Exhibit 99.1

1901 Ulmerton Road, Suite 300
Clearwater, Florida 33762-2317
(727) 299-1200
www.ablest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 3, 2005 SYMBOL:      AIH    
TRADED:     AMEX

ABLEST ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

     CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 3 — Ablest Inc. (Amex: AIH) today announced that revenue for the fiscal third quarter ended September 25, 2005, increased 16.6 percent to $34.9 million from revenue of $29.9 million in the fiscal third quarter of 2004. Net income was $367,000 or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to net income of $588,000 or $0.20 per diluted share for the similar period last year, reflecting a $290,000 pretax charge related to a settlement agreement with the company’s former chief financial officer.

     Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 increased 19.3 percent to $98.5 million from $82.5 million in the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. For the nine months ended September 25, 2005, the company reported net income of $1.2 million or $0.41 per diluted share compared to net income of $377,000 equal to $0.13 per diluted share for the first nine months of fiscal 2004.

     Kurt R. Moore, president and chief executive officer, said, “Ablest branches opened in 2004 and 2005 contributed over half of the $16 million year-to-date increase in revenue. Our associates’ hard work and commitment to the Ablest business model are creating results which allow us to move forward with our expansion plans.”

     Ablest Inc. provides its clients with staffing solutions, managed services and vendor-on-premise (VOP) programs. Staffing solutions include clerical, industrial and information technology personnel provided through Ablest Staffing Services and Ablest Technology Services. Ablest supplies more than 30,000 field employees and consultants to more than 3,500 businesses annually through 55 locations in the Eastern and Southwestern United States.

     Statements made in this news release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers should carefully review and consider disclosures, including periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect the Company’s business.

#####

Exhibit 99.1
PAGE 2 / ABLEST ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

ABLEST INC.
Condensed Statements of Income
(Amounts in thousands except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

	For the Thirteen Week				For the Thirty-nine Week
	Periods Ended				Periods Ended
	Sept 25, 2005		Sept. 26, 2004		Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004
Net service revenues	$	34,873	$	29,912	$	98,459		$	82,509
Cost of Services		29,107		24,838		81,974			69,182
Gross Profit		5,766		5,074		16,485			13,327
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,177		4,127		14,541			12,722
Operating income		589		947		1,944			605
Other:
Interest income, net		—		—		—			2
Miscellaneous, net		1		—		(2	)		1
Other income (loss)		1		—		(2	)		3
Income before income taxes		590		947		1,942			608
Income tax expense		223		359		737			231
Net income	$	367	$	588	$	1,205		$	377
Basic net income per common share	$	0.13	$	0.21	$	0.42		$	0.13
Diluted net income per common share	$	0.13	$	0.20	$	0.41		$	0.13
Weighted average number of common shares used in computing net income per common share
Basic		2,863,168		2,840,350		2,860,418			2,838,915
Diluted		2,930,644		2,926,233		2,922,079			2,917,838

MORE...

Exhibit 99.1

PAGE 3 / ABLEST ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

ABLEST INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands except share and per share amounts)

	September 25, 2005			December 26, 2004
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash	$	3,305		$	1,357
Accounts receivable, net		16,993			16,783
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		448			160
Current deferred tax asset		1,369			1,369
Total current assets		22,115			19,669
Property, plant and equipment, net		583			543
Deferred tax asset		2,506			3,208
Goodwill		1,283			1,283
Other assets		45			40
Total assets	$	26,532		$	24,743
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	639		$	378
Accrued insurance		1,924			3,069
Accrued wages		3,056			1,989
Other current liabilities		617			425
Total current liabilities		6,236			5,861
Other liabilities		209			117
Total liabilities		6,445			5,978
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock of $.05 par value; 500,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding at September 25, 2005 and December 26, 2004		—			—
Common stock of $.05 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized, 3,350,097 and 3,334,344 shares issued and outstanding including shares held in treasury at September 25, 2005 and December 26, 2004, respectively		168			167
Additional paid-in capital		5,288			5,172
Retained earnings		16,741			15,536
Treasury stock at cost; 457,729 shares held at September 25, 2005 and December 26, 2004		(2,110	)		(2,110	)
Total stockholders’ equity		20,087			18,765
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	26,532		$	24,743

#####

SOURCE:	Ablest Inc.
CONTACT:	Kurt R. Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer,
	727-299-1200 or kmoore@ablest.com/