To answer the question of why businesses use temp agencies, many of them do so to save costs of recruiting. Also, it is somewhat cheaper to use temps than carry people on payroll. My spouse runs a temp service and that is one of her selling points. There are many hidden costs beyond payroll and benefits that are saved by using temps, i.e. SUI/FUI and so on. Costs for recruiting are often neglected when companies look for employees as well as the staff costs of dedicating someone to the effort. I doubt if restaurants have a full-time employee on board to do the recruiting, which becomes a full-time effort in a start up situation.