Patrice and Associates Franchise

Patrice Rice opened the first Patrice & Associates agency in Dunkirk, Maryland, in 1989. The predecessor franchisor began offering agency franchises in 2008. The current franchisor, Patrice Franchising, LLC, was organized in August 2022 to acquire the franchise system and began offering franchises in December 2022. Its headquarters are in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Franchisees and their recruiters identify qualified candidates, develop employer relationships and manage placements through the P&A Database. Client contracts are signed and managed by the franchisor, which invoices clients, collects placement fees and distributes the franchisee’s share after applicable fees. The network can also share placements between franchisees who originate clients and those who source candidates. Approved services include permanent recruitment and certain contract or fixed-term placements, with the hiring client directly contracting with the individual for contract roles.

Home-office model and investment

Most agencies operate from a home office; a separate commercial office is optional. The estimated initial investment is $105,100 to $121,050, including a $65,000 franchise fee. Other initial amounts include owner training, executive recruiting training and certification, a local microsite, marketing materials and opening marketing. The estimate also provides for three months of additional funds. The work centers on recruiting activity and relationship development rather than a retail storefront.

Initial training is delivered virtually and offered monthly, allowing trainees to participate from home. The program includes 24.5 hours of classroom instruction and 26 hours of practical work. Topics include candidate sourcing and screening, the applicant-tracking system, job selection, client development, contact management, advertising, recruiting calls and role play. The Managing Owner must complete the required program successfully before the agency opens; managers and recruiters also receive the required training.

During the first 90 days of operation, a mentor provides one-to-one calls on business days. A franchisor representative also holds two group calls a week with new franchisees during the first six weeks. Executive recruiting requires a supplemental training and certification module covering client development, senior candidate sourcing and the placement process. The initial owner-training fee includes the mentoring program, while manager and recruiter training may carry separate fees.

Before opening, the franchisor supplies access to its operating manual, database and approved-supplier information and sets up a local microsite linked to the corporate website. Continuing support includes database maintenance, billing and collection services, marketing guidance and operational recommendations. Qualified owners can use the Proctor Program to train new recruiters themselves. Optional business-development instruction may cover recruiter hiring, client development, leadership and expansion.

Patrice & Associates gives a relationship-focused owner a recruiting business supported by shared systems and a structured launch program. The database, centralized contracts and collection services organize several administrative functions, while the owner concentrates on finding candidates, understanding employer needs and guiding placements. The home-office format also allows the business to be established without developing a consumer-facing retail location.

The opportunity is suited to someone who enjoys business development, consistent outreach and managing professional relationships. An approved Managing Owner retains responsibility for the agency and normally owns at least 51% of it. Daily operations require full-time supervision by that owner or a trained manager. For an owner prepared to lead that work, the combination of virtual instruction, early mentoring and a shared recruiting network provides a defined operating framework.

Read more in Patrice & Associates Franchise: Recruiting, Costs and Owner Duties.