Spherion Staffing vs AtWork:

Franchise Opportunity Comparison

Compare Spherion Staffing vs AtWork franchising opportunities to make an informed business investment.

Choosing the right franchise network is one of the most important decisions you will make as an entrepreneur. While both Spherion and AtWork (sometimes stylized as "@Work") operate within the essential $200+ billion staffing and recruiting industry, the way Spherion supports our franchise owners, builds local presence, and backs our business owners sets us apart.

Here is how a Spherion franchise opportunity compares to AtWork.

Basic Facts Comparison

Feature

Spherion Staffing

AtWork

Year Founded

1946

1986

Year Franchising Began

1956

1992

Headquarters

Atlanta, Georgia

Knoxville, Tennessee

President/CEO

Kathy George (President)

John D. Hall (CEO)

Number of Locations

180+ locations

100+ locations

Initial Franchise Fee

$34,745 to $65,025 

$40,000 - $60,000

Total Investment Range

$132,980 - $301,040 

$159,000 - $236,000

Royalty Fees

Split/commission model based on gross profit

7% of gross sales

Marketing Fee

0.25% of gross receipts

0.5% of gross sales

Term of Agreement

10 years

10 years

Renewal Term

10 years

10 years

Google Rating

4.9/5 stars

Varies by location (franchise-dependent)

Indeed Rating

3.7/5 stars (based on 4,491 reviews)

3.7/5 stars (based on 471 reviews)
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9 Steps to Become a Spherion Franchise Owner

As America’s most-awarded staffing company, Spherion brings 80 years of staffing leadership to your local market. Backed by Randstad, the world's leading specialized talent organization, our franchise owners enjoy deep brand recognition paired with a collaborative franchise community. 94% of Spherion franchise owners agree that fellow franchise owners are supportive of each other, and 100% agree that fellow franchisees support the brand.  

Spherion offers a streamlined 9-step process for becoming part of our franchise community. The first step is one you have already taken: showing a strong interest in becoming your own boss! Click the button below to see the entire process and to contact our franchise team about your next steps.

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Spherion vs. AtWork Capabilities

Compare the Spherion Staffing difference with Express Employment's franchise offering.

Spherion Staffing Advantages

  • Heritage and Stability: 80 years in business with nearly 70 years of franchising experience demonstrates long-term viability
  • Strong Brand Recognition: Backed by Randstad, the world's largest HR services company, providing substantial resources and stability
  • Diverse portfolio: Franchisees sell temp, temp-to-hire, direct hire, and managed workforce solutions to local, regional, and national accounts.
  • Exceptional Support: 380+ hours of comprehensive training, with 98% of franchisees recommending the opportunity to others
  • High Franchisee Satisfaction: 4.9/5 Google rating and consistently ranked as a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review
  • Back Office Support: Corporate handles payroll, billing, technology, and compliance, allowing franchisees to focus on sales and growth
  • Strong Financial Performance: Average sales of $5.6 million with $1.2 million gross profit per location (2024 data)
  • Lower Royalty Structure: Split/commission model may result in more favorable economics compared to percentage-based fees
  • Collaborative Culture: Diverse, tight-knit franchisee community of ~80 franchise owners fosters strong relationships and knowledge sharing
  • Industry Recognition: Ranked #68 on Entrepreneur's 2025 Franchise 500 and recognized by Forbes as Best Recruiting Firm
  • Veteran and Minority Discounts: 25% discount on franchise fees for qualified veterans and industry professionals

AtWork Advantages

  • Flexible Ownership Models: Two franchise ownership tiers: the Personnel model and the Professional model. The Professional tier is a remote, home-based setup with lower overhead than a general staffing model
  • Low Initial Capital Entry Point: Depending on the business model selected, franchisees pay $95,000 to $115,000 total initial investment.
  • Low Net Worth Threshold: AtWork accepts candidates with a minimum net worth starting at $250,000.
  • Built-in In-House Payroll and Back-Office Processing: Like Spherion, AtWork provides full centralized payroll funding, tax filing, garnishment management, and client payment processing.
  • Specialized Multi-Vertical Focus Areas: Franchise owners can operate across four primary service categories under one umbrella, making it simple to pivot between general labor and specialized home-care/medical staffing.
  • Streamlined Onboarding Timeline: A condensed Launch Camp and pre-launch training week accompanied by a single week of on-site field support offers a quick path to opening.
  • Established Industry Presence: More than 40 years of operating history in the staffing space.
  • Low Initial Staffing Requirement: AtWork's remote/professional concept can be operated with minimal to no additional internal headcount initially, allowing a single franchise owner to launch and generate cash flow before hiring additional recruiters.
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The Bottom Line

Both Spherion Staffing and AtWork Franchising offer compelling franchise opportunities in the robust staffing industry. Spherion stands out for its longer history, superior franchisee satisfaction ratings, distinction as America's #1 staffing franchise brand, and backing by global HR leader Randstad. Spherion requires a higher initial investment, but the dividends that pays in coporate support and ongoing training are worth the investment.

AtWork offers a lower entry cost, a highly-ranked staffing franchise, and an extensive network of 860+ locations. However, the franchise model's quality variance and technology limitations present notable concerns.

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Start Your Franchise Journey with Spherion Staffing

Be a part of a nationwide network of successful franchise owners who combine Spherion's 75-year legacy and proven business model with the power of local to build thriving staffing businesses.

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