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Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Express Employment Professionals offers a scalable, service-based business with low startup costs, strong ROI potential and extensive operational support.
Express Employment Professionals offers a robust franchise opportunity within the staffing sector, providing a scalable, service-based business model. With relatively low startup costs and a strong potential for return on investment, the brand supports its franchise owners with extensive operational and training resources. Express has grown to over 850 locations, focusing on connecting job seekers with businesses in various industries, including light industrial, skilled trades, office services and professional roles.
Founded in 1983 by Robert A. Funk and Bill Stoller, Express Employment Professionals was established in Oklahoma City to meet the growing demand for staffing services in local businesses. Since then, Express has grown into one of the largest staffing franchises in the United States, offering a full range of employment solutions, including temporary, evaluation hire and direct hire services.
Mission: To help people find jobs and help businesses find good people.
Vision: To be the most respected and trusted staffing company in the world, creating strong local business partnerships through franchise ownership.
Territories are available across the United States and Canada, with a focus on underserved metro and mid-sized markets. Visit the Express franchise website to see which markets are currently available.
Initial Costs: The total investment necessary to begin operation of an Express franchise business ranges from $131,000 to $287,700 for core occupations services, $303,500 to $598,700 for professional occupations services and $313,150 to $503,100 for healthcare occupations services. The total investment necessary to begin operation of an authorized branch office, if you meet the criteria, within a territory is $30,950 to $74,850. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Branch | Core | Professional | Health Care | ||||
Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max | |
| Initial Franchisee Fee | $3,000 | $3,000 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $0 | $40,000 | $0 | $40,000 |
| Lease & Deposit | $500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,500 | $3,600 | $6,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $500 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $15,000 | $5,000 | $25,000 | $5,000 | $50,000 |
| Utility Deposits | $200 | $600 | $500 | $700 | $200 | $600 | $300 | $600 |
| Training Costs | N/A | N/A | $2,500 | $5,000 | $10,000 | $25,000 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Office Supplies | $250 | $500 | $500 | $1,000 | $500 | $1,200 | $250 | $500 |
| Office Equipment | $1,500 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 | $7,200 | $7,500 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Computer System | $10,000 | $17,000 | $10,000 | $17,000 | $8,000 | $12,000 | $8,000 | $12,000 |
| Furniture & Fixture | $1,000 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $14,000 | $9,000 | $15,000 | $5,000 | $12,000 |
| Signs | $2,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 | $6,500 | $4,500 | $6,400 | $4,000 | $7,000 |
| Insurance | $250 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $4,000 | $1,600 | $4,000 |
| Professional Service Fees | $250 | $750 | $2,000 | $4,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Additional Funds (9 Months) | $20,000 | $30,000 | $75,000 | $175,000 | $250,000 | $450,000 | $280,000 | $360,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $40,000, due upon signing the franchise agreement. This fee may be reduced by as much as 50% when entering more than one authorized occupations addendum or by entering into more than one franchise agreement. Express also offers a 50% reduction on the initial franchise fee to qualifying military veterans through the VetFran program.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Express franchise owners are responsible for the following ongoing payments:
| Type of Services | Type of Fee | Amount |
| Core Occupations | Gross Margin Fee | 40% of core occupations gross margin/month |
| Core Occupations | Gross Receipts & Professional Occupations Direct Hire or Search Fees | 8% of core occupations gross receipts 8% of professional occupations direct hire or search fees/month |
| Core Occupations | Express Advertising/Marketing Fund | 0.6% of gross margin/month 2% of core occupations gross receipts/month |
| Core Occupations | Reserve Account | 1% of gross margin/month |
| Core Occupations | Claim/Indemnity Plan Contribution | 0.31415% of gross associates’ payroll/month |
| Core Occupations | Comprehensive Liability Insurance Fee | 0.1023178% of gross associates’ payroll/month |
| Professional Occupations | Gross Margin Fee | 40% of professional occupations gross margin/month |
| Professional Occupations | Professional Occupations Direct Hire or Search Fees | 18% of professional occupations direct hire or search fees/month |
| Professional Occupations | Enterprise Account Client Management Fee — Temporary Staffing Services | 10% of professional occupations gross margin derived from enterprise account clients/month |
| Professional Occupations | Enterprise Account Client Management Fee — Direct Hire Services | 10% of professional occupations direct hire or search fees derived from enterprise account clients/month |
| Professional Occupations | Express Advertising/Marketing Fund | 0.6% of gross margin/month 2% of professional occupations direct hire or search fees/month |
| Professional Occupations | Reserve Account | 1% of gross margin/month |
| Professional Occupations | Claim/Indemnity Plan Contribution | 0.31415% of gross associates’ payroll/month |
| Professional Occupations | Comprehensive Liability Insurance Fee | 0.1023178% of gross associates’ payroll/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Health Care Occupations Gross Margin Fee | 40% of health care occupations gross margin/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Health Care Occupations Gross Receipts | 8% of health care occupations gross receipts/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Enterprise Account Client Management Fee — Temporary Staffing Services | 10% of health care occupations gross margin derived from enterprise account clients/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Enterprise Account Client Management Fee — Direct Hire Services | 10% of health care occupations gross receipts derived from enterprise account clients/month |
| Health Care Occupations | After Hours Call Center Fee | $400+/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Express Advertising/Marketing Fee | 0.6% of gross margin/month 2% of health care occupations gross receipts/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Reserve Account | 1% of gross margin/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Claim/Indemnity Plan Contribution | 0.31415% of gross associates’ payroll/month |
| Health Care Occupations | Comprehensive Liability Insurance Fee | 0.1023178% of gross associates payroll/month |
| Opt-Out Franchisees | Royalty | 8% of total billings/month |
| Opt-Out Franchisees | Marketing Fund Contribution | 2% of total billings/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the franchise units open for at least 24 months reported the following annual sales for 2025:
| Time Open | Average | Median | High | Low |
| 24+ Months (526) | $5,342,686 | $4,043,021 | $39,242,565 | $129,300 |
| 24-60 Months (97) | $3,520,372 | $2,954,181 | $16,696,442 | $695,961 |
| 60+ Months (430) | $5,775,277 | $4,339,327 | $39,242,565 | $129,300 |
New franchise owners undergo a multi-phase onboarding program that includes classroom training, virtual learning and field support. The team works with franchise owners through the first 26 weeks of business ownership.
Franchise owners are assigned a field developer who acts as a business partner throughout their time in the system. These developers, along with other specialists, help navigate sales, staffing, operations and local marketing strategies.
Franchise owners receive access to a proprietary enterprise management system, national marketing tools, CRM systems, job board integrations and back-office support for payroll and invoicing.
Business or leadership experience is preferred.
This is an owner-operator model, especially during the first year. Franchise owners are expected to be highly engaged in sales, operations and community involvement.
Express has relationships with third-party lenders and may help franchise owners secure SBA loans or other funding options. Details are provided during the discovery process.
While individual testimonials are not published in the FDD, Express regularly shares franchise owner highlights in their newsroom.
“We were able to help so many people find work despite the pandemic, and that meant a lot. We got through it together. Ever since then, we’ve continued to grow, and we currently are seeing sales above $1 million a year. We are trending well for the future.”
- Aracely Melendez, Franchise Owner — El Paso, Texas (Read her story here.)
“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. It’s an incredible feeling to make a difference for these businesses by helping them accomplish their goals. In other companies, you don’t have as much of a direct impact as you do here.”
- Alyssa Chumbley, Franchise Owner — North West Indiana (Read her story here.)
“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. If you duplicate what Express is doing, you’ll be able to see your business grow.”
- Jorge Costas, Franchise Owner — Miami, Florida (Read his story here.)
Visit the Express franchise website for more franchise owner testimonials.
The US staffing industry is a large market with an estimated value of $201.7 billion, according to Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), fueled by a post-pandemic shift to flexible and temporary workforces.
Express Employment Professionals competes with Adecco, ManpowerGroup, Randstad, Spherion and Patrice & Associates. What sets Express apart is its franchising model with localized ownership, intensive coaching and a diversified staffing portfolio that includes light industrial, clerical and professional placements.
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