Charlotte Resident Opens New Franchise in North Carolina

May 20, 2026 // Franchising.com // CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Payroll Vault announced today it has expanded in Charlotte, North Carolina, signing a corporate operations executive with account management and business leadership as its newest franchisee.

Entrepreneur Mellissa Willems, who lives in Charlotte, purchased a Payroll Vault franchise to capitalize on her more than 20 years of experience in customer experience, operations, account management and business leadership, most recently serving in director-level executive roles within Fortune 500 organizations. She has led teams, managed global strategic accounts and served businesses of all sizes, from large enterprise clients to individual consumers across B2B and B2C environments.

“After two decades in corporate leadership, I was ready to channel everything I had built, my expertise, my relationships, and my values into something of my own,” said Willems, whose franchise territory covers the Greater Charlotte region that includes Pineville and South Charlotte. “Payroll Vault is providing me with the platform to do that. The model is built around trusted, personalized service rather than a transactional, one-size-fits-all approach, and that is aligned perfectly with how I believe business should be done. I wanted to build something that would grow with my clients and give back to the community I call home for years to come.”

Payroll Vault offers franchisees fully remote operating systems with 24/7 technical monitoring to support continuous operations that include recurring streams of revenue from monthly, quarterly and yearly transactions. The company has received industry recognition across multiple categories.

“What drew me most to Payroll Vault was the philosophy behind it,” Willems said. “This is not a payroll factory. It is a relationship-first business built on becoming a true partner to small and mid-sized business owners. The opportunity to serve as an extension of my clients' teams, to understand their businesses deeply, and to remove the burden of payroll complexity so they can focus on what they do best is exactly the kind of work I want to do. Add to that the strength of the Payroll Vault system, the support network, and a brand built on integrity, and the decision was clear.”

Willems said Charlotte is a city of hard-working small and mid-sized business owners who are doing incredible things. She wants to play a role in helping those successful teams thrive in the town she calls home.

“My goal is to become a trusted extension of their team, handling the complexity of payroll and compliance so they can stay focused on what matters most: running and growing their business,” she said. “I am not here to be a vendor. I am here to be a long-term partner and a familiar, reliable face in the community I love.”

Willems is also a strong advocate for women in business and entrepreneurship.

“I hope my venture inspires other women who are considering making the leap,” she added.

SOURCE Oakscale Franchise Partners

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