5 Reasons to Buy an Express Employment Professionals Franchise in Ohio

Express Employment Professionals, the full-service staffing franchise with nearly 900 units, is setting its sights on Ohio for its next wave of franchise expansion due to the state's robust business mix and thriving workforce.

Ohio: The Next Manufacturing Powerhouse

Ohio, which was recently ranked the 12th best state to open a business by CNBC, holds immense promise for Express. 

With the new Intel plant opening east of Columbus, thousands of job opportunities and an expanded supply chain are set to burgeon throughout Central Ohio and beyond. As a result, the state is expected to top the charts as the principal state for manufacturing in the upcoming three to five years (Ohio is currently ranked third nationally in manufacturing, producing more than $114 billion in manufactured goods annually). Express Employment Professionals, being the second-largest industrial staffing provider in the U.S., possesses a 40-year expertise in this domain. 

"Our strength in Ohio is a huge advantage for potential franchise owners,” said Express Ohio Area Developer Natalie B. Jordan. “Though we cater to diverse service lines, the light industrial service remains our mainstay. In my particular region, for example, 75% of our book of business is light industrial. And while we might connect with a client for light industrial recruitment, those organizations often need assistance with office positions, skill trade positions and professional positions. Once we make that connection, we can be a one-stop-shop for each one of those service lines, which means more business for our franchisees.”

Other major corporations, including Wells Fargo, Google and Honda, have also opened facilities in Central Ohio recently due to its favorable tax credits, available talent and low cost of living. 

To see the impact these economic factors can have on an Express franchise, Jordan says prospects need look no further than the Toledo franchisee group, which owns four territories throughout the state. They consistently rank among the top 10 gross margin generators for the Express system and currently hold a prestigious place in The Chairman's Club.

Comprehensive Business Support

Prospective Express franchise owners in Ohio can be confident they will have everything they need to be successful. For example, incoming Express franchisees in Ohio will enjoy the guidance of a corporate developer, like Jordan, based out of Central Ohio. As a business coach, she assists franchisees to optimize their market reach and territory. 

"Today, I've been on calls all day assisting potential staff members for a franchise owner and providing insights to another on their growth plans,” said Jordan. “From staffing to marketing to business planning, our aim is to offer resources and tools to franchise owners that aid in satisfying clients and navigating challenging situations." 

Additionally, the brand offers a franchise support center from its Oklahoma City based International Headquarters, as well as a wealth of leadership training programs and conferences such as the Express Leadership Academy and regional owner meetings. Express also handles payroll funding for franchise owners. Essentially working as a back-office administrator, processing invoices and other important paperwork for clients, the brand allows franchise owners to spend their time building relationships with local businesses in their community and doing what they do best.

With this support, Express franchise owners do not need a background in staffing. About 95% of current owners have no previous staffing experience. Franchise owners at Express can be successful if they are ready to lead a team, willing to make sales calls and have a strong passion for helping others find success. Owners should also have strong leadership skills, clear communication, motivation, extroverted personalities and be comfortable making cold calls and building relationships. 

Limited Territories Await Development

Having established its presence in Ohio in 1989, Express currently boasts 35 offices across the state. Each office, on average, places 600 job seekers a year in jobs with local businesses, contributing significantly to the local economy. 

Now, there are only six territories in Ohio still available to develop, including Akron East, Mansfield-Mount Vernon, Lancaster, Defiance, Lima and Oxford-Greenville. 

“Now's the chance to make your move as these territories won't remain vacant for long," said Jordan. “I have been in the staffing business for almost 40 years and I’ve been in franchising for 30 years — the demand is always there despite the economic climate. Your positioning and your sales strategy may change, but at the end of the day, companies still need people.”

Appealing Franchise Owner Incentives

To attract new owners in areas like Ohio, while also celebrating the brand’s 40th anniversary, Express Employment Professionals is completely waiving its $40,000 franchise fee in select markets.

“We feel that Express should really be in these areas,” said Dan Gunderson, Senior Franchising Director. “We've identified these open territories as a real opportunity for us, so we’ve created these very appealing incentive programs to help us reach our goal of 900 offices systemwide.” 

Outside of those territories, Express also has what it calls a cashback incentive for any other new territory. The franchise owner has an opportunity to receive back $25,000 of their $40,000 franchise fee as a cash back incentive if they reach a benchmark level of success within six months, something the brand refers to as Fast Track. 

The total investment necessary to begin the operation of an Express Employment Professionals franchise in Ohio will vary, but the absence of a franchise fee in several territories makes it an attractive opportunity.

A Meaningful Franchise Opportunity

The ideal Express Employment Professionals franchise owner could be a single-unit or multi-unit owner, as long as they understand the importance of the brand's community-driven culture. Whether they’re helping a small business owner who doesn’t know how to move forward with finding employees, or someone who just got laid off and doesn’t know where to turn, Express franchise owners are there to serve.

“We look for people who want to make a difference in their community,” said Gunderson. “We want to help people find jobs and help companies find people. We're looking for owners who are going to be involved and not be distracted by other businesses — we're looking for a fully involved owner, not a semi-absentee.”

Looking ahead, Express Employment Professionals remains focused on delivering exceptional service, expanding its reach and solidifying its position as a leading staffing franchise with the aim of reaching the 900-unit mark by the end of the year.

“Organizations will always need a talent agent that can take opportunities to market and match them with available candidates,” said Jordan. “Every business needs an accountant, an attorney, an operations manager, a marketing expert — and every business also needs a workforce solution. That is why Express is always going to be an exciting franchise opportunity in Ohio and beyond.”

The initial investment ranges from $100,000 to $220,000 to open an Express single traditional model, with a franchise fee of $40,000. For territories open more than 24 months, average sales in 2022 were $6,497,275. For territories open more than 60 months, average sales in 2022 were $7,7194,784. First-year offices averaged $1,080,407 annual sales according to Item 19 in the Franchise Disclosure Document. This statement is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise.

To find out more information on the costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info