When it comes to starting your own recruitment company, think niche. It’s nice!

Niche. Nice. I see what you did there. But what do you mean?

It’s a point, and thanks for saying it’s a nice one, that covers several factors.

Talk me through them.

Right. First off, the signs for the rest of 2017 point to the recruitment process getting quicker and quicker. Sought-after skills – there’s still a gap – will fuel that. Client companies want to find people – quickly.

So why is a niche so – nice?

Because specialist knowledge will empower you; by knowing your way around a specific industry or sector you’ll be able to deliver – quickly.

I see.

And there’s more. The client sectors are becoming more niche driven too – which means the more specialist knowledge you have – the more attractive you are to them. Think about the way finance, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture are all developing specialisms within themselves. They all now have their own analysts, I.T specialists and research facilities.

And every one of them is another target sector for a recruitment business.

That’s it! And it’s going to continue. The experts’ opinion is that niches thrive in parallel with major market sectors.

So – if I start a recruitment business it should be a specifically specialist recruitment business.

It’s not necessary to go quite that far. Spreading your net is no bad idea. Eggs and baskets…But, here’s the thing. If you’re the sort of person we’re looking to help, then specialist knowledge is definitely a factor.

You’re breaking up….I’m not sure I’m following this.

At The Recruit Venture Group we provide a complete package for start-up recruitment businesses. You get shares in, and dividends from, your own company. Backed with 100% funding you’ll also have access to our back office systems and support.

Sounds great. But the specialist thing?

The fact is that the people we find, as the best ones to support typically have about five years recruitment experience, and usually three of those years have been spent consecutively in a specific sector, running a desk or team. Sound like you?

It does actually. I know enough about the sector I’ve been working with to really have a go on my own. And my overall knowledge and experience mean I can more than hold my own in the wider market.

We rather like the sound of you!

Shares, dividends, my own business – it all sounds great. But I’ve got a mortgage to pay!

Get that. With our backing and support, you’ll be able to pay yourself a proper salary from day one. And that means you can concentrate on the business. Peace of mind is important.

So, put my experience in a niche to work, in my own business, at a time when there’s potential in niche markets. 

We really couldn’t have put that better ourselves!

How do we talk about this?

e mail us at info@recruitventures.com. We can talk about your niche.

Thinking of starting your own recruitment company?  You’re not going to let a little thing like an election stop you are you.

I really thought the ‘snap’ election story had been well and truly covered.

No question about that! And it’s not over yet. Sorry to raise it again, it’s just that things like elections and referendums sometimes become, to be frank, excuses for not getting on with things.

Be honest.  Things were uncertain enough anyway, and this makes life even more unpredictable. Doesn’t it?

So when was “life” not unpredictable? Ask the pollsters!

That is a good point about the pollsters, but surely this is a time for caution.

No more than any other. Look at it this way. All the parties are promising that life will be better, and there will be more jobs if they win. So, whoever wins there are great opportunities for recruitment companies just around the corner!

Do I detect a note of satire?

Possibly! But only a slight one. In all seriousness, times of political change are not necessarily bad for entrepreneurs. In fact, they can be good. Businesses have to adapt, shift their strategies and make decisions as a result of change, and that volatility creates opportunities.

So, you’re saying wait for an election or major event before starting a business?

No, that wasn’t the point. The message is, don’t let an election or major event put you off. If you’re ready to start – start now.

But surely the banks and financial institutions will put the brakes on. I’m bound to get the ‘We’ll get back to you after the election’ story or the version that goes  ‘Wwe’re not able to commit at this present time’.

That’s really rather shrewd of you. Yes. It could happen. But funnily enough, that’s precisely where we can help.

Do tell.

We’re not a bank.  We’re specialists in helping recruitment professionals start their own companies. At The Recruit Venture Group, we provide a complete package for start-up recruitment businesses. You get shares in, and dividends from, your own company.  Backed with 100% start-up funding you’ll also have access to our back office systems and support.

And you’re not concerned about the political changes?

We’re a successful business, so of course we’re tuned into current events. But our overriding concern is you. Do you have, for example, five years experience in recruitment? Have you specialised in a sector for three years or so? Do you have the drive and business plan to make this happen?

As it happens, I think I do!

Excellent.

But I have a lifestyle and tThe risk of starting on my own is a threat to that.

Our start up package is designed to help you get going, and get growing. With full financial backing to launch your business, plus the autonomy that comes with those shares and dividends, you can get on with what you do well. With our complete back office and support system you can do it better.  And best of all, with your business properly backed and launched you can pay yourself a real salary from day one – which means your lifestyle doesn’t have to change.  Except for the better!

How can we start the process?

E mail us at info@recruitventures.com or click on the link below and we’ll be happy to talk it through with you.

Running your own recruitment company is exciting and rewarding. But take care of yourself as well as the business.

Are we talking gym membership here?

Far be it from us to discourage you from maintaining physical fitness. It’s vital. But actually, we’re thinking more of your mental health.

That seems to be something of a hot topic right now.

It is. And we’re not jumping on any bandwagon. It’s something we’ve been paying attention to for some time.

Your concern is commendable. But, to be honest, mental health being an issue is hardly motivational, is it?

Not an unreasonable reaction. The fact is though that the recruitment business is not without stress. You know that. You’ve got a few years’ experience now, probably run your own sector specific desk for three years or so, and you’ve felt the pressure.

I won’t deny it. Finding clients, finding candidates, meeting targets….

Exactly. And suppose you were running your own recruitment business…

See, there’s that motivational thing again. You’re reminding me of the stress of being an employee, and presumably, it only gets worse if I start up on my own as an employer!

That’s the point we’re coming to. Starting up on your own is stressful. Or it can be. Finding premises, launching your brand, sorting out the I.T and systems – and that’s without organising the financial backing to get started. And all of that when you really want to concentrate on getting on with building the business and putting your ideas into practice….

Precisely! And after it’s launched – I’ve got to run the business. I’m not seeing reduced stress here.

Hold on there, The Recruit Venture Group let you run your business, without running the risk. And without the stress.  We’ll provide all the funding you need to start up, plus shares and dividends.  You’ll be supported enough to pay yourself a proper salary from the start; another worry sorted. And finance aside, we’ll provide a full back office and support system.

This sounds like a plan!

It does, doesn’t it? But the point is that after we’ve helped you get started we stay with you. So many of the things that worry and stress new business owners are outside the actual ‘job’. Taxation, legal issues, cash flow, invoicing. It’s those things that pile up and pile on the pressure. With our support, you can take care of the business, and take care of your mental health too.

A worry-free business! Brilliant!

Whoa! We can’t promise that there will never be worries. The fact is that if you’re not worrying a bit about it you’re probably not giving it your all. What’s important is that with our help you’ll have mentoring, support and back up to give you the freedom to work sensibly, and the peace of mind that can only lead to a healthy mind.

This does make sense. It’s actually removed some of the worries I had about setting up on my own anyway.

Good. Let’s talk. Email us at info@recruitventures.com

You are ready to set up your own recruitment business. But are you ready for the changes and the responsibility?

I think so. It will be a big change of course but….

That’s not actually what we meant…

Sorry? I thought you meant the change from employee to employer…

Well, yes, we do, but we were being rather more specific than that. We can come back to the whole setting up your business thing, but meantime we wanted to mention the changes in legislation you’ll need to keep up with.

We’ve been here before, haven’t we?

Yes. Quite recently actually. We were talking about compliance and the need to have legal advice on hand. But this is something else. Or at least another example of how things change and why you need to stay on top of it all.

Do tell… 

We were thinking about the way responsibility for IR 35 is changing, and how it affects recruitment businesses.

This is to do with being self-employed or something?

Sort of. Look, let’s not go into too much detail but in a nutshell, the government is changing some rules. IR 35 is a piece of legislation that covers tax, and from now on when a recruiter places a contractor with the public sector, the contractor no longer determines their own tax status.

And that means what to a recruiter?

To put it bluntly, a lot of paperwork and calculations.

Is that really too big a challenge?

Possibly not for a person of your calibre. It’s just that you could be responsible for calculating tax and NIC on gross incomes, as if the person is employed, after allowable expenses. Then there’s the probability that you’ll need to hold money and pay HMRC each month and report on the pay run. Oh, and assume responsibility for the accuracy of reporting. Just saying.

It sounds complicated.

It’s not straightforward. You see, it’s not a question of whether or not a contractor is caught by IR 35; that hasn’t changed.  What has changed is the responsibility for determining IR 35 status.

I thought you said we needn’t go into too much detail…

Fair point. We don’t. Not here anyway. What we’re talking about is the fact that legislation changes all the time. This is just one example. It’s about you as a recruitment business having the knowledge, skills, and expertise to be up to speed with it all; all of the time.

I’m sensing that you can help. Or do I mean I’m hoping that you can help?

We can. The Recruit Venture Group specialise in backing start-up recruitment businesses. Full initial funding is just part of the package. You’ll also receive shares in and dividends from, your own business. Plus you have access to a complete back office and support system.

Our backing means you’ll be able to pay yourself a salary from the get-go, so you’ll be able to maintain your lifestyle and concentrate on the business. And – we have legal and taxation experts you can call on for advice at any time.

I’m beginning to feel reassured.

Good as we are here to help.

Help is good. But this would be my own business I’m setting up, Right?

Absolutely. You run it. But you don’t run the risk. And with legislative changes, there can be risks over and above the usual ones of starting a company. The IR 35 issue for example. It could prove really demanding, not to mention time-consuming for a recruiter to make sure that every single public sector candidate placed is being taxed correctly. And getting it wrong could mean paying the bill!

See – now I’m getting worried again!

There’s no need. Look at it this way. You’re going to be running your own business, but with the backup and support to let you concentrate on just that. Running the business.

Ok. I’m excited again. How do I start talking to you?

Email us at info@recruitventures.com We’ll get you into business, and let you get on with the business.

Build your own recruitment business… or get hired to build someone else’s?

That sounds like a challenge!

It is. Actually, to be honest, we’ve slightly stolen that line. There’s a famous quote by Tony A Gaskin Junior, in which he says – “If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.”

Ah. I see what you mean.

Thought you would. It sums up the dilemma facing many recruitment consultants. People like you. You’ve notched up four or five years experience and probably built up three or more years knowledge in a specific sector. Now, somehow, you feel you could do it better if you were calling the shots.

Not to mention control my own future.

We like your thinking. That’s exactly it. You’ve got the know-how, the drive, and the passion, and you’ve started to think that maybe it would be more rewarding – in more ways than one – to run your own show and see your efforts properly rewarded.

I like your thinking too! But…

Yes, the ‘buts’. They do tend to stack up when you start planning, don’t they? The premises, the branding, the systems, the legalities of starting a business….

Yep. All of the above. But without sounding too mercenary about it there is also the question of money! Raising the capital to start is one thing, but I need to sustain my lifestyle when I shift from employee to employer….

This is good! It shows you’ve thought things through. But may we draw your attention to the point we made at the outset? “If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.”

I get that. I really do. But I’ve got to live! And what worries me is, well, the worries. How do I concentrate on building my business if I’m spending every waking minute worrying about how to pay my bills?

 You really have put some thought into this, haven’t you? Let’s try to put your mind at rest. Helping recruitment professionals start their own businesses is what we do. With zero financial risk, plus shares and dividends, you’re free to concentrate on starting up. With access to a full back office and support system, you’re operational from day one.

I hate to press the point, but that little detail of my lifestyle, and how I live?

The way we structure your business and support you means that you’ll be able to pay yourself a sensible salary from the start. That means you can really focus on what matters most – getting your business up, running and growing.

Sounds like the dream ticket.

Or perhaps the ticket to your dream. Remember  – “If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.”

Very good. See what you did there.  But doesn’t this really mean that you’ll be hiring me?

No! It means we’ll be investing in you. Backing you. But, because we understand recruitment we’ll be supporting you in a way that no bank or finance house can. We’ve developed a business model specifically to support recruitment professionals’ start their own businesses. It’s what we do.

Sorry! No offence intended!

None was taken. You sound like exactly the sort of experienced recruitment professional we like to work with. You should make a start.

How?

Stop dreaming about it. Email us at info@recruitventures.com and start building your dream today.

What? Are you saying there’s a law against starting my own recruitment business?

No, of course not. We’re just saying that running a recruitment business means staying up to speed with changes in legislation.

As in my responsibilities as an employer, tax, National Insurance – all those things.

Well, now you mention them, yes, but we were thinking more about…

Thought About The Law?

There’s more..?

Quite a bit more actually. We were thinking more (sorry!) about your responsibilities as a recruiter. The need to know everything about changes in employment law, so that you can guide and protect candidates and clients. Not to mention your own reputation.

I’d not given that much thought if I were honest, because….

…because working as an employee you had the luxury of a department that did all that stuff for you?

Frankly. Yes.

You won’t be the first recruitment consultant who’s thinking of going it alone to realise that!

That’s reassuring.

Good. It will be fine. The likely legal changes for  2017 are fairly numerous, though. Let’s see, there’s gender pay gap issues, the apprenticeship levy, lots of stuff on employing foreign workers, (hardly dare mention Brexit – but then nobody knows what’s going to happen anyway!), then there are national minimum wage changes, a bunch of things happening on data protection …..and let’s face it National Insurance is  a bit of a hot potato just now…..

Now hold on!

Yes?

How do I handle all of that – especially when I’ll still be getting used to the idea of running my own business? I’ll have a lot on my plate you know!

Kind of thought you’d worked that out already. Yes, you’re going to be busy. But that’s why we’re here. Recruit Ventures provides a complete package for start-up recruitment businesses. You get shares in, and dividends from, your own company. Backed with 100% funding you’ll also have access to our back office systems and support. You’ll be in a position to pay yourself a salary from the start, which means you can focus on the job.

Sounds great. But all this legal stuff?

We’ll help with that too. We’re here to not only help you start up, but to support and nurture you, so you grow. Keeping you up-to-date with legal and statutory information is all part of our package.

I think we need to talk. 

Excellent. Email us at info@recruitventures.com or complete our form and we call you right back.

Firstly though I must ask…

Do you have five years consecutive experience of working in the recruitment industry with no gaps and have you spent the last three years with the same employer within the same sector? Do you want to use this experience to set up your own business within this field?

All Yes…

Do it then. Start your own recruitment business. It’s not against the law!!