Recruitment agency business plan template

Download this recruitment agency business plan template in PDF or Word format, or tailor it to your project directly in our business plan software.

Discover our recruitment agency business plan template

Our recruitment agency business plan template gives you the structure to write a professional plan

Not accustomed to writing business plans? Our recruitment agency business template will turn a typically challenging process into a total breeze.

Modelled on a complete business plan of a recruitment agency in Normandy, our template features both the financial forecast and the written part that presents the project, its team, the local market and the business strategy implemented by the management.

Cast your eyes on this template to achieve a better understanding of what your bank and investors would like to see, so that you can create a business plan that meets their expectations.

recruitment agency businesss plan template
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How to use this recruitment agency business plan template

Edit the recruitment agency business plan template online, or download it

There are 3 ways to use this template:

  • Edit it online: you can adapt this template to your business idea by changing the text or the financial forecast directly in our business planning software
  • Download in PDF: if you're just after a little inspiration, you can download the recruitment agency business plan template in PDF to read over it
  • Download in Word format: want to edit your plan on Word? Simply export the recruitment agency business plan template to Ms Word (.docx) format
online editor for recruitment agency business plan template

Recruitment agency business plan template content

This template includes a complete recruitment agency business plan example, with a financial forecast and the following sections:

  1. Executive summary: the executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea
  2. Company: this section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form
  3. Products and services: here, you'll give an overview of the services offered by your recruitment agency (express and classic recruitment services)
  4. Market analysis: the market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your recruitment agency through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)
  5. Strategy: this section highlights your recruitment agency's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way
  6. Operations: this step lays out your recruitment agency's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan
  7. Financial plan: the financial plan includes a table of sources & uses (initial funding plan), and complete financial statements (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statements)
  8. Appendices: this part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.)
cover page and table of contents for the recruitment agency business plan template by The Business Plan Shop
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Executive summary for a recruitment agency business plan

The executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea.

Our recruitment agency's executive summary is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Business overview: in this subsection, we outline who the recruitment agency founders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business, and the rationale behind the choice of their location
  2. Market overview: in this subsection, we summarize the conclusions of the market analysis performed by the recruitment agency's owners and explain what industries (hospitality) and business types (cafes, restaurants, hotels) they aim to target
  3. Financial highlights: in this subsection, we give an overview of the forecasted financial performance of the recruitment agency over the first 3 years of operation
  4. Our ask: in this subsection, we outline the amount of financing required to start the recruitment agency and how it's going to be funded (the founders are seeking a bank loan to start their recruitment agency)
executive summary for recruitment agency business plan sample

Company overview included in our recruitment agency business plan sample

This section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form.

Our recruitment agency business plan template's company section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Structure & Ownership: in this subsection, we outline who the recruitment agency's shareholders are and what legal form they've chosen for the business
  2. Location: in this subsection, we present the area surrounding the location chosen for the business and the layout and main features of the premises
  3. Management Team: in this subsection, we give an overview of the background of each of the recruitment agency's founders, explain how they met and why they decided to start a company together
company overview included in recruitment agency business plan template
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Products and services offered by the recruitment agency

The products and services section is where you will present the different types of services offered by your recruitment agency.

In our recruitment agency business plan template products and services section, we cover:

  • Express service: characterised by speed, this service aims to help hospitality businesses find skilled replacements last-minute (within 24 hours)
  • Classic service: a stock-standard service that helps hospitality businesses find skilled workers on a permanent basis
product and services description of the recruitment agency business plan example

Market analysis for the opening of the recruitment agency

The market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)

Our recruitment agency business plan example's market analysis section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Demographics and Segmentation: in this subsection, we explore the market in depth. We look at the supply and demand sides both at the national and local level, analyse the hot trends perceived by the founders, and the key statistics that will help the founders build their positioning
  2. Target market: in this subsection, our founders explain who they view as their ideal customers (our recruitment agency business plan template targets cafes, hotels and restaurants)
  3. Competition: in this subsection, we take a look at the direct (independent recruitment agencies nearby) and indirect (other ways of hiring staff) local competition to ensure we have a differentiated positioning and that the market is large enough to accommodate the arrival of a new recruitment agency
  4. Regulation: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main regulation applicable to our recruitment agency
market analysis section of the recruitment agency business plan template
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Setting the strategy for our recruitment agency

This section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way.

Our recruitment agency business plan template strategy section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Pricing: in this subsection, we explain how we set the prices of our main categories of services (express and classic recruitment) and the rationale behind our choice
  2. Marketing plan: in this subsection, we explain what action we'll put in place to build awareness and loyalty among our recruitment agency customers
  3. Milestones: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main goals we set for ourselves for the next 3 years
  4. Risks and Mittigants: in this subsection, we perform an assessment of the medium and long-term risks that could jeopardize the financial viability of our recruitment agency and outline how we intend to mitigate them
recruitment agency business plan example: strategy section

Operations section of the recruitment agency business plan template

This part lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan.

Our recruitment agency business plan operations section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Personnel plan: in this subsection, we explain what our opening hours will be and explain the responsibilities of each of staff member in our recruitment agency
  2. Key assets and IP: in this subsection, we list the assets and intellectual property rights which are critical to our business operations and explain how we will secure and protect each of these
  3. Suppliers: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main suppliers we will use our what commercial terms have been negotiated with them
recruitment agency business plan template: operations section
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Financial plan included in our recruitment agency business plan template

This section presents the expected financial performance of the recruitment agency over the next 3 years.

Our recruitment agency business plan example's financial plan is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Start-up funding: in this subsection, we list the cost of each item required to launch the recruitment agency
  2. Important assumptions: in this subsection, we explain the methodology and the main assumptions used to build the recruitment agency's financial forecast
  3. Sales forecast: in this subsection, we detail the expected revenues and growth rate for our recruitment agency in the coming years
  4. Cost structure: in this subsection, we list all the expenses required for our recruitment agency to operate smoothly
  5. Projected Profit & Loss statement: in this subsection, we analyse our forecasted P&L and comment on the expected profitability of our recruitment agency over the next 3 years
  6. Projected cash flow statement: in this subsection, we analyse the expected cash generation of the recruitment agency
  7. Projected balance sheet: in this section we give an analysis of the liquidity and solvability implied from our balance sheet
recruitment agency business plan forecasted P&L

Appendices of the recruitment agency business plan template

This part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

Our recruitment agency business plan template's appendices include:

  1. A maturity profile chart showing the principal repayments of their loans over the next 3 years
  2. A monthly cash flow forecast: showing how much cash is being generated or consumed each month over the first 3 years of operations
recruitment agency business plan template: monthly cash flow forecast

Recruitment agency business plan template sample

Executive Summary

Business Overview

Cavine Recruit will be a recruitment agency specialising in the hospitality sector.

Our primary aim is to help cafés, hotels and restaurants in and around Caen's city centre hire "last minute" temporary staff.

We will also help those hospitality businesses find qualified personnel who are willing to join them on a permanent contract. 

Cavine Recruit will be a limited liability company, managed by Catherine V. and Vincent A. with a share capital of €5,000.

Our offices, located at 34 Quai de la Londe in Caen, are walking distance from the Vaugueux (an area where most of the restaurants in Caen are located). This is ideal for increasing our visibility.

Both managers have known each other for over a decade. Together they have 20 years' experience in hotel and restaurant recruitment. They decided to start their own recruitment agency together to combine their skills and passion.

Market Overview

National Market

The recruitment agency market in France

According to the 2016 Prism'Emploi report, there are 7,257 recruitment and temporary employment agencies in France. The market was valued at €17.7 billion (turnover) that year.

46% of recruitment agency clients are SMEs and recruitment agencies generated €147.7 million of turnover in 2016.

Market leaders in the interim and recruitment agency market include Adecco, Randstad, Manpower and Hays Recruitment. Despite their dominance, many independent and niche firms remain competitive in the market.

When it comes to sectors where a specific profile is desired, companies tend to favour headhunters or independent recruitment agencies specialising in that industry to find the perfect candidate.

Mandates entrusted to independent recruitment agencies are mainly fixed-term and permanent contracts.

How recruitment firms find staff:

  • Professional directories
  • Approaching profiles on social networks such as LinkedIn
  • Advertising on their website
  • Advertising on third-party sites such as Reed or Indeed
  • Other internet-based methods

According to the 2017 report by the Ministry of Labour, 34% of companies use recruitment intermediaries to recruit employees. This process has a success rate of 15%.

It's not only companies that use recruitment agencies. They have become an ideal springboard for those seeking employment. APEC estimates that 128,159 young executives and graduates used recruitment agencies to find jobs in 2018.

Local Market

The 2018 Calvados Tourism Observatory report estimates that both the City of Caen and its surroundings are prevalent in the hotel sector - accounting for 49% of all hotels and 34% of overnight stays in the county of Calvados.

It's also estimated that 41% of tourist revenue in Normandy in 2016 came from hotels, cafés and restaurants.

According to the FAFIH, there were 9,300 businesses, 12,500 seasonal workers during the summer and 2,900 in winter in Normandy in 2018. 90% of hospitality companies were also micro-enterprises.

The sector mainly consists of:

  • Traditional catering (49%)
  • Hotels (22%)
  • Catering services (15%)
  • Others (14%)

A tool set up by Carif Oref Normandie, which deals with training and employment, identifies staff shortages in terms of supply versus demand. Caen lags behind in this aspect in both the hotel and catering sectors.

53% of the recruitment projects recorded in 2018 were assessed as difficult, and 55% were destined to be seasonal jobs.

Financial Highlights

We expect to be profitable in our first year of activity with sales of €95,775 and an EBITDA of €6,056 (with a 6.32% margin) for year 1.

We expect to be able to continue to grow our business to reach €105,375 in sales and €13,572 in EBITDA (with a 12.88% margin) by year 3.

Cash generation should be positive over the duration of the plan.

The business should be sufficiently capitalised to enable us to meet our loan repayments while retaining sufficient headroom to deal with unforeseen circumstances.

Our Ask

We estimate that we need a total of €30,000 to open our recruitment agency.

Our partner will contribute €20,000 (67% of the total amount).

We would like to obtain a bank loan of €10,000 to complete the financing.

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Recruitment Agency Business Plan Template FAQ

What is a recruitment agency business plan and do I need one?

A recruitment agency business plan is a written document that sets out the commercial, operational and financial objectives of the company over the next 3 to 5 years.

It consists of two main parts:

  • A written part that presents, in detail, your recruitment agency business, the team, your strategy, and your medium-term objectives.
  • A financial forecast that highlights the expected profitability of the recruitment agency and the initial funding requirements.

The lack of business planning is one of the main reasons why more than 50% of startups fail within 5 years. If you're starting a recruitment agency, writing a business plan is a must-have in order to reduce the risk of failure of your project.

Business plans are also required by most lenders and investors in order to secure financing, therefore a business plan is also highly recommended if you're seeking a loan or equity investment for your recruitment agency.

How do I write a business plan for a recruitment agency and is it difficult?

Writing a recruitment agency business plan without The Business Plan Shop can be both error-prone and time-consuming - whether you're new to entrepreneurship or experienced:

  • You'll need to research the structure of a business plan, what to include in each section, and what key elements investors and lenders expect to see
  • You may encounter writer's block (especially if it's the first time you're writing a business plan for your recruitment agency)
  • You'll need to create a financial forecast on a spreadsheet which requires a solid understanding of accounting and financial modelling in order to be done without error
  • You'll need to spend hours formatting financial data on Excel or Sheets before it's ready to integrate into your business plan
  • Any updates to your recruitment agency business plan or financial forecast will need to be done manually

Luckily for you, The Business Plan Shop's online platform and recruitment agency business plan template guide you through every stage of writing a business plan, so that you can spend more time managing and growing your business instead.

Our editor follows a best-in-class structure for professional business plans. Each section and subsection includes examples and instructions to help you, while our business plan templates provide further inspiration if you're stuck.

Our financial forecasting software helps you create a forecast and integrate it into your business plan with ease. Anytime you update your data, your business plan automatically updates.

And with our forecasting software all the calculations are done for you, without errors.

What is the budget for a recruitment agency and how much does it cost to get started?

The budget to start and run a recruitment agency will depend on the exact concept and location.

An online recruitment agency that does not have physical offices would probably have much lower startup costs than one that isn't fully remote. This is because staffing costs, rent and other overheads would be minimal or non-existant. Hiring a specialist website designer would also increase startup costs considerably.

As an example, in our recruitment agency business plan template the total initial funding requirement amounted to €30,000, with the founders contributing €20,000.

In order to assess the exact budget for your recruitment agency idea, you need to do a financial forecast using a financial projection tool such as the one we offer.

Is The Business Plan Shop the best recruitment agency business plan template for me?

The package we offer at The Business Plan Shop goes way beyond a simple blank template you need to fill. With our platform you get:

  • Access to one of the best business plan software on the market
  • Access to our recruitment agency business plan template which contains a complete example of a written business plan and financial forecast to start a recruitment agency
  • Access to our entire business plan templates library - giving you dozens of examples to take inspiration from
  • Access to our financial planning and analysis platform so that you can track the actual performance of your business against what you had planned in your business plan and re-plan easily

But you shouldn't take our word for it: try our solution for free and make your own opinion!

How does the free trial of The Business Plan Shop work?

The free trial enables you to try the software for free during 7 days in order to verify that it meets your requirements before buying.

Some features are limited during the free trial, the main limits are:

  • You can only create one business plan
  • The financials of the first year are visible, but data for other years are hidden
  • You can export your plan in PDF but not in Word or CSV
  • No access to our business plan templates

You can create your account and start your free trial here.

How much does The Business Plan Shop’s recruitment agency business plan template cost?

Access to our template is included with all our paid subscriptions.

Please visit our pricing page to learn about this in more detail.

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