Atwork vs Express Employment Professionals
Atwork vs Express Employment Professionals: Atwork costs $156K to $213K to open; Express Employment Professionals costs $132K to $213K. Atwork has 90 units, Express Employment Professionals has 96. SBA loan history: Atwork = 11 loans (0.0% default); Express Employment Professionals = 112 loans (0.9% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Atwork vs Express Employment Professionals: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Express Employment Professionals requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($132K vs $156K for Atwork), a 18% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Atwork versus $40K for Express Employment Professionals. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Atwork and 8.6% for Express Employment Professionals, giving Atwork the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Express Employment Professionals operates 96 units to Atwork's 90.
SBA Lending Profile
Express Employment Professionals has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 112 7(a) approvals compared with 11 for Atwork.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Atwork and 0.9% for Express Employment Professionals, Atwork has the cleaner SBA loss record by 0.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 60 (Moderate) for Atwork and 79 (Strong) for Express Employment Professionals, giving Express Employment Professionals the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 60/100 | 79/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 11 | 112 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.9% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $156K to $213K | $132K to $213K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 8.6% |
Ad Fund | 0.5% | 0.6% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $250K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 90 | 96 |
Franchised Units | 84 | 96 |
Company Owned | 6 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1983 |
Franchising Since | 1992 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 34 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Knoxville, TN | Oklahoma City, OK |
Category | Employment Placement Agencies | Employment Placement Agencies |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Atwork or Express Employment Professionals?
Lower upfront capital required
Express Employment Professionals
Atwork: $156K starting · Express Employment Professionals: $132K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Express Employment Professionals
Atwork: 11 SBA loans · Express Employment Professionals: 112 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Atwork
Atwork: 0.0% · Express Employment Professionals: 0.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Express Employment Professionals
Atwork: 90 units · Express Employment Professionals: 96 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Atwork
Atwork: 7% · Express Employment Professionals: 8.6%
More lender financing options
Express Employment Professionals
Atwork: 6 unique lenders · Express Employment Professionals: 55 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
Need Funding for Atwork or Express Employment Professionals?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Atwork vs Express Employment Professionals: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Atwork and Express Employment Professionals is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $132K to $213K.
Atwork has 11 SBA loans on record and Express Employment Professionals has 112. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Atwork vs Express Employment Professionals, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Atwork or Express Employment Professionals?
How much does a Atwork franchise cost compared to Express Employment Professionals?
Can I finance Atwork or Express Employment Professionals with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Atwork or Express Employment Professionals?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman