Vice               November 18, 1996
------------------------        President and      
Sam R. Leno                     Chief Financial    
                                Officer (Principal
                                financial officer) 
                             
 
/s/ Joanne C. Farver            Vice President and           November 18, 1996
------------------------        Controller
Joanne C. Farver                (Principal accounting
                                 officer)
 

 
/s/ Janey A. Hickey             Director                     November 18, 1996
------------------------
Janet A. Hickey
 


/s/ Clayton K. Trier            Director                     November 18, 1996
------------------------
Clayton K. Trier



/s/ Mo Siegel                   Director                     November 18, 1996
-------------------------
Mo Siegel
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

  Exhibit Number                                                               Page
  --------------                                                               ----
     <S>             <C>                                                     <C>               
      5               Opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll.                        
                                                                                           
     23(a)            Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.                                  
                                                                                           
     23(b)            Consent of Horne CPA Group.                                          
                                                                                           
     23(c)            Consent of Schutrumpf & Koren, P.C.                                  
                                                                                           
     23(d)            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                                      
                                                                                           
     23(e)            Consent of KPMG.                                                     
                                                                                           
     23(f)            Consent of McGee, Wheeler & Co., P.C.                                
                                                                                           
     23(g)            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                                        
                                                                                           
     23(h)            Consent of Samson Belair Deloitte & Touche.                          
                                                                                           
     23(i)            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                                      
                                                                                           
     23(j)            Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.                                     
                                                                                           
     23(k)            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                                        
                                                                                           
     23(l)            Consent of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll 
                      (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5).                                         
                                                                                           
     24               Power of Attorney (included on signature pages 
                      to this Registration Statement).                                                          
                                                                                           
     99(a)            Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for 
                      United TransNet, Inc. Optionholders (Existing Options).                                    
                                                                                           
     99(b)            Form of letter agreement relating to assumption of 
                      certain United TransNet, Inc. stock options.
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 23658}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CORPORATE EXPRESS INC", "cik": "0000878130", "assigned-sic": "5961", "irs-number": "840978360", "state-of-incorporation": "CO", "fiscal-year-end": "0228"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-16457", "film-number": "96669738"}, "business-address": {"street1": "325 INTERLOCKEN PKWY", "city": "BROOMFIELD", "state": "CO", "zip": "80021", "phone": "3033732800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "325 INTERLOCKEN PKWY", "city": "BROOMFIELD", "state": "CO", "zip": "80021"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 1996

                                                           Registration No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC  20549

                                    FORM S-8

            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            CORPORATE EXPRESS, INC.
                            -----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Colorado                                             84-0978360
-------------------------------                             ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                 325 Interlocken Parkway, Broomfield, CO  80021
                 ----------------------------------------------
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)

     Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for United TransNet, Inc. 
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Optionholders
                                 -------------

   Stock Option Assumption Agreements with Various Employees Relating to an 
      Aggregate of 85,838 Shares of Corporate Express, Inc. Common Stock
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Full title of the plans)

                     Jirka Rysavy, Chief Executive Officer
    Corporate Express, Inc., 325 Interlocken Parkway, Broomfield, CO  80021
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                                    copy to:

          Rhonda R. Cohen, Esquire, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll
       1735 Market Street, 51st Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103

                                 (303) 373-2800
          -----------------------------------------------------------
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Proposed maximum   Proposed maximum
 Title of securities       Amount to      offering price       aggregate          Amount of
   to be registered      be registered      per share        offering price    registration fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock             189,805 shares      $27.13*          $5,149,409.65*      $1,560.43
* Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) based upon the weighted average
  exercise price of $27.13 per share for outstanding options.
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

            The documents containing the information required to be included in
  PART I of this Registration Statement will be given or sent to all
  participants in the Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for United
  TransNet, Inc. Optionholders and the Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan
  for Courier Dispatch Optionholders, as specified by Rule 428 under the
  Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

  Item 3.   Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
            ----------------------------------------------- 

            The following documents filed by Corporate Express, Inc. (the
  "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
  pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
  Act") (File No. 0-24642), are incorporated by reference into this Registration
  Statement:

            (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
  March 2, 1996;

           (ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
  ended June 1, 1996 and August 31, 1996;

          (iii) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on June 19,
  1996 and the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 1996
  and September 20, 1996;

           (iv) the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 
  333-13217); and
  
            (v) the description of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.0002
  per share, contained in the Company's Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on
  August 4, 1994.

            Each document filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
  filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
  offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
  remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
  Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
  documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference
  herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for

                                       2
purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein (or any other
  subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein)
  modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or
  superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof except as so
  modified or superseded.

  Item 4.   Description of Securities.
            ------------------------- 

            Not applicable.

  Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
            -------------------------------------- 

            Not applicable.

  Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
            ----------------------------------------- 

            Section 7-109-101, et seq., of the Colorado Business Corporation Act
  generally provides that a corporation may indemnify its directors, officers,
  employees, fiduciaries and agents against liabilities and reasonable expenses
  incurred in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit
  or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and
  whether formal or informal (a "Proceeding"), by reason of being or having been
  a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation, if such
  person acted in good faith and reasonably believed that his conduct, in his
  official capacity, was in the best interests of the corporation (or, with
  respect to employee benefit plans, was in the best interests of the
  participants of the plan), and in all other cases his conduct was at least not
  opposed to the corporation's best interests.  In the case of a criminal
  Proceeding, the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent must have had
  no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  Under Colorado law,
  the corporation may not indemnify a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
  agent in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation if
  the director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent is adjudged liable to the
  corporation, or in a Proceeding in which the director, officer, employee,
  fiduciary or agent is adjudged liable for an improper personal benefit.

            The Company's Articles of Amendment and Restatement to the Articles
  of Incorporation and By-Laws provide that the Company shall indemnify its
  officers and directors to the full extent permitted by the law.  The
  indemnification provisions in the Company's By-Laws are substantially similar
  to the provisions of Section 7-109-101, et seq.  The Company has entered into
  agreements to provide indemnification for the Company's directors and certain

                                       3
officers consistent with the Company's Articles of Amendment and Restatement
  to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws.

  Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
           ----------------------------------- 

            Not applicable.

  Item 8.  Exhibits.
           --------
Exhibit Number
           --------------
5            Opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll.               
                                                                                         
               23(a)         Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.                         
                                                                                         
               23(b)         Consent of Horne CPA Group.                                 
                                                                                         
               23(c)         Consent of Schutrumpf & Koren, P.C.                         
                                                                                         
               23(d)         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                             
                                                                                         
               23(e)         Consent of KPMG.                                            
                                                                                         
               23(f)         Consent of McGee, Wheeler & Co., P.C.                       
                                                                                         
               23(g)         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                               
                                                                                         
               23(h)         Consent of Samson Belair Deloitte & Touche.                 
                                                                                         
               23(i)         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                             
                                                                                         
               23(j)         Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.                            
                                                                                         
               23(k)         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                               
                                                                                         
               23(l)         Consent of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll (included in   
                             its opinion filed as Exhibit 5).                            
                                                                                         
               24            Power of Attorney (included on signature pages to this      
                             Registration Statement).                                    
                                                                                         
               99(a)         Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for United        
                             TransNet, Inc. Optionholders.                               
                                                                                         
               99(b)         Form of letter agreement relating to assumption of          
                             certain United TransNet, Inc. stock options.
4
Item 9.   Undertakings.
            ------------ 

            The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

            (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
  made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

             (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
  Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
  the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-
  effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
  registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
  decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
  securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
  deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may
  be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
  Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
  more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
  the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
  statement;

           (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
  of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
  material change to such information in the registration statement;

            Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply
  if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information
  required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
  contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to section 13
  or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated
  by reference in the registration statement.

            (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
  Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
  be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
  initial bona fide offering thereof.

            (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
  amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
  termination of the offering.

                                       5
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
  determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
  registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
  employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
  registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
  relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
  thereof.

            Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
  Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
  persons of the registrant pursuant to its Articles of Amendment and
  Restatement to the Articles of Incorporation, its By-Laws or otherwise, the
  registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
  Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
  Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
  indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
  registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
  person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
  proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
  connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
  in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
  precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
  such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
  and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       6
SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
  all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
  registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Broomfield, State of Colorado, on
  November 18, 1996.

                                 CORPORATE EXPRESS, INC.

                                 By:/s/ Jirka Rysavy
                                    ----------------------------------      
                                    Jirka Rysavy
 

            KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
  appears below constitutes and appoints Jirka Rysavy, Robert L. King and Gary
  M. Jacobs, and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
  and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
  his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
  amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration
  statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
  documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
  Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
  full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
  requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all
  intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
  confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or his
  or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
  virtue hereof.

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.

          Signature                   Title                        Date
          ---------                   -----                        ----

/s/ Jirka Rysavy                Chairman of the              November 18, 1996
------------------------        Board and Chief
Jirka Rysavy                    Executive Officer
                                (Principal
                                executive officer)
Signature                   Title                        Date
          ---------                   -----                        ----

/s/ Robert L. King              President, Chief             November 18, 1996
------------------------        Operating Officer
Robert L. King                  and Director
 

/s/ Sam R. Leno                 Executive Vice               November 18, 1996
------------------------        President and      
Sam R. Leno                     Chief Financial    
                                Officer (Principal
                                financial officer) 
                             
 
/s/ Joanne C. Farver            Vice President and           November 18, 1996
------------------------        Controller
Joanne C. Farver                (Principal accounting
                                 officer)
 

 
/s/ Janey A. Hickey             Director                     November 18, 1996
------------------------
Janet A. Hickey
 

/s/ Clayton K. Trier            Director                     November 18, 1996
------------------------
Clayton K. Trier

/s/ Mo Siegel                   Director                     November 18, 1996
-------------------------
Mo Siegel
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number                                                               Page
  --------------                                                               ----
5               Opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll.                        
                                                                                           
     23(a)            Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.                                  
                                                                                           
     23(b)            Consent of Horne CPA Group.                                          
                                                                                           
     23(c)            Consent of Schutrumpf & Koren, P.C.                                  
                                                                                           
     23(d)            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                                      
                                                                                           
     23(e)            Consent of KPMG.                                                     
                                                                                           
     23(f)            Consent of McGee, Wheeler & Co., P.C.                                
                                                                                           
     23(g)            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                                        
                                                                                           
     23(h)            Consent of Samson Belair Deloitte & Touche.                          
                                                                                           
     23(i)            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.                                      
                                                                                           
     23(j)            Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.                                     
                                                                                           
     23(k)            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.                                        
                                                                                           
     23(l)            Consent of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll 
                      (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5).                                         
                                                                                           
     24               Power of Attorney (included on signature pages 
                      to this Registration Statement).                                                          
                                                                                           
     99(a)            Corporate Express, Inc. Stock Option Plan for 
                      United TransNet, Inc. Optionholders (Existing Options).                                    
                                                                                           
     99(b)            Form of letter agreement relating to assumption of 
                      certain United TransNet, Inc. stock options.