For most of his career, Martin Minkowicz worked on the sales side of workforce solutions, helping companies solve hiring problems at scale. Business ownership was never part of the plan. But within his first year as an Express Employment Professionals franchise owner in Union, New Jersey, Minkowicz not only built early traction, but he also earned back 100% of his franchise fee through the brand’s Double Fast Track sales program.
Minkowicz spent most of his career in sales, starting in commission-based mortgage work before transitioning into finance and later recruiting-adjacent roles in job board and internet marketing sales. His work put him in front of large national brands, selling at scale and often over the phone.
But after being laid off in mid-2024, he revisited an idea he had first considered years earlier: owning an Express franchise. “I never thought that I could be an actual business owner,” Minkowicz said. “But the support that Express gives showed me that I don’t have to figure this all out by myself.”
That support was a key factor in his decision to move forward. After attending Discovery Day in August, he signed his franchise agreement and officially opened his Union office on January 6, 2025.
“It was kind of a blessing that we opened up in January,” he said. “Fresh start, new year, got through the holidays and it was like, all right, let’s start working.”
From day one, Minkowicz leaned into what he knew best: getting in front of people. Rather than spending his early months behind a desk, he focused on meeting local business owners face-to-face, building relationships across small and mid-sized companies in his territory.
“I’m not really a business owner type who wants to sit in the office,” he said. “I like talking to people in person. I like walking in and saying, ‘You’re a business owner. I’m a business owner too. I get how hard it is.’”
Instead of relying on phone calls or scripted outreach, Minkowicz got out into the territory, walking into businesses and speaking directly with owners about the realities of running a company and managing hiring.
As a new Express franchise owner, Minkowicz was eligible for the brand’s Fast Track program, an incentive designed to help new owners build early traction.
Under the program, franchisees can earn back:
For Minkowicz, Fast Track didn’t change how he sold. Instead, it gave him a clear scoreboard.
“As a salesperson, I’m always measuring myself against something,” he said. “Having that number motivates me to beat it.”
By week 26, his Union office had reached 17 active clients, surpassing the required threshold and qualifying him for Double Fast Track. He had expected to hit the gross margin goal, but the client count milestone came together at the same time.
The moment landed on a personal note. He found out the same day he had planned a long-scheduled dinner with his wife.
“It ended up being on the day that I found out,” he said. “I didn’t think we were going to be celebrating anything, and it turned out to be awesome.”
Throughout his first year, Minkowicz leaned heavily on Express’s support structure, especially his franchise developer.
“He’s been a wealth of knowledge,” Minkowicz said. “He’ll pick up the phone anytime and say, ‘Let’s talk about it. What can I help you with?’”
In the early months, questions came up fast. Minkowicz said having someone he could call for operational or technology issues meant problems didn’t linger and he could keep the business moving.
As his office grew to include additional staff, that support became part of the workflow, helping his team solve problems and build confidence independently.
By the end of year one, Minkowicz had not only earned back his full franchise fee but also hit every performance goal set by Express, including reaching 26 clients by week 52.
Now focused on growth and potential hiring, Minkowicz often talks with prospective franchisees who come from similar sales-driven backgrounds.
“If you’re a salesperson, you can figure everything else out,” he said. “This feels like business-ownership lite, because there’s so much support there.”
For him, that structure turned what once felt out of reach into a sustainable path forward, one built on relationships, consistency and a system designed to reward early effort.
For more information on buying an Express Employment Professionals franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info.
Express Employment Professionals
SPONSORED
Hands-on developer support and clear early benchmarks helped Express franchise owner Martin Minkowicz hit his sales goals and recoup his full franchise fee in the first six months.
For most of his career, Martin Minkowicz worked on the sales side of workforce solutions, helping companies solve hiring problems at scale. Business ownership was never part of the plan. But within his first year as an Express Employment Professionals franchise owner in Union, New Jersey, Minkowicz not only built early traction, but he also earned back 100% of his franchise fee through the brand’s Double Fast Track sales program.
Minkowicz spent most of his career in sales, starting in commission-based mortgage work before transitioning into finance and later recruiting-adjacent roles in job board and internet marketing sales. His work put him in front of large national brands, selling at scale and often over the phone.
But after being laid off in mid-2024, he revisited an idea he had first considered years earlier: owning an Express franchise. “I never thought that I could be an actual business owner,” Minkowicz said. “But the support that Express gives showed me that I don’t have to figure this all out by myself.”
That support was a key factor in his decision to move forward. After attending Discovery Day in August, he signed his franchise agreement and officially opened his Union office on January 6, 2025.
“It was kind of a blessing that we opened up in January,” he said. “Fresh start, new year, got through the holidays and it was like, all right, let’s start working.”
From day one, Minkowicz leaned into what he knew best: getting in front of people. Rather than spending his early months behind a desk, he focused on meeting local business owners face-to-face, building relationships across small and mid-sized companies in his territory.
“I’m not really a business owner type who wants to sit in the office,” he said. “I like talking to people in person. I like walking in and saying, ‘You’re a business owner. I’m a business owner too. I get how hard it is.’”
Instead of relying on phone calls or scripted outreach, Minkowicz got out into the territory, walking into businesses and speaking directly with owners about the realities of running a company and managing hiring.
As a new Express franchise owner, Minkowicz was eligible for the brand’s Fast Track program, an incentive designed to help new owners build early traction.
Under the program, franchisees can earn back:
For Minkowicz, Fast Track didn’t change how he sold. Instead, it gave him a clear scoreboard.
“As a salesperson, I’m always measuring myself against something,” he said. “Having that number motivates me to beat it.”
By week 26, his Union office had reached 17 active clients, surpassing the required threshold and qualifying him for Double Fast Track. He had expected to hit the gross margin goal, but the client count milestone came together at the same time.
The moment landed on a personal note. He found out the same day he had planned a long-scheduled dinner with his wife.
“It ended up being on the day that I found out,” he said. “I didn’t think we were going to be celebrating anything, and it turned out to be awesome.”
Throughout his first year, Minkowicz leaned heavily on Express’s support structure, especially his franchise developer.
“He’s been a wealth of knowledge,” Minkowicz said. “He’ll pick up the phone anytime and say, ‘Let’s talk about it. What can I help you with?’”
In the early months, questions came up fast. Minkowicz said having someone he could call for operational or technology issues meant problems didn’t linger and he could keep the business moving.
As his office grew to include additional staff, that support became part of the workflow, helping his team solve problems and build confidence independently.
By the end of year one, Minkowicz had not only earned back his full franchise fee but also hit every performance goal set by Express, including reaching 26 clients by week 52.
Now focused on growth and potential hiring, Minkowicz often talks with prospective franchisees who come from similar sales-driven backgrounds.
“If you’re a salesperson, you can figure everything else out,” he said. “This feels like business-ownership lite, because there’s so much support there.”
For him, that structure turned what once felt out of reach into a sustainable path forward, one built on relationships, consistency and a system designed to reward early effort.
For more information on buying an Express Employment Professionals franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info.
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