Express Employment Professionals

In 1983, as the U.S. economy emerged from a recession, three former colleagues came together to form what would become one of the most recognizable names in the staffing industry.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-funk-sr-516457179/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-express-employment-professionals-story-a-legacy-of-helping-people-succeed-2729487" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bob Funk</a>, Bill Stoller and Jim Gray had all worked for Acme Personnel Services, a once-thriving staffing company that had recently declared bankruptcy. Rather than retreat, they seized the opportunity to build something new. With eight offices between them in Oklahoma, Oregon and Colorado, they founded&nbsp;<a href="https://expressfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-express-employment-professionals-story-a-legacy-of-helping-people-succeed-2729487" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Express Employment Professionals</a> — an entrepreneurial leap that would redefine franchising in the staffing industry.<h2>From Acme to Express: Rebuilding With a Mission</h2>The origin of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">Express</a> can be traced back to 1951, when accountant David Reiff purchased a struggling employment agency in Spokane, Washington, and renamed it Acme Personnel Services. His son, Bill Reiff, later took the reins and expanded the company across the Western United States. During this period, Funk and Stoller joined the company and rose through the ranks. But when Acme collapsed in 1983, they acted quickly to preserve their offices and their livelihoods — and to build something better.With Funk’s leadership, Stoller’s operational expertise and Gray’s payroll systems knowledge, the trio formed Express (originally named Express Temporary Services). Backed by a small loan from a local bank and a determination to keep their teams employed, the group launched a new staffing company built on franchise ownership, trust and service.<h2>Built To Last: The Foundation of the Express Model</h2>From day one,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/how-express-employment-professionals-empowers-franchise-owners-through-training-and-development-2729221">Express focused on systems, training and support</a>. Express University was created as a central hub for training franchisees and staff. A Developer Program was established to ensure new offices never felt alone, with experienced franchisees serving as mentors and coaches. And Gray’s custom-built payroll software enabled franchisees to scale without the burden of back-office administration.The Express team knew that in order to thrive, they had to serve their franchisees just as well as they served job seekers and client companies. “Express not only benefits entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the staffing industry but also strengthens local economies through job creation and enhanced business services,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-davis-cfe-483377150?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-express-employment-professionals-story-a-legacy-of-helping-people-succeed-2729487" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Melissa Davis</a>, Managing Director of Franchising at Express Employment Professionals. “With a proven track record, a structured support system, and a focus on community and growth, Express stands out as a prime choice for those looking to invest in a franchise with lasting impact and value.”<h2>Surviving Recessions, Scaling Globally</h2>Over the decades, Express demonstrated extraordinary resilience. From the 1990s recession to the financial crisis of 2008, the company never stopped investing in its people and its franchisees. When competitors laid off sales teams, Express doubled down on sales, launching its “Sell, Sell, Sell” culture and refining its five sales plays to help franchisees grow.The results speak volumes. By 1999, the brand had surpassed $1 billion in sales. By 2011, sales had grown 30% in a single year. In 2024, the brand had grown to over 860 locations worldwide with an average unit volume of $6.4 million — and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.&nbsp;<h2>A People-First Culture That Drives Profitability</h2>Express’s franchisees are&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/how-second-generation-franchise-owner-alyssa-chumbley-has-taken-her-express-employment-professionals-franchise-to-the-next-level-2722011">more than business owners</a> — they’re community leaders, job creators and advocates. The company has helped over 10 million people find jobs since its inception and continues to set annual goals to place 1 million more.“At Express, we don’t just talk about culture — we live it,” said Davis. “We care deeply about every job seeker who walks into our offices and every client who needs to find the right fit. That’s why our model works.”Franchisees receive extensive support, from marketing and a U.S. based customer support&nbsp; to payroll funding and training. Offices benefit from the collective power of a global brand, but maintain the personal touch of local ownership. This hybrid model allows franchisees to focus on what matters most: building relationships, serving businesses, and changing lives.<h2>What’s Next for Express Employment Professionals</h2>As Express looks ahead to the future, their goal is clear: put a million people to work annually.. Expansion is targeted in key markets across North America, including Ontario, California, North Carolina, Texas and Pennsylvania.&nbsp; With more than 100 territories still available, Express is actively seeking driven entrepreneurs with a passion for helping others and a talent for leadership.“Our ideal owner is someone who’s in the business full time, engaged in sales, and focused on building something meaningful in their community,” Davis said. “We’ve built a system that works. We just need the right people to bring it to life.”Today, Express Employment Professionals is not only one of the top staffing franchises in the world — it's a company that has stayed true to its mission for over four decades: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.And according to Davis, that mission has never been more relevant.“As long as folks need jobs and companies need good people, Express will be around,” she said. “We're here to help communities thrive, support our franchise owners, and make the working world better.”About Express Employment ProfessionalsAt Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 586,000 people globally in 2021 and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://expresspros.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp%3Butm_medium=article&amp%3Butm_campaign=express-employment-professionals-wraps-up-2024-with-continued-growth-and-franchise-expansion-2728284&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-express-employment-professionals-story-a-legacy-of-helping-people-succeed-2729487" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ExpressPros.com</a>.For prospective franchise owners, the initial investment to launch an Express traditional model ranges between $144,000 to $220,000, inclusive of a $40,000 franchise fee. More details regarding franchise costs can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info.">https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info</a>.

Express Employment Professionals: A Legacy of Staffing Success & Franchise Growth

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Express has evolved from its modest origins into a global staffing leader by establishing a brand deeply rooted in purpose, prioritizing its people and maintaining consistent persistence.

This brand page has been paid for by EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

The Express Employment Professionals Story: A Legacy of Helping People Succeed

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<a href="https://expressfranchising.com/">Express Employment Professionals</a> closed out 2025 with momentum that showed up both in new ownership, expansions from current owners, and in the long-term stability that comes with being a mature staffing system. “We are very proud to have welcomed more than 38 new owners into the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment">Express</a> family this year,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-davis-cfe-483377150/">Melissa Davis</a>, vice president of franchise development.<h2>Succession Planning Opens New Opportunities</h2>This year’s development story was shaped in part by a transition happening inside the existing network. As longtime owners plan for the next chapter, Express is seeing more openings created by succession timelines and resale opportunities, including in markets that have been unavailable for years.“From a development perspective, as a 42-year legacy brand, what we’ve seen over the last couple of years, and what we’ll continue seeing in the years to come, is a lot of our legacy owners entering into their succession planning and retirement phase of their life,” Davis said. “We’ve seen a lot of new development in California, Texas, Florida and New York, really along the West Coast and East Coast, as well as in Canada.”<h2>Consistent Interest From Prospective Franchisees</h2>Express’ development pipeline did not hinge on a single trend or moment. Instead, the brand continued to draw steady inbound interest, supported by decades of brand presence and a reputation that stands out early in a buyer’s search.“We’re very lucky that interest in Express has stayed steady for many years,” Davis said. “We were established in 1983, and we’ve been named the No. 1 staffing franchise for 14 consecutive years by Entrepreneur.”For many candidates, that kind of track record can be a first filter before they ever compare models. “So when people are looking into business ownership, when they’re learning about franchise ownership, Express Employment Professionals is a name that stands out among the crowd,” Davis said. “For that reason, we typically see upwards of 5,000 to 6,000 people inquire about ownership with Express every single year.”<h2>Technology That Supports the Human Connection</h2>Staffing remains a relationship business, and Davis says Express does not position technology as the core driver of success. The company is focused on tools that will help franchisees run more efficiently while keeping the work centered on people.“The nature of our business model is such that success is driven by human-to-human connection. For that reason, it’s a great benefit to our franchise owners and their teams because our business model is not relying upon technology to be able to build a successful business,” Davis said. “Even so, in 2025 moving into 2026, there is so much technology out there that we can leverage to make what we do, and how we do it, stronger and more efficient. Because of that, we’re making significant investments into technology.”<h2>Franchisee Stories That Signal Staying Power</h2>For Davis, some of the most meaningful signals in 2025 were about who is choosing to build inside the brand. She points to growth in next-generation ownership as a marker of franchisee satisfaction and long-term commitment.“What we’re seeing now, which is really exciting to us, is second- and even third-generation owners coming into Express,” she said. “Of course, that speaks to the satisfaction of our owners that they’re bringing in their children, and now we’re seeing their grandchildren coming into the business.”<h2>Looking Ahead to 2026</h2>As Express moves into 2026, Davis says the development focus remains on finding capable operators who have the drive to take control of their careers and step into ownership.“There are so many people who have built successful corporate careers making other people a lot of money, who have always had that itch and that desire to do it for themselves, and be their own boss,” she said.And while no industry is immune to downturns, she believes staffing’s track record supports long-term confidence. “The staffing industry at large shows consistent growth over many years, so we expect that consistent growth to continue,” Davis said.For more information on franchising with Express Employment Professionals, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info</a>.

Express Employment Professionals - End of Year Wrap 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Express Employment Professionals Celebrates a Year of Growth, Adding 38 New Owners to Its System 

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Express Employment Eyes Palm Springs as a Hot Market for Franchise Growth

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Express Employment Professionals Offers 50% Off Its Franchising Fee in Select Markets

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After dedicating nearly 25 years to serving his country in the U.S. Air Force,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-meyer-owner-recruiter">Jeff Meyer</a> found himself at a crossroads. Having spent the majority of his career flying and leading others, Meyer was ready for a new mission that would allow him to serve his community in a meaningful way while providing stability for his family. That mission came through&nbsp;<a href="https://expressfranchising.com/">Express Employment Professionals</a>, the industry-leading staffing franchise.“Out of high school, I went to the Air Force Academy,” Meyer said. “From graduation, I went to pilot training. I had nearly a 25-year career in the Air Force. The first 16 years were pretty much flying assignments. After that, I went into a staff job, then a command job, and from there a support job. I never got back to flying again.”After years of moving between assignments — “three times in three years,” Meyer said — he and his wife knew it was time for a change. Their children were in high school, and they wanted to give them some stability. More importantly, they wanted to build something together.“My wife and I wanted to do something as a team,” Meyer said. “She had done a lot of work in local, state and national-level volunteer organizations. We started looking at franchises, and she came across Express. She’d had a good experience using a staffing agency before, and we thought it would be a good way to help other military members.”That initial curiosity quickly turned into conviction. “Without looking at too many options, we really fell in love with the brand,” Meyer said. In 2013, they purchased an existing&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">Express Employment Professionals</a> office in San Antonio, Texas.<h2>A Business With Purpose</h2>Meyer’s transition from the military to entrepreneurship was rooted in one simple principle — service. “It’s a for-purpose business,” he said. “Having come from the military, where you have a higher sense of purpose instilled in you, I really wanted to have that again. I really felt like Express exemplified that idea of hope, dignity and helping others succeed.”Through Express, Meyer found a way to channel that same mission-driven mindset into his daily work. “The cool thing about it as a business is that you are either helping someone find work, or you are helping a company get the staff they need, and you are helping your internal staff become better recruiters,” he said. “Work is something that everybody needs.”That sense of impact — of seeing people thrive because of his office’s efforts — is what continues to motivate him after more than a decade in business. “It’s a very rewarding experience to help these people find a permanent work home, and we’ve had happy clients,” Meyer said. “I would do it all over again if I could.”<h2>Growth Through Support</h2>Since joining Express, Meyer and his team have steadily grown their business to reach the first level of Circle of Excellence, an achievement that marks consistent performance and dedication.&nbsp;“Express does all sorts of wonderful training for us,” Meyer said. “The support is amazing. There is internal training — from in-person classes to computer-based modules and live webinars, there are resources for everyone, franchisees and staff alike.”<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/how-express-employment-professionals-empowers-franchise-owners-through-training-and-development-2729221">Express’s strong developer network</a> also plays a crucial role in local success. “The developer meets with the office regularly to help us with sales and keep us moving,” Meyer said. “The executives are so accessible, and the franchisees themselves are available. There are five offices near us in San Antonio, and we all collaborate and work together.”That collaborative culture, Meyer says, is one of the most rewarding parts of being in the Express system. “Everyone helps each other,” he said. “You never feel like you’re on your own.”<h2>Building a Legacy</h2>For Meyer, Express has become a second career. Looking ahead, he and his wife plan to prepare their office for the next phase.“We were older when we got into it, so now we are looking within the next five to ten years to potentially sell the business,” Meyer said. “We want to ensure that it is well-run and organized so that we can hand it off to someone who can move it even farther within the Express system.”As Express Employment Professionals&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/express-employment-professionals-wraps-up-2024-with-continued-growth-and-franchise-expansion-2728284">continues to expand its global network</a> — now surpassing 860 locations with an average annual sales volume of $6.4 million per office — franchisees like Meyer embody the brand’s mission to connect great people with great companies.“At Express, it’s about helping people succeed,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-davis-cfe-483377150">Melissa Davis</a>, Vice President of Franchising. “Our franchisees are community leaders and job creators. They help local economies thrive while building meaningful businesses.”For Meyer, that purpose-driven approach is what makes the journey worthwhile. “It’s been enough to sustain us both intellectually and financially,” he said. “But more than that — it’s given us the opportunity to give back. And that’s what makes it all worth it.”For prospective franchise owners, the initial investment to launch an Express traditional model ranges between $131,000 to $241,700, inclusive of a $40,000 franchise fee. In 20 select markets across North America, Express is offering a 50% discount on the initial franchise fee - reducing the upfront costs and giving new owners more working capital to launch and grow their business. More details regarding franchise costs can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info</a>.

How This Veteran Helps Others Find Work Through Express Employment Professionals

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The Express Employment Professionals Story: A Legacy of Helping People Succeed

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