Thinking of Starting a Recruitment Company? There’s a lot of noise out there telling recruiters to “just go solo.” We get it. You’ve spent years making someone else money, you’ve got a solid client base, and the idea of being your own boss is becoming harder to ignore.
But before you order business cards and set up a LinkedIn post announcing your launch, it’s worth asking: is recruitment agency ownership actually the right move for you?
Because here’s the thing, not everyone’s cut out for it. And that’s OK.
We’ve seen what works, and more importantly, what doesn’t. So let’s talk about the types of recruiters who thrive when they go it alone — and the ones who might want to hold off.
If you’re pulling in strong numbers month after month and not just once in a blue moon, you’ve got the proof that you can deliver. Starting your own agency doesn’t magically generate results; it just means you’ll be taking home more of what you already know how to bring in.
And if you’ve built a loyal client base that trusts you, you’re not starting from scratch; you’re starting from leverage.
Running your own shop means no more arbitrary KPIs, no more being micromanaged, and no more commission splits that feel like daylight robbery. Sounds dreamy, right?
But freedom comes with a price: you’ll need discipline. No one’s checking if you’ve done your BD hours. No one’s going to chase you to update your CRM. You are the process now.
If that excites you, you’re in the right mindset.
New agency life isn’t all signing fees and champagne. It might be a few months before your first invoice lands and even longer before it gets paid.
The recruiters who ride out this storm either have savings, part-time consulting gigs, or a partner who’s happy to carry the bills for a while. (Shoutout to the real MVPs.)
Go in cash-strapped and under pressure, and you’ll be chasing quick wins instead of building something sustainable.
We’ll say it louder for the people at the back: starting an agency is not the easy option.
Yes, you’ll eventually have more control over your time and income. But in the early days, you’ll wear every hat; recruiter, marketer, finance manager, IT support, customer success… and maybe even office cleaner.
If you’re leaving your job because you want a break, this isn’t it.
If your recruitment career has mostly involved warm clients handed to you on a silver platter, that’s not a problem, until you try to go solo.
Agency ownership requires BD confidence. You’ll need to prospect, pitch, negotiate, and close deals on your own steam. If that makes you break into a cold sweat, it’s worth working on before you leap.
Look, we all want to earn more. That’s fair. But if your only driver is making bank, you’re going to struggle when things get tough (and they will).
Recruiters who build long-term success care about more than their bank balance. They care about reputation, candidate experience, client outcomes, and building something meaningful.
If it’s just about cash, your business will likely burn out before you do.
Here’s the honest truth with starting a recruitment company: most recruiters could, but not all of them should.
If you’ve got the track record, mindset, and motivation, amazing. There’s never been more support, tech, and community to help you build your own brand (shameless plug: we can help with that). Tech such as Giig Hire and communities like the TEAM Network are a good start.
But if you’re not there yet? No shame. Stick it out, level up, and build towards it properly.
Because when you are ready, you’ll know. And you’ll thank yourself for waiting.
