Why I started the Key Appointments Franchise

Despite the many ‘influencers’ claiming you can make £100k a week from your sun lounger, running a business is hard, especially in a competitive industry like recruitment.

I’d been in recruitment for thirteen years when I decided to start my own recruitment business in 2009. Having lived in Yorkshire for seven years, I’d built up some good connections, and I was ready to go it alone. 

I’d be doing what I already knew how to do, only I’d be doing it for myself. How hard could it be?

Turns out it was way harder than I could have imagined. 

And lonely too. 

Of course, I had support from friends and family, but non-business owners never really understand the challenges. Not completely. They don’t know what it’s like living with the anxiety of not knowing what you’ll be making from one month to the next. 

Those first few years were tough – just as I felt like I was making progress, there’d be something new I’d need to contend with. It was two steps forward, one step back. 

There were times I felt like quitting. 

Fortunately, through a lot of trial and error, several costly mistakes, and a fair few tears, I managed to build a successful recruitment business. 

The key is to get robust back-office systems and effective processes in place. But doing all that while still trying to be a fee-earning consultant isn’t easy. 

Technology and legislation are constantly evolving, making it difficult to keep up. And juggling candidates and clients while also trying to do marketing, admin, finance, and everything that comes with running a business can negatively impact your revenue. 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If I’d known in those early years what I know now, there are a few things I’d have done differently and lots of things I’d have done sooner. 

And that’s why I decided to set up the Key Appointments Franchise.

A ready-made business

Like many people, I had a lot of time to reflect during the various lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. 

I thought about when I started out, what I’d learnt along the way, and where I wanted to take the business next. 

I realised there were probably loads of experienced recruiters out there who were ready to ‘go it alone’. Maybe the pandemic had made them realise they wanted more control and flexibility, or perhaps they unexpectedly found themselves between jobs. 

Whatever their reasons, I knew I could use my knowledge and experience to help them. But I didn’t want to simply offer training and mentoring services. I wanted to take away the headache of setting up and managing back-office systems, so they could concentrate on building their business and earning money. 

With a franchise, I can do both. I can provide franchisees with a ready-made business that allows them to hit the ground running. And I can support them by providing ongoing training and mentoring so they can achieve in three months what would otherwise take three years.

The Vision

I want to build a team of top recruiters. A team of people who care about delivering quality service and building long-lasting relationships with clients.

Of course, I want to make money from the business – I’ve got a mortgage to pay too. But I’m not greedy. I’m not just selling franchises all over the place to anyone with a pulse and an interest in recruitment. 

That’s why I’m not offering a traditional franchise model where I charge a massive fee each year, then leave you to get on with it. I’ve set the franchise up so that I earn as you earn. I’m as invested in your success as you are. 

Unlike many recruitment agencies, Key Appointments doesn’t work on a salary-based fee. We offer flat-fee recruitment and flexible packages. 

Our focus is on providing clients with the support they need, so we offer everything from low-cost, fixed fee packages to executive search and selection services. That said, the majority of our work falls somewhere in between. 

As a franchisee, you have flexibility in the work you do. You can focus on a specific sector or geographical area. 

I’m a big advocate of collaboration, so there will be regular team meetings where franchisees can bounce ideas off each other, share knowledge and cross-refer. 

Plus, taking a holiday won’t be an impossible task like it is for so many business owners. You can take time off, safe in the knowledge your business won’t go up in flames. 

About me

I’ve worked in recruitment for coming up to three decades, and I love it. But there’s a lot of things about the industry I don’t like. 

I don’t like sneaky tactics, unethical working practices, or the cut-throat mentality employed by some of the less scrupulous agencies.   

It sounds cliché, but I do genuinely care about the people I work with, whether that’s candidates, clients, suppliers, referral partners, employees or franchisees. That’s why I don’t want to let just anyone represent the brand I have worked so hard to build.

My business is a huge part of my life, but that doesn’t mean I’m one of these business owners who live and breathe work. It’s important to take time away to do the stuff you enjoy – for me, that includes travelling, gardening and cooking.

Right now, I’m really excited to be on this new franchise journey. I can’t wait to help other ethical recruiters achieve their dream of running their own successful business. 

Are you ready to work for yourself?

If you’ve got more than five years experience in the recruitment industry and are considering the idea of setting up your own recruitment business, let’s talk. I can’t guarantee it will be right for you or that you’ll be right for us, but you’ll never know until you connect.

You can request more information about the Key Appointments Franchise here or book a call with me for a friendly chat