Starting a Recruitment Business - the Basics

by
Before we get into the details, lets get this straight. Recruitment is not all about “getting people jobs” and “helping people in their careers”.
Don’t get me wrong - that is important, however those are simply the end results of lots of work, customer service (and most importantly) sales and business development.
Commercial Recruitment is hard work. Therefore if you are considering starting a recruitment business - going it alone so to speak, it would be ideal if you have already had strong previous recruitment and management experience, or if not,that you are prepared to learn, and learn by your mistakes as you go along.
With this in mind, here are a few pointers (a checklist some might say) to help you along the way, to see if you are still a ‘candidate’ for this type of self employed role!
Market Research
Some of the basics you will need to consider are:
- Where you are planning to start your recruitment Agency.
- What are the demographics of your ‘area’ in terms of population, skillset, and business type.
- What type of industry is key to your local economy and what types of big business exist.
- Research trade directories, newspapers, and existing recruitment agencies. What type of roles are advertised and what type of positions do those recruitment agencies typically recruit for?
- How many recruitment agencies are based in your ‘area’ and what do type of recruitment do they specialise in.
- Pop into potential rival or competitor agencies as a ‘candidate’ and research how they work, how they serve you and what you are expected to do.
- Pricing - how much do other recruitment agencies charge - what do they include in their terms of business?
Planning and Development
Based on all of the above, what can you offer that will mean you have a viable and profitable recruitment business?
- Have you written a business plan?
- Do you want to go it alone or set up with a co-founder? Or even employ other staff from the start?
- Will you be a specialist or a generalist agency? Will you deal with temporary recruitment, permanent recruitment or both?
- Is there a need for your service on top of what already exists or what can you offer that you will do better or differently?
- How will you find your ‘candidates’?
- What will your website do?
- What will your call your business?
- How will you advertise and market your business?
- Pricing - how much will you charge?
- Will you work from home or have a proper office? If you are opting for an office - will it be based on a high street or does location not matter?
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
WeWALK, RNIB, and ICL consortium secures UKRI funding to improve mobility for visually impaired and elderly.

The impact of standards, ethics and conduct on business success and profits - Work.Life has some interesting insights...

The lowdown on Space32 - the startup that wants to help hybrid-working businesses find the working space and solution that's right for them.

Global Tech for Good initiative seeks innovative startups and scaleups that are creating positive social impact and enhancing people's lives through tech.

The lowdown on Bidnamic, the startup that's combining advance machine learning with human expertise to help retailers to maximise revenue and profitability from Google Shopping.

Innovative Czech fintech startup 4Trans raises investment to expand first of its type AI driven factoring services across Europe.

Edinburgh-based life science company Cytomos secures funding to support further development of its innovative cell analysis tech.

Ethical Equity and Streets Consulting join forces to deliver Founder Workshop to help close the inequality gap in startup to scaleup funding.

Fancy being featured in this year’s SmallBiz100, which showcases the best of Britain’s vibrant small business community? There's just a couple of days left to do just that!

Screenloop secures major investment to support further development of its AI-driven recruitment platform that helps companies build the best teams and removes unconscious bias.
Published on: 23rd April 2013
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Assistive technology innovators and partners awarded £1.7m project funding 1st Jul 2022 WeWALK, RNIB, and ICL consortium secures UKRI funding to improve mobility for visually impaired and elderly.
- How the pandemic affected each industry 27th Jun 2022 New research from School of Marketing reveals the impact that Covid-19 has had on key business sectors in the UK.
- The Finalists of DBACE 2022 are revealed 21st Jun 2022 The lowdown on the innovative young visionaries that are in the running for this year's Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs.
- OKAPI: Orbits raises €5.5m for Breakthrough Space Traffic Management Software 13th Jun 2022 Innovative German SaaS startup OKAPI:Orbits secures investment to support its mission of securing efficient and safe operations in space.