Home-Based niche recruiter

Small and medium-sized employers who need staff but have no HR team or time to advertise and interview.

A placement fee, usually a percentage of the new employee's first-year salary, paid once the candidate starts and stays through any agreed rebate period.

• Knowing your chosen sector well
• Good at talking to people and building trust
• Organised, with careful follow-up
• Comfortable with cold calling and negotiating

• Employment agencies must follow the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, so check the current rules on gov.uk
• Data protection: check whether you need to register with the ICO and how to store candidate data under UK GDPR
• Income can be uneven, as you are usually only paid when a placement succeeds
• Check whether you need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender to run a business from home
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance are worth checking

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on how you set up. Working from home keeps overheads low, but it is worth checking what insurance and tools you will need before you begin.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically ranges from £0 to £6,000, depending on how many placements you make. Income can be uneven, because you are usually only paid when a placement succeeds, so plan for quiet months.

Check the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations on gov.uk, and whether you need to register with the ICO under UK GDPR. Also check landlord or mortgage lender permission for home business use, and professional indemnity and public liability insurance.