Express Employment Professionals Holds the Top Spot in Staffing for 2026

A constant demand is what keeps the staffing industry moving. During times of uncertainty, many companies rely even more heavily on staffing partners to help them stay agile and flexible. That dynamic is a big reason why Express Employment Professionals has remained such a steady presence for decades.

Express isn’t new to this space, and it doesn’t try to reinvent it every year. The company has grown into one of the most recognizable names in staffing by staying close to employers and job seekers alike. With hundreds of franchise locations across the U.S., Canada, and international markets, Express has built familiarity the right way—through local offices showing up consistently and doing the work.

That approach continues to pay off. In Entrepreneur‘s 2026 Franchise 500, Express Employment Professionals once again ranks #1 in the staffing and recruiting category. It’s the 15th year in a row the brand has held that position, and the 38th year it has appeared on the list overall. At this point, the ranking feels less like a spike and more like a reflection of how the business operates year after year.

For this year’s Franchise 500, Express scored in the top 20 percent for franchisee support, the top 10 percent for brand strength, and the top 15 percent for financial strength and stability. Those results point to a company that continues to take care of the people running its locations while maintaining a strong presence in a competitive industry.

Where consistency gets to work

One reason Express has remained so durable is its emphasis on local ownership. Franchise owners are actively involved in their businesses, often serving as the public face of the brand in their communities. They work directly with employers, meet candidates, advocate for job seekers, and build relationships that don’t disappear when hiring slows down. This level of daily involvement allows them to build trust within the community not often found with other companies.

While new location growth has edged down slightly in recent years as long-tenure owners retire and resale locations become more available, Express remains one of the largest and best-known staffing franchise brands in the category. In staffing, scale matters as proof of trust. Employers return to partners they know, and job seekers tend to remember the brands that helped them land their next opportunity.

Financial performance has remained solid as well. Territories that have been open for more than two years continue to report strong average sales, supported by an industry that analysts expect to grow steadily over the next several years. Staffing may shift with the economy, but the need for flexible talent rarely goes away.

Ranking at the top of the Franchise 500 for another year reflects an industry built to last. The brand generates sustainable growth without new product rollouts or flashy marketing. Express maintains its #1 spot through a 40-year foundation of putting franchisees first. This stability offers owners a chance to create meaningful impact inside a scalable, resilient business.

Click here to learn more about Express Employment Professionals and their exciting franchise opportunities.