Employing four million people across 42,638 businesses, the staffing industry has seen consistent growth over the past five years. Expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%, the industry is projected to be worth an impressive $260.1 billion in 2025. With such momentum on the horizon, the staffing industry has proven to be an appealing option for entrepreneurs.
However, starting a staffing agency business can feel a bit overwhelming when you go it alone. For Josephine Suryono, an immigrant and former engineer turned entrepreneur, franchising with AtWork offered the structure, support, and flexibility she needed to build something truly extraordinary.
Introducing Josephine Suryono
Originally from Surabaya, Indonesia, Josephine moved to the U.S. at just 18 years old. After pursuing an engineering degree from Oregon State University, she became a business analyst at HP and later went back to school for her MBA in marketing and finance.
In 2007, Josephine left her position at HP and opened two BounceU–a children’s indoor party and play franchise–locations. Both businesses performed well, but working seven days a week and during school holiday peak times proved to be challenging, especially with family still overseas in Indonesia. Realizing the need for something different, Josephine looked into the world of staffing.
Pivoting to Staffing: Why Franchising Made Sense
While still operating both BounceU locations, Josephine purchased her first staffing agency franchise with AtWork in 2017. Even though AtWork was a new name in Sacramento, Josephine accepted the challenge of building brand awareness in the market.
Only three years after signing on with AtWork, Josephine made the difficult decision to close her BounceU locations due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. But in many ways, the timing was right. After years of working nights and weekends with BounceU, Josephine was ready to build something that offered more scalability and better work-life balance. Her AtWork business checked those boxes. With a few solid years of experience using AtWork’s proven system and ongoing support, Josephine was able to channel her entrepreneurial drive into a business that supported her lifestyle, rather than dictated it.
Building a Top-Performing Staffing Business from Scratch
After spending months of her first year learning the staffing industry, she was able to put together a team that met her high standards. Surprisingly, this team was comprised of candidates that did not have previous staffing experience.
Focusing on relationships instead of volume, her agency did not just fill open job positions. Instead, they became consultants for their clients. Her team would dig deep into their clients’ cultures to make sure they fully understood all of their needs before making a placement.
That commitment has led to something rare in the staffing world: they have never lost a client. Today, her Roseville office is the No. 1 performing AtWork location in the country for both revenue and gross profit.
What AtWork Offers Franchise Owners
When determining how to choose a franchise, it is important to look at what the brand offers their franchisees. AtWork provides franchise partners with a comprehensive training program, ongoing accounting and field operations support, top-notch marketing tools, and a proven business model to ensure their system’s growth. This is the main difference between owning a franchise vs. an independent business. When partnering with a reputable franchise brand like AtWork, investors get access to more resources, unlike independent entrepreneurs who must figure everything out for themselves.
Get Started with Your Own Staffing Agency Franchise
Josephine Suryono’s journey proves that with the right mindset and franchise brand, it is possible to transition out of corporate life and into a thriving business that truly makes an impact. For those wondering how to start a staffing business with support, strategy, and scalability—AtWork delivers.
Get started with AtWork today and learn how a staffing agency franchise can help you build a business that is as rewarding as it is successful.
