Celebrating 40 Years of Access Capital: Our Beginning and the Vision That Still Drives Us

40 Years of Partnership and Purpose

Access Capital was founded in 1986, but the story really begins a year earlier with a question:

What if entrepreneurs had a financial partner who truly understood what it takes to build something from the ground up?

At the time, many business owners, especially in emerging and fast-moving industries like staffing, were underserved by traditional lenders. They weren't looking for rigid terms or transactional relationships. They were looking for someone who could see the bigger picture.

As we celebrate 40 years of Access Capital, we're not just marking a milestone. We're honoring a vision rooted in partnership, flexibility, and belief in the entrepreneur. A vision that continues to guide every relationship we build today.

The Beginning: Built by Entrepreneurs, for Entrepreneurs

In 1985, before Access Capital officially opened its doors, Miles and Marcie Stuchin sat down to write a business plan that would challenge the status quo.

This wasn't about creating another lending institution. It was about building something fundamentally different.

They envisioned a company that would:

• Listen before it structured

• Understand before it underwrote

• Partner instead of dictate

At a time when access to capital often came with limitations and red tape, they saw an opportunity to do things differently. To create a firm where entrepreneurs felt supported, not constrained.

That vision became Access Capital.

And from day one, it set the tone for everything that followed.

A Founding Philosophy: For the Life of Your Company

"For the Life of Your Company" is more than a tagline. It's a commitment.

It reflects a belief that businesses are not static. They evolve, face challenges, seize opportunities, and grow in ways that can't always be predicted.

From early-stage growth to expansion, acquisition, and beyond, Access Capital was built to support companies at every phase, not just at a single moment in time.

It also speaks to something deeper.

The life of a company isn't just measured in years. It's measured in:

• The strength of its relationships

• The resilience of its leadership

• The impact it creates in its industry

That's what Access Capital set out to support in 1986. And it's what we continue to champion today.

Why Staffing Companies Needed a Different Kind of Lender

In staffing, timing is everything.

Firms are responsible for meeting payroll every week, sometimes every day, while client payments may not arrive for 30, 60, or even 90 days.

That gap creates constant pressure.

Growth only amplifies it. More placements mean more payroll. More payroll means more capital required upfront.

For many staffing companies, success doesn't reduce financial strain. It increases it.

Access Capital recognized this dynamic early on.

By designing payroll funding and asset-based lending solutions specifically for staffing firms, we aligned our model with the realities of the industry. Not a generic approach, but one built around how staffing businesses actually operate.

That focus has remained a cornerstone of our success for four decades.

How the Staffing Industry Has Evolved Since 1986

How the Staffing Industry Has Evolved Since 1986

When Access Capital was founded, the staffing industry looked very different.

Processes were manual. Growth was often regional. Technology played a limited role in how firms operated and scaled.

Today, the landscape has transformed.

Staffing companies now operate in a world defined by:

• Digital platforms and applicant tracking systems

• AI-driven recruiting and candidate matching

• National and global talent networks

• Increasing demand for speed, specialization, and scalability

With these advancements comes opportunity, but also complexity.

Firms are expected to move faster, scale quicker, and deliver higher levels of service, all while managing tighter margins and ongoing cash flow demands.

Despite these changes, one challenge has remained constant:

The need to fund payroll ahead of customer payments.

That's why the role of a specialized financial partner is just as critical today as it was 40 years ago, if not more.

More Than Capital: A Partnership Approach

What sets Access Capital apart isn't just what we provide. It's how we show up.

From the beginning, the goal was never to be a transactional lender. It was to be a true partner in growth.

That means:

• Taking the time to understand each client's business and their strategic goals, not just their numbers

• Structuring a financial solution that evolves as the business grows

• Being available when consultation is requested and decisions need to be made quickly

It also means thinking beyond the immediate need.

Because real partnership isn't about solving one problem. It's about helping clients navigate what comes next.

We've worked with staffing firms at all stages, from early growth to large-scale expansion, helping them navigate periods of rapid hiring, new market entry, and operational complexity.

In many cases, companies that started with modest funding needs have grown into multi-million-dollar enterprises.

That's the power of having the right financial partner in place.

Honoring the Legacy of Our Founder

As we reflect on 40 years, we also reflect on the vision of our founder, Miles Stuchin.

He believed that finance should do more than support businesses. It should empower them.

That relationships matter as much as results.

That understanding a client's journey is just as important as evaluating their numbers.

Even after his passing in 2020, his philosophy remains deeply embedded in the way Access Capital operates.

It lives on in how we serve our clients, how we approach challenges, and how we think about long-term success.

Why This Matters Today More Than Ever

The staffing industry is entering a new era.

Technology is accelerating. AI is reshaping workflows. Clients expect faster results and greater flexibility. At the same time, firms are navigating talent shortages, economic shifts, and increasing competition.

All of this creates one common thread:

Pressure to grow; quickly and efficiently.

But growth in staffing is capital-intensive.

Each new placement requires upfront payroll. Each new client adds to working capital demands. Without the right financial structure in place, even successful firms can find themselves constrained.

That's where the right partner makes a difference.

What Hasn't Changed in 40 Years

The tools have evolved. The industry has changed. But at Access Capital, the foundation remains the same.

• A deep commitment to the staffing industry

• A belief in entrepreneurial growth

• A focus on long-term relationships

• A flexible, solutions-driven approach

These principles are not tied to a specific moment in time. They are designed to endure.

And they continue to guide how we serve our clients every day.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter Starts Now

Celebrating 40 years of Access Capital is not just about looking back. It's about looking forward.

The next generation of staffing companies will face new challenges:

• Rapid technological advancement

• Shifting workforce expectations

• Increased pressure to scale efficiently

But they will also have new opportunities.

To innovate.
To expand.
To redefine what growth looks like.

What won't change is the need for a financial partner who understands the journey.

That is where Access Capital will continue to focus.

Supporting growth.
Enabling opportunity.
Helping companies Reach Higher.

Built on Purpose, Driven by Partnership

Forty years ago, Access Capital was built on a belief that entrepreneurs deserve more than capital. They deserve a partner who understands the journey.

That belief has stood the test of time.

As we look ahead, the tools may evolve. The industry will continue to change. But the foundation remains the same.

A commitment to helping staffing companies grow, adapt, and succeed.

Not just for today.
Not just for the next milestone.

But For the Life of Your Company.

Continuing the Journey with Access Capital

If you're building, scaling, or planning what's next for your staffing firm, Access Capital is here to support you.

Explore our solutions or connect with our team to learn how we can help you reach your next milestone.