Connecting job seekers with employment opportunities is big business. The global staffing industry is estimated to be worth over $400 billion, and continues to experience steady growth year after year. With more people seeking flexible work arrangements and companies needing to fill both temporary and permanent positions, the demand for employment agencies is booming.
If you have a passion for helping people find meaningful work, starting an employment agency can be a fulfilling and financially rewarding entrepreneurial venture. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to get your own employment agency up and running.
What We Covered In This Article
Market Overview
Employment agencies, also known as staffing agencies or recruitment agencies, work to match available talent with open positions at client companies. This facilitates the hiring process for employers and helps job seekers find viable employment opportunities.
Some key facts about the thriving employment agency industry:
- The staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry makes a vital contribution to the U.S. economy while servicing businesses across virtually all industries. Staffing provided job and career opportunities for about 16 million employees per year pre-pandemic, with 13.6 million during the pandemic.
- On any given day, 2.1% of employed adults (3.1 million) are working in the staffing industry, with 63% being temporary employees, and 37% being contract workers.
- In the U.S., there are around 25,000 recruiting and staffing agencies, and the U.S. staffing industry has a market size of $151.8 billion.
- The staffing industry is a $174 billion industry and one of the fastest-growing industries in B2B services. There are over 20,000 staffing and recruiting companies in the U.S., operating over 39,000 offices combined. However, most of them are generating under $10 million in annual revenue, with approximately 100 companies surpassing over $100 million. There are approximately 15 publicly traded U.S. staffing companies.
With so many companies and workers relying on employment agencies to meet their respective needs, it is a highly profitable industry with immense growth potential.
Laying the Groundwork to Start Your Agency
If the prospect of launching your own agency appeals to you, the first step is laying the proper groundwork. Here are some key steps to take initially:
- Conduct market research – Analyze the existing agencies in your area, identifying unmet needs and opportunities to differentiate.
- Develop a business plan – Create a business plan detailing your operations, marketing, financial projections and funding needs.
- Choose a business structure – Will you be a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation? Decide based on legal and tax considerations.
- Select a business name – Choose a name reflecting your brand identity and register it appropriately.
- Secure funding – Seek funding through savings, loans, investors or business grants. Staffing agencies have low startup costs but need working capital.
- Obtain licenses and permits – Register your business, apply for an EIN, and comply with all state and local licensing requirements.
Following these steps will legally establish your agency so you can start operating.
Staffing Agency Licenses and Permits
To operate legally, an employment agency must obtain the necessary business licenses and permits. Key documents needed include:
- Business license – Register your business name and articles of incorporation if becoming a corporation.
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) – Obtain an EIN from the IRS to identify your business for tax purposes.
- State licenses – Many states require a specific employment agency license to operate. Research the licensing requirements in your state.
- Staffing certification – Obtain relevant staffing certifications from organizations like the American Staffing Association to bolster your credentials.
- Insurance – Carry general business insurance and specific policies like errors and omissions insurance.
- Office space permits – If locating your agency in a commercial space, comply with zoning regulations.
- Tax permits – Register for state and local taxes. Employment agencies need to charge sales tax on their services.
Handling all required registrations and documentation keeps your business operating within the law.
Key Operational Areas for Your Employment Agency
To place candidates into jobs, an employment agency must have certain essential elements in place. These include:
- Candidate sourcing – Market your agency to recruit a pool of qualified, interested candidates to represent. Leverage platforms like LinkedIn, attend job fairs and use your website as a portal for candidates to apply.
- Client outreach – Contact businesses in your area to build ongoing relationships. Meet their staffing needs by constantly providing suitable, pre-screened candidates.
- Screening process – Thoroughly vet both candidates and client job listings. Conduct interviews, verify backgrounds and ensure both sides are legitimate.
- Job matching – Get to know candidates to match them with jobs suiting their skills, experience and interests.
- Onboarding – Help negotiate job offers, explain employment terms and prepare candidates to succeed in their new roles.
- Ongoing support – Check in with clients and candidates after placements to address any issues and provide support.
With these pillars in place, you can attract talent and employers to facilitate fruitful job placements.
Choosing the Right Staffing Agency Software
A key operational investment is staffing agency software. This allows you to efficiently track candidates, post jobs, match openings and streamline communication. Choose software offering:
- Candidate database – Organize profiles, resumes, contact info and application materials from your candidate pool.
- Client database – Maintain details on employer clients including open positions, preferences and placement history.
- Matching technology – Automatically match qualified candidates to open client jobs using customized algorithms.
- Communication tools – Email, SMS and video interview features help engage potential hires and clients throughout the screening and placement process.
- Reporting – Generate status reports and metrics like time-to-fill to gain insights.
- Mobile access – Manage your agency on-the-go with iOS and Android apps.
Good staffing software can elevate your agency’s efficiency, organization and professionalism.
Effective Marketing Strategies for Employment Agencies
Promoting your services is crucial for attracting job seekers and employer clients. Some effective strategies include:
- Search engine optimization – Develop targeted content focused on relevant keywords to improve your search rankings and visibility.
- Pay-per-click ads – Run PPC ads to reach people when they search for terms like “employment agencies near me”.
- Social media – Leverage platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to share content and engage your audience.
- Targeted outreach – Contact companies through cold calling, emailing and visiting their offices to pitch your services. Attend networking events to connect with hiring managers.
- Strategic partnerships – Partner with related businesses like resume writers and interview coaches to expand your exposure. Offer referral incentives.
- Website and blog – Build out a modern, mobile-friendly website with helpful blog content to attract website visitors.
- Referrals – Provide incentives for existing candidates and clients to refer friends to your agency. This generates warm leads.
- Local ads – Place print or online ads in local newspapers and magazines to reach people in your geographic area.
Using varied techniques helps get your agency in front of both prospective employers and job seekers.
Pricing Models for Employment Agencies
An important aspect of running an employment agency is deciding how to charge for your services. Common pricing models include:
- Percentage fees – Charge a percentage of the candidate’s first year salary as your placement fee. Typical fees range from 15-30%.
- Retained Search – For high-level professional placements, charge a flat fee upfront to undertake a customized executive search. Fees range from $10,000-$100,000.
- Hourly bill rate – Bill clients an hourly rate based on the time you spend screening candidates and managing the hiring process.
- Temp-to-perm fees – Charge an upfront temp placement fee, then an additional permanent placement fee if the client hires the temp candidate long-term.
- Membership fees – Charge employers a monthly or annual membership fee to access your larger pool of pre-vetted candidates.
Choose an equitable pricing structure that covers your costs while remaining competitive. Be transparent about fees to both clients and candidates.
Keys to Running a Successful Agency
Some important tips for managing a thriving agency include:
- Specialize your services to focus on high-demand fields like healthcare, tech or accounting.
- Use time-tracking software and set productivity goals to work efficiently.
- Leverage social media, job boards and recruiting platforms to source strong candidates.
- Strengthen employer relationships by filling openings quickly and supporting new hires.
- Stay updated on labor laws and HR compliance issues around hiring.
- Join industry groups like the National Association of Personnel Services for support and credibility.
- Survey clients and candidates for feedback to constantly improve processes.
- Invest surplus income into better software, skilled team members and marketing campaigns.
By mastering operational logistics, providing exemplary service and adapting to industry changes, your employment agency can grow and prosper for years to come!
Get set, Go!
Starting a successful and rewarding employment agency is within reach if you lay the right groundwork. Conduct in-depth market research, craft a solid business plan, obtain licenses, secure funding and invest in the right software and infrastructure. Promote your services creatively to build up a strong talent pool and client base. Provide an exceptional experience by skillfully matching candidates to ideal jobs. Adhere to industry best practices around vetting, compliance and pricing. With passion, persistence and savvy business acumen, your agency can thrive while making a positive impact on people’s lives and careers. So get set to embark on this fulfilling entrepreneurial journey, and go positively transform the employment process in your community! The help that job seekers and employers need is exactly what your agency can provide.