When it comes to franchise ownership, industry experience isn’t always a prerequisite for financial success. Jorge Costas is the franchise owner of Express Employment Professionals in Florida’s southern Miami-Dade territory, and he has proven that with the right opportunity and support, anyone can thrive.

Before becoming a first-time business owner, Costas worked as a director of employment services for a non-profit organization. After more than two decades in his previous role, he wanted a change and began looking at franchise opportunities. He recognized the potential for growth in the staffing industry and opened his own Express Employment Professionals in January 2018.

According to Costas, he was initially attracted to the brand due to its franchise ratings and reputation, and ultimately, it didn’t seem too far off from what he was doing while serving as a director of employment.   

“Their processes and reputation stood out to me amongst their competitors,” he recalled.

Additionally, Costas says the Miami-Dade territory offered by Express at the time was perfect because he already understood the local market.

Despite never having owned a business before, Costas embraced the challenges and opportunities that came with franchise ownership. However, he quickly learned that being a business owner differed significantly from his previous role. He says that when he was a director he would manage a few hundred people, but being the owner was a different task altogether.

“When you first become a business owner, it’s exciting, but you quickly realize how difficult it actually is,” said Costas. “You have to worry about everything, from finances to every minor and major decision, it’s all on you.”

However, Costas says so far, the overall experience has been highly rewarding, and under his active ownership, this franchise has witnessed remarkable growth over the past five years. Costas says he started with about 14 employees and just six clients and is now averaging about 45-50 clients a week, with upwards of 200 people on the payroll. He says Express has played an instrumental role in his success and growth.

“I want to give a lot of recognition to Express. They’ve really held up their side of the deal and have provided me with so much support, coaching, and mentoring,” he said.

One aspect of franchise ownership that Costas has learned to appreciate is the strong community of franchise owners that Express has created. He credits the brand’s tight-knit network and comprehensive training programs for his overall success and the continued success of the franchise.

“If you duplicate what Express is doing, you’ll be able to see your business grow,” said Costas.

He says the corporate team is always easily accessible, and notes that a simple phone call can address any questions franchise owners may have. Costas admits when he first got started, he ran into a number of problems, including staffing, finding the right team and understanding the real demand of the workload. However, he emphasizes that the “exceptional” support provided by Express Employment Professionals has directly contributed to his financial success.

“The support has truly been second-to-none. If you follow the system, it works,” he concluded.

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