Seeking Advice for Launching My Own UK-Based IT Recruitment Agency
I’m gearing up to start my own recruitment agency in the IT sector this October and would love to hear any advice or insights from those who have made a similar leap. After three years of working in an agency and then taking a break to travel, I’ve decided to forge my own path rather than return to working for someone else.
In my previous role, I progressed to a principal consultant, successfully trained several staff members, and had a strong track record of bringing in new business. However, I found myself largely unsupported, essentially running my own mini-business within a larger organization with only basic training, equipment, and tools.
I’m looking for guidance on several aspects of starting my agency, particularly since I wasn’t involved in backend operations such as invoicing, CV formatting, umbrella companies, or managing job boards and CRMs.
Here are some specific questions I have:
- What steps did you take to make the transition to agency owner smoother?
- Are there any lessons or mistakes you wish you had known about before starting?
- Is there any funding or grants available for first-time business owners?
- Did you begin with just a laptop or desktop? How much should I budget for this?
- Did you enlist an accountant from the start?
- Which CRM did you choose, and what are the typical costs?
- Any tips for negotiating with job boards?
- What phone supplier do you use?
- Did you start your agency from home or lease an office space?
- How long did it take before you made your first placement?
- How soon did you hire your first employee?
I’m fortunate to have saved some money while traveling, but I aim to start as cost-effectively as possible, reinvesting any profits back into the business for future growth, including staffing, additional job boards, and improved CRM systems.
Thank you for taking the time to read this! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
