Is Express Employment Professionals right for you?
Established Scale
758 franchised locations provide brand recognition and operational infrastructure developed over four decades.
Recurring Revenue
Temporary and contract placements generate repeat billings from client companies with built-in payroll and placement margins.
Defined Startup Path
Franchisor supplies required computer system, marketing materials, and initial training program for new offices.
About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals is a staffing and recruitment franchise founded in 1983 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company grants franchises the right to operate temporary staffing, contract staffing, temp-to-hire, direct hire, and specialized recruiting services across core, professional, and healthcare occupations. As of 2025 the system included 758 franchised outlets and 7 company-owned units across 47 states.
Franchisees operate a local staffing office that matches businesses with temporary, contract, and permanent workers. The model combines candidate sourcing, skills testing, payroll administration, and client relationship management. Offices may focus on general industrial and clerical roles, professional placements, or healthcare staffing depending on the franchise selected.
The business model
How a Express Employment Professionals territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
A $40,000 initial franchise fee is payable upon signing the agreement.
Total Investment Range
Estimated initial investment for a Core Occupations Services franchise ranges from $131,000 to $287,700. This includes nine months of working capital.
Computer System Requirement
Franchisees must purchase a specified computer system costing between $8,000 and $17,000 depending on service type, plus monthly communication and cloud fees.
Ongoing Support Structure
The franchisor provides periodic field visits, a toll-free assistance center, payroll and accounting administration (unless opted out), and access to an advertising and marketing fund.
Territory Rights
No exclusive territory is granted. The franchisor agrees only not to compete unfairly within a reasonable area around the franchise location.
Unit Count Trend
Franchised outlets declined by a net 31 locations from 2023 through 2025 while the franchisor added four company-owned units.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$40,000
Total investment range
$131,000 to $287,700
Royalty
n/a
Marketing fund
n/a
Founded
1983
Headquarters
Oklahoma City, OK
Active US franchisees
60
Total US units
86
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Initial training required by the Franchise Agreement for the franchisee and designated manager.
- +Ongoing advice and guidance through telephone, toll-free Assistance Center, and periodic in-person visits (one visit within first 30 days at franchisor expense, at least one additional visit in first year, and two visits per year thereafter as needed).
- +Marketing materials, special sales campaigns, and promotional programs funded in part by the Express Advertising/Marketing Fund.
- +Optional additional training programs offered at the franchisee's expense.
- +Payroll and accounting administration support (unless franchisee opts out).
- +Notification of service requests and regular operational updates.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
The franchisor does not train the franchisee's employees and does not assist in hiring those employees.
Multi-unit growth path
The the filed disclosures does not disclose specific multi-unit development incentives or requirements. Existing franchisees may acquire additional territories or transfer units within the system. Prospective multi-unit operators should evaluate the net decline in franchised outlets over recent years and the operational demands of managing multiple locations without franchisor-provided employee training.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
Third-Party Lenders
Franchisees typically arrange financing through banks, SBA lenders, or equipment financing companies for leasehold improvements, computer systems, and working capital.
Retirement Plan Rollovers
Many franchisees utilize 401(k) or IRA rollover programs structured to fund the initial investment without early withdrawal penalties.
Seller Financing or Partnerships
Some buyers partner with investors or negotiate seller financing when acquiring existing offices from transferring franchisees.
No Direct Franchisor Financing
Express Services, Inc. does not offer direct financing. Item 10 of the the filed disclosures should be reviewed for any indirect financing arrangements.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Application
Review the filed disclosures, speak with franchisor, and submit qualification materials.
Validation
Conduct calls with existing franchisees and visit operating offices.
Approval & Agreement
Receive approval, sign Franchise Agreement, and pay the $40,000 initial fee.
Site Selection & Setup
Secure office lease, complete leasehold improvements, and install required computer system.
Initial Training
Attend franchisor-provided training program and prepare for office opening.
Launch & First 90 Days
Open the office, receive first field visit, and begin candidate and client development.
Stabilization
Operate with ongoing field support and marketing fund reimbursement through the first 24 months.
Match assessment
Are you a Express Employment Professionals match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does an Express Employment Professionals franchise cost?
The estimated initial investment ranges from $131,000 to $287,700 for a Core Occupations Services franchise, including a $40,000 franchise fee and nine months of working capital. Actual costs vary by market and service focus.
What is the franchise fee for Express Employment Professionals?
The initial franchise fee is $40,000. This fee is non-refundable.
Does Express Employment Professionals offer an exclusive territory?
No exclusive territory is granted. The franchisor only agrees not to compete unfairly within a reasonable area.
How many Express Employment Professionals locations are there?
As of the 2025 the filed disclosures there were 758 franchised outlets and 7 company-owned units for a total of 765 locations operating in 47 states.
Does Express Employment Professionals provide financial performance representations?
No financial performance representation is made in the financial-performance disclosure of the the filed disclosures. Prospective franchisees must rely on their own research and validation with existing operators.
What training does Express Employment Professionals provide?
The franchisor provides initial training required by the Franchise Agreement, ongoing field visits, a toll-free assistance center, and marketing support. The franchisor does not train franchisee employees.
Is Express Employment Professionals a good franchise to own?
The model has operated since 1983 and maintains a large network. Recent years have shown a net decline in franchised units. As with any franchise, outcomes depend on local market conditions, management execution, and capitalization.
How long does it take to open an Express Employment Professionals franchise?
The typical timeline from signing to opening spans four to six months, depending on site selection, build-out, training completion, and local licensing requirements.
What are the ongoing fees for an Express Employment Professionals franchise?
The the filed disclosures does not disclose a standard royalty or marketing percentage in Item 6. Franchisees contribute 1 percent of gross margin to the national advertising and marketing fund.
Can I own multiple Express Employment Professionals offices?
Multi-unit ownership is possible through acquisition of existing offices or additional franchises. The the filed disclosures does not outline a formal multi-unit development schedule or incentives.
Does Express Employment Professionals help with financing?
The franchisor does not offer direct financing. Franchisees must arrange capital through banks, SBA programs, retirement rollovers, or private sources.
How has the number of Express franchises changed recently?
Franchised outlets declined by a net 31 locations from year-end 2022 to year-end 2025. The company added four company-owned units during the same period.
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