Why franchise with Spherion?

Unlock opportunity in the "Research Capital of the World"

Choosing to enter franchising with Spherion means launching a locally owned staffing business backed by decades of experience and proven operating systems. Spherion franchise owners receive comprehensive onboarding, recruiting tools, and ongoing guidance while maintaining control over their local market. For entrepreneurs exploring a staffing agency franchise in Ann Arbor, this model supports flexibility as workforce needs shift.

Why open a staffing franchise in Ann Arbor?

Ann Arbor is more than a college town—it is a global powerhouse for innovation, healthcare, and high-tech industry. For a recruiting franchise, this market offers a rare combination of high-wage professional roles and a massive, consistent demand for specialized support staff.

Why franchise with Spherion:

  • High earning potential (avg. $5.6M revenue per franchisee)* with scalable revenue streams
  • Exclusive territories and multi‑unit growth paths
  • End‑to‑end back office support: payroll, billing, AR, compliance
  • Training & community: 380+ hours pre‑opening, ongoing education, national meetings, and peer network
  • 80 years of brand equity and a strong national reputation
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A top staffing agency franchise

Employers often rely on staffing agencies in Ann Arbor, MI, to manage hiring needs tied to academic calendars, healthcare demands, and project-based work. Choosing a Spherion staffing franchise in Ann Arbor positions you to build long-term partnerships with employers who value consistency, responsiveness, and local insight in a competitive hiring environment.

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Ann Arbor, Michigan Business Highlights:

$1.5+ Billion Estimated temporary staffing market size (2025).

$1 Billion+ Estimated annual temporary staffing payroll, driven by high-concentration technical and healthcare sectors.

200,900+ Person civilian labor force in Washtenaw County—reaching record highs in 2024–2025.

$2.16 Billion Annual research spending at the University of Michigan (FY2025), fueling a massive ecosystem of R&D and lab-support roles.

#3 Global Ranking on the Geography of Prosperity Index (2026), outperforming hundreds of cities for long-term economic resilience.

Top 5 U.S. "AI Career" Hub among small metros, with a dense concentration of software, robotics, and biotechnology firms.

Unmatched Talent Density: Home to the highest concentration of engineers and STEM degree holders in Michigan.

Meet other Spherion franchise owners

Learning from current franchise owners helps clarify what staffing ownership looks like beyond the launch phase. Each franchise owner brings a different leadership style, market focus, and approach to growth.

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Learn more about buying a franchise with Spherion Staffing

About You

Who is an ideal Spherion Staffing franchise owner candidate?

The strongest candidates bring a mix of business awareness, people skills, and local engagement. We look for someone who can build relationships, understand workforce needs, and stay involved in their community while managing day-to-day operations.

Entrepreneurial Mindset

You’re comfortable making decisions, adjusting your approach, and staying focused on long-term progress.

  • Financial Literacy: You can proficiently manage a P&L and accounts receivables.
  • Business Growth: You possess sufficient operating capital and the drive to scale.
  • Resourcefulness: You navigate daily responsibilities while keeping an eye on long-term goals.

Sales & Leadership Experience

Managing clients and identifying opportunities are part of how you operate.

  • Recruiting & Development: You have a track record of leading teams to hit criteria-based results.
  • Consultative Selling: You’re skilled in prospecting, business negotiations, and responding to bids.
  • Expert Guidance: You have the confidence to deliver compensation recommendations and market insights.
  • Effective Communication: You possess strong speaking and presentation skills.

Community-Focused Professional

Being visible and involved helps you build trust while supporting local employers and job seekers.

  • Hyper-Local Presence: You live within your desired market and know its unique needs.
  • Civic Engagement: You are active in local business organizations and civic groups.
  • Invested Leadership: You have a genuine desire to contribute to the health of your local workforce.

If this sounds like you, read more about franchising with Spherion Staffing. Then, contact Dan Brunell to get started on your Spherion path to franchise ownership!

Staffing franchise ownership FAQs

Understanding how franchise ownership fits the local market and what support looks like long-term can help clarify early decisions. These questions address common topics entrepreneurs explore when evaluating staffing opportunities.

Is Ann Arbor a good location for opening a staffing franchise?

Ann Arbor’s mix of universities, healthcare systems, and innovation-driven employers creates steady demand for flexible hiring solutions. Many local employers rely on staffing partners to support seasonal shifts, specialized roles, and ongoing workforce needs.

What revenue potential does a well-managed staffing franchise usually have?

Revenue potential for a staffing franchise varies based on market conditions, client mix, and how the business is operated over time. Some Spherion franchise offices that have been open at least one year reported average annual revenue of $6.9 million and average annual gross profits of $1.4 million in 2025.* The staffing industry itself continues to show long-term growth trends, which can create opportunities for franchisees who build consistent employer relationships and scale thoughtfully.

What kind of ongoing coaching and support is provided to Spherion franchisees?

Spherion franchise owners receive structured onboarding, recruiting systems, and continued business coaching. Ongoing support from strategic growth partners helps our franchise owners operate with clarity, refine strategy, and grow their staffing business with confidence as local market needs evolve. Furthermore, our franchisee community is collaborative and helpful. Spherion franchisees include multigenerational groups, husband-wife teams, former Spherion corporate employees, former franchise employees, and entrepreneurs from all walks of life. A clear supermajority (98%) agree that Spherion's training is good or better, while 91% agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of each other and the Spherion brand.**

Support & Training

You'll never franchise alone

Our support is our signature: You'll receive 380+ hours of comprehensive role-based training before and after opening as part of our New Franchisee launch program. Onging training addresses client development, legal requirements, marketing, and sales. You'll be supported by a dedicated portfolio leader who is available to answer questions and strategize with you, as well as by national sales, marketing, and technology teams.

Spherion franchisees receive complete back office and technology support for all functions related to their temporary employees. We process employee payroll, including taxes, insurance, and benefits required by law. We invoice the clients, manage collections and application of payments as well as the W-2 process at the end of the year. Our corporate office maintains, supports, and troubleshoots all technology, eliminating the need for technical expertise and investment. Spherion's model allows you to focus on the business, not get lost in the business.

We handle the administrative heavy lifting so you can focus on driving revenue. Spherion manages your back-office technology, payroll processing, national marketing and legal processes. Paired with a robust suite of digital marketing, SEO, and local lead-generation tools, our model frees you to engage your community, build client relationships, and scale a lasting asset. 

Growth & Expansion Opportunity

Scale Your Franchise in Ann Arbor

Talent Acquisition Challenges

Despite the area’s deep talent pool, employers still struggle to fill specialized roles—particularly in healthcare, skilled trades, biotech, and high-demand administrative support. A Spherion franchise can provide targeted recruitment strategies that meet these complex workforce needs.

Flexible Work Arrangements

Ann Arbor has long been ahead of the curve on hybrid and remote work, especially in tech, research, and education. This makes staffing solutions for contract, part-time, and hybrid positions even more essential for employers looking to stay competitive.

Seasonal and Academic Hiring Patterns

The University of Michigan and other local institutions create predictable hiring cycles around the academic calendar. This drives demand for temporary staff across hospitality, events, facilities, and administration—sectors that benefit from staffing support year-round.

Small and Mid-Size Business Growth

While anchored by major institutions, Ann Arbor’s economy is bursting with innovative startups and small businesses that are scaling fast. These companies often need help navigating HR and hiring, making them ideal partners for a service-oriented staffing franchise.

Competition

Ann Arbor's Staffing Market Opportunity

The Ann Arbor staffing market includes regional players and boutique firms, but few combine the scale and specialization that Spherion brings. A franchise backed by Spherion’s national systems—yet grounded in local ownership—can differentiate through speed, service, and strategic recruiting. There’s particular opportunity in supporting high-growth sectors like healthcare, IT, research, and nonprofit.

As labor demand continues to evolve in Ann Arbor, especially in knowledge-based and hybrid roles, the market is primed for a staffing partner that brings both insight and innovation to the hiring process.

Staffing Industry Analysts predicts the US staffing industry will grow by 1% in 2025 to reach $188.7 billion. This growth will be powered by lower inflation and interest rates that allow businesses to accelerate their growth compared to previous years. Regardless of economic conditions, the need for temporary employees to fill skills gaps and for permanent workers to fulfill longer-term business goals will remain stable.

Become a Spherion Business Owner.

When you're ready to start your franchising journey with Spherion, text, call, or email Dan to ask how you can become part of our franchise community.

Dan Brunell

Dan Brunell

Senior Vice President of Franchise Development

Dan boasts 30+ years of experience helping prospective franchisees succeed. His background includes founding a top franchise brokerage as well as current and past senior executive roles in the staffing industry.

This website and the franchise sales information on this website do not constitute an offer to sell a franchise. The offer of a franchise can only be made through the delivery of a franchise disclosure document. Certain states require that we register the franchise disclosure document in those states. The communications on this website are not directed by us to the residents of any of those states. Moreover, we will not offer or sell franchises in those states until we have registered the franchise (or obtained an applicable exemption from registration) and delivered the franchise disclosure document to the prospective franchisee in compliance with applicable law.

*This data is based on 57 franchisees that were open and operating their businesses for at least one full year as of 12/31/25. Of these 57 franchisees, 16 (28.1%) surpassed the average annual sales stated above, and 17 (29.8%) surpassed the average annual gross profit stated above. Some outlets have earned these amounts. Your individual results may differ. There is no assurance that you’ll earn as much. Please review Item 19 of our May 14, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for more information. 

**Franchise Business Review survey, December 2024