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!!

Now Your Job Is On The Board,

How Are You Getting On With The Jobs On The Job Boards?

That has to be one of your more complicated opening lines!

Yes. It’s a bit tricky, isn’t it? Rather clever we thought.

Explain.

Wasn’t it immediately obvious then? Right. You start your own recruitment company so you’ll be the boss. You’ll be ‘on the board’.

With you so far.

Good. So now, running your own recruitment business it’s down to you actually advertise the roles your clients want you to fill. Let’s face it, it’s why you want to do this. It’s recruitment!

Well…

We sense a hesitation. There’s no problem is there?

No. Not really. It’s just that all of a sudden I see being the boss, ‘on the board’ involves setting up the business, finding premises, sorting staff, the branding ……there’s a lot to be done before I even get to the recruiting!

Sorry. This is rather worse than we thought. We’d assumed you’d worked that out already. Yes, there’s all of that to do. Anyway, moving on, there’s the question of sorting out your arrangements with the media….

Whoa. Hold on. The media?

Yes. The media. You know, the job boards, websites, local press, national press, radio….all those places you advertise jobs on. Come to think of it the job boards are really important now….

Can we go back a bit? What you’re saying is, establishing relationships with, and opening accounts with, job boards and the media is something else to load into the whole ‘start your own recruitment business’ checklist…

That’s rather nicely put actually. How can we answer it? Like this. Yes! And don’t forget ‘opening accounts with’ actually means ‘opening lines of credit with’, which isn’t always easy for a new business.

Hmm. ‘Opening up’ is starting to sound a bit less tempting than ‘staying put’.

Oh. Ok. If you want to ‘stay put’ as a recruitment consultant working for someone else, it’s up to you. But if you’ve got five years or so experience, maybe three of them in one specific sector, and you think you’ve got the drive to go it alone, why wouldn’t you take the leap?

Because of all that stuff to do! And I’d not even thought about the media bit!!

Right. Here’s the thing. At Recruit Ventures 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. You’ll be able to pay yourself a salary from the start, meaning you can maintain your lifestyle, and focus on the job.

All of that – and you help with the job boards and media?

Absolutely. We know the recruitment world – which now we mention it is more than your bank manager could claim if you were thinking of exploring other possible sources of finance.

No. No. Really. I think it’s you I need to talk to. How do I start that?

Email us at info@recruitventures.com or fill out our contact form.

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…Great!

Let’s talk. It would be nice to have you – on board!

Make You A Success In The Bedroom?

I’d like to think so – but where are you going with that question?

Grabbed your attention though didn’t it?

Agreed. Now, before we slide inexorably towards ‘Carry on Continue reading

You’re Not Going To Let The Recent Budget Stop You From Starting Your Own Recruitment Agency

You’re talking about new measures mentioned by the Chancellor that affect the self-employed, aren’t you?Continue reading

Thinking Of Starting Your Own Recruitment Business? You’re Almost A Quarter Of The Way There!

Am I? How do you calculate that?

Well, if you were thinking of starting your business this year, come the end of March, that’s this month, you’re a quarter of the way through the year.

You’re right. It’s end of quarter one!

Yes, it’s in perspective for you now isn’t it? Because let’s face it, even if you put aside your dreams for a moment, you’ve suddenly realised that you need to be making sure you’re on track for hitting the target for ‘end of quarter one’.

That’s the truth!

You’re used to it though, aren’t you? You usually do hit the numbers. You deliver.

I do! And that’s what started me thinking about starting up on my own.

We’ve come across similar views before. Many times actually. You’re running a desk, got people reporting to you, and you’ve built not only a track record but a reputation, especially in one or more sectors. And still, you’re chasing somebody else’s targets. So why not put all that effort into something that will give you better rewards, personal satisfaction and the chance to plan your own future.

A bit spooky! Have you been listening in on my ‘phone, or are you mind readers?

Neither. But we’re very experienced in helping people start up their own recruitment businesses, and we know just how strong that entrepreneurial spirit is out there among recruitment professionals.

Ok. I see where you’re coming from. But this – and ok it’s quite clever – ‘quarter of the way there’ thing. That’s not quite true, is it?

It could be. It depends on how much thinking and planning you’ve put in so far. Or was it just a New Year resolution ‘thing’. How’s is that gym membership going by the way?

Moving on. I have given this a lot of thought actually. Seems to me that even if I’ve got a quarter of the way there, that remaining three-quarters is a lot of stuff to get sorted.

Indeed! Let’s look at this way. You’ve gained the experience, got the knowledge and you’ve worked out that running your own show is something you really want to do. That self-starter entrepreneur within you has kicked in. We’ll say that’s about a quarter of the way to starting.

See my point?

Wait. Let’s say the other three-quarters is made up of finding financial backing, getting your branding and website sorted, finding premises, arranging for all the necessary furniture and hardware – and then organising software and systems. You can’t operate without the right systems being in place from day one.

Exactly. That’s the one heck of a 25% and 75% split, would you not agree?

We do.

And there’s another thing. That list – and frankly it’s scary – is not complete is it?

How so?

It doesn’t include the need for a regular income for me from the start. I need to maintain my lifestyle, meet my commitments.. my mortgage, bills…so I can get on with running, and grow, my new business.

You are so right. Is that what’s been holding you back?

Possibly…….

Right. Here’s the thing. At Recruit Ventures our start-up package is designed to help you get going, and get growing. With 100% financial backing to launch your business, plus the autonomy that comes with shares and dividends, you can get on with what you do well. Our secure, robust back office and support system allows you to do it better. And best of all, with the ability to pay yourself a salary from day one of launch, you can run your own recruitment business without running a risk.

Our secure, robust back office and support system allows you to do it better. And best of all, with the ability to pay yourself a salary from day one of launch, you can run your own recruitment business without running a risk.

Really?

Yes…

So what you’re saying is that even if a quarter of the year has gone, there’s no time like the present.

Couldn’t have put it better ourselves. You’ll need to sort those first quarter figures of course, but meantime, email us at info@recruitventures.com or fill in our form.

We waiting to talk to you…

If You’re Starting Your Own Recruitment Agency Providing Temporary Staff Could Be A Good Place To Start.

Really? Isn’t that a sure fire way to make my start up a temporary affair?

Far from it.

Continue reading

If You’re Thinking Of Starting Your Own Recruitment Business Gender Shouldn’t Be On The Agenda

This is an equal opportunities angle, right?
You could put it that way, but all we’re saying is that gender is not an issue in running a recruitment business, so don’t let it be an issue for you.

So you’re saying it’s a good time for women to start a recruitment business?

We think it’s a good time for anyone to start a recruitment business. That’s the point. Gender doesn’t matter.

But come on, recruitment, as a sector does have a bit of the ‘alpha male’ atmosphere around it, doesn’t it?

If we’re honest, there has been an element of that in the past. But we think it is in the past.

Can I draw your attention to The Lord Davies Report? I think you’ll find it claimed that just 12.5% of the FTSE 100 companies had female board members.

Ah. You’ve done some research. Very commendable. It did say that. In 2010.

And by 2013 a Recruitment International Report had found that just ’11% of women were at Board-level in the top 100 recruitment firms in the UK’.

Hmm. You do know your stuff. But consider this, right now about a third, 33%, of the heads of our joint venture partners, are women.

You really have moved on then.

Well, not really. Because for us it’s never been an issue. What we want is the right person.

Our agenda has always been about helping recruitment professionals whatever their gender to set up their own businesses.

When we meet with budding entrepreneurs, we look at their track record. We see how they have typically been running a busy desk or team; how they’ve acquired knowledge of a particular industry, and how well they know a specific geographical area. Gender never comes into it.

We listen to their business plans – we insist on that, as we want to make sure they are serious about running a business and consider how they might best operate. But what we don’t do is even think about gender.

Point taken.

Think about the key attributes you may need run your own recruitment business. They’re being highly organised, having the ability to multi-task, being able to listen – to candidates and clients alike – and have the drive to succeed. To have business acumen. To know the business.

These attributes we don’t see more in men than women or “Vica Versa”, Do you?

Certainly not. But, even if the gender gap is closing….

Excuse me – we’ve closed it.

Ok, accepted, but have you closed that, closely linked, pay gap?

The answer to that is really simple. Running a recruitment business, your own recruitment business, you’ll be paid, effectively, on results. So it’s about how hard you work, and how well you do it. There is no reason to believe that women would come off worst in that battle.

I get that.

Like we said. It’s about the person. At Recruit Ventures we’re all about helping recruitment professionals start their own businesses. We enable you to pay yourself a salary from the day you launch your business and receive regular shares and dividends. We give recruiters the freedom to concentrate on starting up and provide access to a secure and robust back office and support system that is unrivaled within the industry.
We’re in that business because we recognise the entrepreneurial spirit of recruitment professionals. We regularly support women and men in launching their own recruitment companies and we use talent and commitment as benchmarks. Gender isn’t up for discussion and with us, it doesn’t come into it.

I think you’ve made your point.

There is another point actually. Aside from gender, we don’t discriminate on the basis of a person’s race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

So it is equal opportunities.

It’s certainly about opportunities. If you’re a recruitment professional with the right experience and a sound business plan we’ll listen to you. We’re in the business of helping people start their own recruitment businesses. We don’t have separate scales for males and females but then again why would we?

There is only one type of person we’re looking for. The talented, experienced, driven, recruitment professional. Because they are the people who are best at starting up recruitment businesses. Their gender is not our agenda.

How do I start talking to you?

One email will start the ball rolling. email info@recruitventures.com or fill in our form.

I’ll put together an agenda.

Starting Your Own Recruitment Business It’s A Minefield

The ‘minefield’ we refer to is the ‘legal minefield’ you’ll face if you try when you plan to start a recruitment business on your own.

Start talking….

Ok. There are many terms …Sole Trader, Limited Company, Ordinary Partnership…….?

Pardon?

They’re just three of the ways of registering a business., Then you have to think about registering your business. HMRC will want to know. There’s the question of VAT whilst we’re talking HMRC…..

Stop with all the initials for a moment.

Confusing isn’t it?

Right. I need a tax expert and someone who knows about registering a business.

They would certainly be early and essential requirements. Next up you’ll need to make sure you’ve not infringed any copyright with the brand name you’ve chosen. You have chosen a brand name? And had it turned into a proper logo design, by a professional? Good. So now you need to get copyright law advice.

Keep it coming. Or is that it, as far as legal help is needed?

It’s not over yet! You need to check out your standing on Data Privacy Laws.

Data Privacy Laws? What?

Hmm, yes, this one often comes as a surprise to consultants starting up on their own. The fact is it’s been sort of looked after for you while you’ve been employed. To say you’ve taken it for granted is a bit harsh but…..

Alright. Point taken. Explain!

Recruiters have to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. You’re going to be handling confidential information every day – it goes with the territory. You have to guarantee that the information you have access to is:

Used fairly and lawfully
Used for limited, specifically-stated purposes
Used in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive
Accurate and where necessary, kept up to date.
Is that it?

No. You have to also guarantee that the information is

Not kept for any longer than is absolutely necessary
Handled according to people’s data protection rights
Kept safe and secure
Not transferred outside the European Economic Area without full and adequate protection.
I’m sensing there’s more to come….

Well, let’s leave Data Protection for a moment.

Have you sorted out any issues regarding ‘Non Competition’ and ‘Non Solicitation?

NO!!

You haven’t. Oh dear. Well If you’re leaving your job to set up on your own you’re probably hoping that some of your current clients are going to follow you.

Be careful.

You need expert legal guidance on your contract, and what it allows you to do, and not do. You could even find that there’s a clause preventing you from working in the same area for a certain period. It’s all worth checking out first don’t you think?

OK what next

Well…… there are a lot of insurance issues –

Liability for instance – for staff and public.
National Insurance of course, because you’ll be hiring staff, which takes us back to HMRC.
DBS – they used to be CRB – checks are essential if you’re working in certain sectors.
Employees’ rights, which affect you of course because not only will you be recruiting staff for clients, you’ll be hiring staff for yourself……
You’re right. It’s a minefield.

How do I get through it?

Actually, you don’t even have to step into it. We’ll do it all for you. Recruit Ventures offers 100% funding for starting up your own recruitment business, and so much more. It’s your company so you’ll have shares and dividends, but with our backing you’ll have zero financial risk and access to tried and tested back office systems and support.

And, essentially we provide full legal guidance. From registering your brand, through all of the tax, insurance and legal issues, we’ll be there for you.

Your help sounds a lot safer to me… How do I find you?

Just one e mail, and we could be talking. Avoid the legal minefield, by contacting us now at info@recruitventures.com or click here

It’s A Good Time To Start A Recruitment Business You Can Bank On It!

So why now is a good time.

A leading bank – we don’t name names – has published their research on entrepreneurship within in the UK and it seems we’ve as a nation become more entrepreneurial than ever!

Tell me more.

The report says that ‘The extent to which people perceive business opportunities in their region, and view entrepreneurship as a desirable career choice, are both at a significantly higher level now…’ And it’s been rising since 2011.

Got any more data?

Actually we do. Not only do more people see starting up on their own as a good move, the proportion of the population who see good opportunities to establish a business in their region has risen by 42.1%.

OK, so lots of people think it’s a good idea but why should I?

Three main reasons really.

Firstly, if the UK is increasingly full of new businesses, of all sizes, they’re going to be looking for staff aren’t they? We figure that means there are opportunities for recruitment businesses – just like the one you’re thinking of starting!

Secondly, the research would seem to indicate that starting up your own business is an increasingly viable, increasingly attractive and proven means of furthering your career and enhancing your lifestyle.

That’s quite a lot of reasons actually. I’m guessing the third one is it’s a good time to talk to that bank and sort the finance to launch my recruitment business.

Ah. That wasn’t quite where we were going with this. We’ve nothing against the banks. and yes you’ll need a business banking partner. But, is a bank the best place to go to arrange finance for a new recruitment business? We think possibly not.

There will be a lot of conditions with a business loan – if you can arrange one. And, to be frank, do the banks really understand recruitment? You’re experienced in the sector, so you know the oddities of cash flow that can impact on a consultancy. When you’re running your own business they can sting even more. Especially in the early days.

So what do you suggest?

Funny you should ask that as we have a suggestion. Recruit Ventures provides a complete package for start up recruitment businesses. You get shares in, and dividends from, your own company, plus the ability to pay yourself an salary from the day you launch. All that and your backed with 100% funding so there is no personal capital outlay and ALSO you’ll also have access to our back office systems and support.

I take your point. ..so total support, from people who know about recruitment.

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!

Can we talk about this please?

Certainly. Just e mail us at info@recruitventures.com

And you really do help? And you really do believe this is a good time to start?

You can bank on it!