When Zak and Nicole Kraehmer opened an Express Employment Professionals franchise in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in August 2019, staffing wasn’t the plan. But owning a business was.
Zak had considered entering Nicole’s family business but wanted something different. The opportunity for “different” arrived through a friend who owned an Express office in upstate New York. Meetings with leadership and other franchise owners sealed the deal quickly.
“We were immediately hooked on the feeling of the brand and the franchise as a whole,” Zak said. “It really felt like family.”
With that, the Kraehmers sold their home, packed up their lives with two young children and moved three and a half hours south to open their new office. “It was a huge decision,” Zak said. “But really, it was the brand. The way they treated us and the systems they had in place made us feel comfortable that this was something we could be successful in.”
Zak came to franchising following stints in financial services and his father-in-law’s insurance agency. He also brought prior franchising experience from the operation of a youth sports franchise territory. Most importantly, he and his wife possessed years of customer-facing work in food service, experience Zak recalls as surprisingly relevant.
“Customer service, urgency, hard work and understanding what it takes each day to move the ball forward are critical. Taking care of clients, associates and candidates — that’s the intangible part,” Zak said. “Any significant customer-facing role helps prepare you. Whether it’s food service, banking or financial services, there’s a sense of pace and urgency. You learn to work for what you get. You learn how to build relationships. That goes a long way.”
From the start, the Kraehmers ran the franchise as a true partnership. Zak focused on outside sales, while Nicole managed recruiting, payroll and inside operations. Their shared goals and clear division of responsibilities allowed them to scale quickly and maintain balance, especially in the early, pressure-filled months of the new business.
Early challenges can be steep. With no clients or associates, momentum was everything. And the couple’s collective work ethic helped enable early success.
“We grew very quickly from nothing,” Zak said. “Looking back, we had no choice. We had two young kids and a limited amount of money in the bank. That sense of urgency drove everything.”
The emotional swings of staffing were an early surprise. But Zak quickly found a solution through that work ethic.
“Sell, sell, sell,” Zak said. “The work you do this week won’t show up immediately. You can have a bad day, but not a bad week. Every day matters.”
Growing a franchise quickly isn’t common. It’s difficult. And scaling his business early taught Zak the importance of hiring the right internal team and the skills worth prioritizing. But some skills can’t be taught.
“Even though we’re a staffing company, it’s hard to find the right internal people,” he said. “It’s skill, hill or will. I can teach skill. We can get over a hill together. But I can’t give someone the will to work. Having the right people in the right place at the right time is everything.”
In a crowded market, the Kraehmers’ Lancaster office stands out through hands-on ownership. But those early days in franchising taught him the value of another important skill: communication. “I heard over and over that staffing companies didn’t communicate,” Zak said. “So we overcommunicate. Whether it’s good news or bad news,we communicate.”
Involvement within his local community has also played a significant role in Kraehmer’s early Express success. From visiting clients to coaching youth sports, strengthening relationships at the local level has paid significant dividends as the couple has successfully scaled their business in South Central Pennsylvania. That local focus has helped develop bonds that continue to impact the couple’s approach even several years in.
“On the client side, we built a deep partnership with one longtime client in particular. Even when their corporate office introduced another staffing company, that client chose to stick with us. We’re invited to lunches and grand openings. It just goes beyond business,” Zak said. “We treat people like people, not numbers.”
Today, Zak tracks revenue, placements and activity, balancing quantity and quality, remaining grounded. And, looking forward, he hopes for growth that’s both steady and focused on people.
“It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it business. It’s stressful. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you focus on people and follow the system, growth follows,” Zak said. “If you’re not a people person, you won’t enjoy this. This isn’t a sit-behind-your-desk job. You have to be active, involved and present.”
For Zak and Nicole, success isn’t just measured in placements or revenue. It’s built on the relationships they’ve strengthened and the community they’ve helped grow. Because at the end of the day, growing a business is all about people, persistence and partnership.
About Express Employment Professionals
At 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 more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressFranchising.com.
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. More details regarding franchise costs can be found at https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info.
Express Employment Professionals
SPONSORED
From local roots to regional growth — Express franchise owner Zak Kraehmer shares how grit, strong relationships and strategic risk-taking helped him build a thriving franchise.
When Zak and Nicole Kraehmer opened an Express Employment Professionals franchise in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in August 2019, staffing wasn’t the plan. But owning a business was.
Zak had considered entering Nicole’s family business but wanted something different. The opportunity for “different” arrived through a friend who owned an Express office in upstate New York. Meetings with leadership and other franchise owners sealed the deal quickly.
“We were immediately hooked on the feeling of the brand and the franchise as a whole,” Zak said. “It really felt like family.”
With that, the Kraehmers sold their home, packed up their lives with two young children and moved three and a half hours south to open their new office. “It was a huge decision,” Zak said. “But really, it was the brand. The way they treated us and the systems they had in place made us feel comfortable that this was something we could be successful in.”
Zak came to franchising following stints in financial services and his father-in-law’s insurance agency. He also brought prior franchising experience from the operation of a youth sports franchise territory. Most importantly, he and his wife possessed years of customer-facing work in food service, experience Zak recalls as surprisingly relevant.
“Customer service, urgency, hard work and understanding what it takes each day to move the ball forward are critical. Taking care of clients, associates and candidates — that’s the intangible part,” Zak said. “Any significant customer-facing role helps prepare you. Whether it’s food service, banking or financial services, there’s a sense of pace and urgency. You learn to work for what you get. You learn how to build relationships. That goes a long way.”
From the start, the Kraehmers ran the franchise as a true partnership. Zak focused on outside sales, while Nicole managed recruiting, payroll and inside operations. Their shared goals and clear division of responsibilities allowed them to scale quickly and maintain balance, especially in the early, pressure-filled months of the new business.
Early challenges can be steep. With no clients or associates, momentum was everything. And the couple’s collective work ethic helped enable early success.
“We grew very quickly from nothing,” Zak said. “Looking back, we had no choice. We had two young kids and a limited amount of money in the bank. That sense of urgency drove everything.”
The emotional swings of staffing were an early surprise. But Zak quickly found a solution through that work ethic.
“Sell, sell, sell,” Zak said. “The work you do this week won’t show up immediately. You can have a bad day, but not a bad week. Every day matters.”
Growing a franchise quickly isn’t common. It’s difficult. And scaling his business early taught Zak the importance of hiring the right internal team and the skills worth prioritizing. But some skills can’t be taught.
“Even though we’re a staffing company, it’s hard to find the right internal people,” he said. “It’s skill, hill or will. I can teach skill. We can get over a hill together. But I can’t give someone the will to work. Having the right people in the right place at the right time is everything.”
In a crowded market, the Kraehmers’ Lancaster office stands out through hands-on ownership. But those early days in franchising taught him the value of another important skill: communication. “I heard over and over that staffing companies didn’t communicate,” Zak said. “So we overcommunicate. Whether it’s good news or bad news,we communicate.”
Involvement within his local community has also played a significant role in Kraehmer’s early Express success. From visiting clients to coaching youth sports, strengthening relationships at the local level has paid significant dividends as the couple has successfully scaled their business in South Central Pennsylvania. That local focus has helped develop bonds that continue to impact the couple’s approach even several years in.
“On the client side, we built a deep partnership with one longtime client in particular. Even when their corporate office introduced another staffing company, that client chose to stick with us. We’re invited to lunches and grand openings. It just goes beyond business,” Zak said. “We treat people like people, not numbers.”
Today, Zak tracks revenue, placements and activity, balancing quantity and quality, remaining grounded. And, looking forward, he hopes for growth that’s both steady and focused on people.
“It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it business. It’s stressful. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you focus on people and follow the system, growth follows,” Zak said. “If you’re not a people person, you won’t enjoy this. This isn’t a sit-behind-your-desk job. You have to be active, involved and present.”
For Zak and Nicole, success isn’t just measured in placements or revenue. It’s built on the relationships they’ve strengthened and the community they’ve helped grow. Because at the end of the day, growing a business is all about people, persistence and partnership.
About Express Employment Professionals
At 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 more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressFranchising.com.
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. More details regarding franchise costs can be found at https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info.
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