Franchising FAQs

Spherion offers two franchise models:

• Professional model
• Commercial model

Professional model: The Spherion Professional model is available in select metro markets, primarily densely populated urban areas like the core business districts of major cities. As a Spherion Professional owner, you'll focus on specialized staffing and recruiting for technology and finance and accounting.

Territories are typically built by ZIP codes and may be a single or multiple ZIP codes. Spherion Professional offices are typically located in professional office buildings. 

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Commercial model: The Spherion Commercial model is available in many mid-sized cities and towns as well as some more rural areas. As a Spherion Commercial owner, you'll primarily support light industrial and administrative positions and, in some smaller markets, Professional staffing and recruiting as well.

Commercial market geographies are typically defined by counties, either a single county or multiple counties. You'll provide temporary, temporary-to-hire, and permanent placement staffing services. Commercial office locations are most commonly located in a strip-type shopping center that is anchored by a high-traffic tenant like a grocery store or bank. This market model always starts with one office, though multiple offices may ultimately be desired or needed to provide full coverage of the assigned territory. 

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Investments vary. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Spherion Commercial franchise ranges from $148,025 to $220,825 and a Spherion Professional franchise ranges from $247,945 to $347,475.

Spherion does provide financing for qualified buyers to assist with covering business start-up and operating expenses. Spherion also offers potential discounts for franchise owners who come from the staffing and recruiting industry as well as discounts for military veterans. Spherion does not offer full financing for new owners. New owners use personal savings and/or home equity as an initial funding source. If you are considering owning a Spherion franchise, we suggest that you contact your bank and look into the many non-traditional lending sources that are available. Please do an online search for franchise funding for additional information.

If you have any questions about financing, please contact us and we can start the conversation and see what options we can help you with. 

In addition to our marketing, technical, and professional support, Spherion funds the most expensive component of the staffing business—the temporary employee payroll. Spherion makes the weekly payroll, handles associated federal, state, and local taxes, and manages the invoicing and collections process. This reduces your ongoing cash requirements and enables our owners to concentrate on developing and growing their business.

Yes. You will operate in a defined, protected Spherion territory.

The initial term is 10 years with successive five-year renewal periods normally available.

Yes, in appropriate circumstances. Your success—as well as ours—is tied to your growth and profitability. Organic growth can be a great way to achieve that. Almost half (more than 45%) of our current franchisees have more than one office. Many markets offer the opportunity for multiple offices, and you also may have the opportunity to purchase additional territory.

Spherion sets new owners up for success with a structured 232-hour onboarding curriculum consisting of web-based, call-based, and in-person learning. That is followed up with on-site training for two weeks by both our field-based sales V-P and Operational Managers. Once the new owners open their franchise, we have monthly calls and learning sessions and multiple field-based classes annually.  We also maintain an online University for continuous learning opportunities and utilize a third party for external sales training support. Spherion is committed to the learning and success of our owners, and we believe our training and learning programs are unmatched in the industry.

You will receive support from the Spherion Support Team and various departments within our corporate office. You will be assigned a Senior Vice-President who is familiar with all facets of the business and who will help you throughout your tenure as a franchisee. We also have a call center and a technical service desk that provide support in their respective areas. Our intranet site is a robust tool that is full of reference materials, presentations, marketing materials, and other information to help run your business.

Spherion is a 75+ year recruiting and staffing leader that has been franchising for more than six decades. We're part of the world's second largest workforce solutions company, Randstad, with $22 billion in annual revenue worldwide. Our employees are very experienced in the industry, and our company has a long and profitable history.

Your annual results will largely depend on your efforts, those of your staff, the particular market, and the competition. Our system has a proven track record, and we encourage you to contact other Spherion licensees about their experiences in our system. 

Spherion has many differentiators, but none more important than our stability and experience. We’ve been in business since 1946 and franchising for more than 60 years. Collectively, our field team has more than 200 years of staffing industry experience, and our parent company, Randstad, is a $22 billion international workforce solutions leader. Moreover, the Franchise Research Institute (FRI) has recognized Spherion as a "World-Class Franchise" for 12 consecutive years. But our biggest advocates are our franchise owners themselves. We encourage you to reach out to them and ask them what differentiates Spherion in their local market.  

Staffing is a business-to-business industry. The franchise concept works well for staffing because it pairs strong corporate support and resources with the knowledge and expertise of a local owner. As a franchise owner, you become the face of the company and the source of employment opportunities that enable the people and businesses in your community to grow. Sponsoring a little league team, giving back to local charities and supporting the people and organizations in your community make a difference. This is what sets Spherion franchisees apart from their corporate competition.

Be a hands-on owner in your business and in your community. Participate in our training sessions, meetings, and opportunities. Go the extra mile for your customers and employees—service excellence sets Spherion apart from our competition, and it starts with the local owner. Finally, have fun! Get involved in your community and build brand awareness by participating in community events, clubs, and your local chamber. Staffing is a relationship-based business, and it begins with you!

As a local Spherion owner, you’ll be supported by a corporate marketing team that produces targeted marketing campaigns, sales prospecting programs, and brand advertising to help you grow your business and increase local brand awareness. Our marketing team works directly with our owners to customize campaigns, social media, advertising, and public relations in support of their sales and marketing initiatives. Plus, you have the ability to make local investments in billboard, radio, and other mass media options, if you choose to do so.

In the staffing industry, no two days are alike. Generally, you’ll be recruiting candidates, placing employees, going on sales calls, and visiting customers and prospects. As with any business, there will also be some administrative tasks related to managing your business; however, customer and employee relationship development is the key activity that drives your success.

Absolutely. Our franchisees are happy to talk with you and share their experience. Fill out the contact form below, and we can connect you with current Spherion franchise owners. 

The initial franchise fee of $35,000 is the same for both models. However, we estimate that the additional investment required to get your franchise office up and running will be higher for the Professional model than the Commercial model, largely due to the cost of rent and staff expenses in metro markets. We estimate that the total investment necessary to begin operation of a Spherion Commercial franchise ranges from $148,025 to $220,825 and a Spherion Professional ranges from $247,945 to $347,475.