Alyssa Chumbley, a second-generation franchise owner with Express Employment Professionals, the 800-plus unit employment services franchise, took her Express business to the next level when she took over by advancing business practices to help the brand stay recession-proof and better meet the needs of the economy. 

Before working at Express, Chumbley worked in the world of sales. After a brief time selling online advertising, Chumbley moved into a sales management position where she oversaw a team of more than 25 salespeople. She eventually decided to leave her sales job in the startup world because she felt that she could find success faster in franchising. 

The multi-unit franchise owner likes working under a franchisor because it fits her lifestyle. “Unlike a startup company, the Express business model has everything available to you to succeed at your fingertips. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to be a successful franchise owner, but just make the wheel operate more efficiently – bigger, faster and stronger,” said Chumbley. 

“What I enjoy most about the Express business model is the flexibility it enables for me as a business owner. I can run the business at whatever capacity fits my lifestyle,” she said.

Being a franchise owner with Express has been rewarding for her because everyday lives are changed. Chumbley loves the business side of the job, like speaking to decision-makers in the community and making a difference in businesses' goals.

“It’s an incredible feeling to make a difference for these businesses by helping them accomplish their goals,” she said. “In other companies, you don’t have as much of a direct impact as you do here.”

The future of the industry is competitive, and Chumbley knows that Express is going to need to be efficient while offering quality services. According to Chumbley, if this can be accomplished, the brand can beat its competitors nine out of ten times. 

“Diversification in jobs and industries is pertinent to the health and scalability of our franchise. The more recruiters we can up/down/cross-sell, the better we can thrive in economic uncertainty and continue as one of the top franchises worldwide,” Chumbley said.

Chumbley recognizes that “The Great Resignation” is real, and HR professionals and companies are going to have to focus on internal retention if they want to be able to compete and keep up with other organizations in their industry. 

Express sets itself apart from other agencies by being locally owned and operated and prioritizing diversification in recruiting. On top of that, Express has the backing of a large and healthy international headquarters, which allows small businesses to work more efficiently without losing the local connection. 

“The key to being a successful franchise owner is the ability to empower leaders. The team is capable of doing far more than I am as an individual. If I can duplicate my knowledge over and over, the business can run at even greater speed and frequency than I’d ever be able to do,” she said. 

Chumbley also feels it’s more beneficial to be a franchise owner than on your own. “The beauty of owning a franchise is having access to the network of fellow business owners you get to lean on and learn from who are all in the same industry and experiencing similar peaks and valleys,” she said. 

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 more information on franchising with Express, visit: https://expressfranchising.com/.