July 15, 2026 // Franchising.com // Oklahoma City – Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing franchise, is reporting steady mid-year franchise growth in 2026, with 29 total franchise agreements signed year-to-date. Growth has been driven largely by strong resale demand and continued expansion in both established and emerging U.S. and Canadian territories.
Through the first half of the year, Express has welcomed 27 new franchisees into the system. Of the 29 agreements signed, 26 were resales and three were new territory agreements, demonstrating continued interest in acquiring offices as well as selectively entering new markets.
New territory expansion includes Richmond Hill, ON, Raleigh, NC (South) and Columbus, OH (West) all high-opportunity regions across Canada and the U.S. Among the resale agreements completed this year were transactions in Bloomfield, NJ; Syracuse, NY; Stockton, CA; and Mayfield, KY.
Across the system, Express continues to see sustained engagement in franchise education and discovery. The staffing franchise has hosted seven Discovery Days this year, representing 31 territories, with strong participation from prospective owners evaluating both new and resale opportunities.
“After years of working in the staffing industry, I knew I wanted to own a business of my own, but I also knew I did not want to figure everything out alone,” said Melissa Speaker, owner of the Express Employment Professionals office in Pensacola, Florida. “Having worked with Express for 14 years before becoming an owner, I had already seen the strength of the culture and support system firsthand. Taking ownership of the Pensacola office gave me the opportunity to build a business in my hometown with the backing of a team that is genuinely invested in helping franchisees succeed.”
Speaker’s path to ownership is one example of the different routes candidates are taking to join the Express system.
“We continue to see meaningful interest from candidates who are looking for both stability and long-term growth in a proven business model,” said Melissa Davis, Vice President of Franchising at Express Employment Professionals. “Resale opportunities remain an accessible entry point for many new franchisees, while we’re also seeing growing demand in targeted Canadian markets and key U.S. territories. The consistency of engagement across Discovery Days reflects the strength of the system and the opportunity ahead.”
Express continues to offer its Fast Track incentive program for new franchisees, designed to support early performance milestones and help accelerate early performance in new territories. Interest in available markets remains strong, particularly across Ontario and British Columbia, along with continued demand in select U.S. regions.
The company also notes a healthy pipeline of available territories, including opportunities across the Northeast U.S., where Express continues to see interest from candidates seeking established brand presence and strong market demand.
Express's long-term goal of putting a million people to work annually is at the heart of its company’s vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.
As the number-one staffing franchise for individuals, communities, and businesses, Express has achieved numerous accolades that showcase its success. For the 15th consecutive year, the brand was recognized as the top staffing franchise in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and ranked #71 on the overall Franchise 500 list. Furthermore, Express ranked #32 on the Franchise Times Top 400 and #10 on FranchiseDirect’s Top 100 Global Franchises.
To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact their franchise development team at franchising@expresspros.com or visit www.ExpressFranchising.com.
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 406,000 people globally in 2025 and more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.
SOURCE Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals is a staffing company.