Local Leader Transforms Wichita Falls Staffing Scene Through Spherion Franchise Ownership

Blog March 17, 2025 6 min to read

Brandon Cook, a proud Wichita Falls native, is no stranger to hard work and leadership. After spending over two decades as a corporate HR director in the manufacturing industry, Brandon recognized a consistent challenge across businesses—staffing. Driven by a passion for solving workforce issues and wanting to make a difference in his community, Brandon made the leap into entrepreneurship by becoming a Spherion Staffing and Recruiting franchise owner. His story is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset, research, and determination, transitioning from corporate life to business ownership is not only possible—it can be deeply rewarding.

Franchise Business Review had a chance to chat with Brandon about his journey to Spherion franchise ownership. Here’s Brandon’s story—in his own words.

What made you decide to look into purchasing a franchise?

During my time in corporate HR, I realized that staffing, in general, was a huge choke point for organizations. The frustrations of “subpar” staffing were always the topic of discussion. When the opportunity came to purchase an existing Spherion franchise, I knew it was a chance to partner with a great company but also change the conversation about staffing and make a difference. I’ve always loved staffing, so this was a perfect fit for me.

When researching the Spherion Staffing and Recruiting franchise, what criteria mattered to you most?

Owning a franchise had really never crossed my mind until I came across an opportunity with Spherion. Then, I started researching how franchises worked, how profitable they were, and what franchises were in my market. I did a lot of research on Spherion, making sure we aligned “mostly” on core issues, that they had a good reputation for being a great partner, and that they were known to give great support to their franchisees.

When researching franchises, I was most interested in tenure and reputation. I had certain values that were very important to me. Being able to talk through these things made it easier to make that decision.

Financing can be an obstacle or intimidating factor in this process. What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

Financing can be an obstacle for sure. If you’re thinking about owning a franchise, start making those preparations now. The last thing you want is a lack of financing and money to operate, which is what stands between you and an amazing opportunity. There are many options out there; do your research and get creative if you have to.

Which of your prior skills and experiences do you use when operating your Spherion franchise?

During my time in corporate HR, I was blessed to develop a unique set of skills. Having that experience of “sitting on the other side of the desk” allows me to truly sympathize with my customers and prospects and the challenges they face. It is a true conversation starter because they aren’t accustomed to having someone who understands their frustrations. Since my experience is in manufacturing, I feel extremely confident in understanding my customers’ needs as well as the type of employee they need to be successful. When I walk into a manufacturing plant, I immediately feel that I have an advantage over my competition.

When doing your research, which questions did you ask the franchisees?

Since my purchase was of an existing franchise, there were a lot of conversations. I was very curious about their customers, how long they had had them, and their current relationship with them. I spent a lot of time talking to the past franchise owner about Spherion. We discussed how it works, what to expect, and all the pros and cons. Nothing is perfect, but being able to talk through possible challenges really made the decision a lot easier. After nearly a year, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

Which questions did you ask Spherion Franchise Leadership?

I had never been a franchise owner in the past. So, this was new for me, and I had no idea how it all worked. Being able to have someone who was very transparent and available really helped me gain a quick understanding. It is intimidating when you first look at it, but as the process progressed, it became increasingly easier. I asked the Spherion franchise leadership team many questions, from contract questions to any limitations I might encounter.

What were your biggest challenges when launching your Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Franchise?

Starting out, especially over the first few months, you are flooded with training, information, systematic processes, and learning who to contact and how to contact them. This part was probably the hardest to get through. I wanted to hit the ground running but had to slow down to learn everything. They kept telling me you have to slow down to speed up. I get it now.

How does the Spherion franchise team support and encourage your success?

I have been really impressed with all of the support that Spherion offers. From their marketing team to support any questions that you might have. It has been really great. Probably the biggest help is my SVP, Juliet Hansen. She has been wonderful to work with, always available, and easy to talk problems through. She really is relatable which I find to be extremely helpful and a unique quality.

What are you most proud of and why?

The thing I’m probably most proud of is the fact that the team here all bought into the vision and challenge. This market was owned by the same franchise owner for the past 32 years. I have been very proud of this team’s ability to accept me and do what is necessary to be the best staffing partner in the area.

What advice would you give to potential franchise owners?

Do your research, ask lots of questions, and if you decide to move forward, be willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. You can’t be scared of rejection or hard work. If someone says no, you have to take it as not right now but maybe later and go back. Work on your leadership skills because your team will react to what you give them. Everything rises and falls on leadership.