Having set up Top-Consultant.com almost exactly 10 years ago to the day, there's tons of advice I could share. My main observations though would be:1) Setting up and selling a recruitment agency is a very tried and tested route. Firms are constantly being acquired and I know from business brokers in the sector (who often assume Top-Consultant is a recruitment agency) that sale valuations are typically 1-1.5 times current revenues. So build a recruitment firm to the size that it employs a dozen staff or more and you start to have a business that could be sold for a £seven-figure sum2) If you haven't worked in the sector before, I would recommend going to work for a recruitment agency for a year, both to learn the ropes and also to convince yourself that that type of business is for you. The first years in such a start-up will be tough with long hours and low earnings - and little scope to exit the business for any financial return. So once you've started there's no turning back. Hence time learning the ropes from others and not getting tied into something would be worthwhile in my view.3) The UKrecruiter forum (<a href=http://ukrecruiter.willco.com/forum/Forum/>http://ukrecruiter.willco.com/forum/Forum/</a>) is a good place to do your homework on the sector in terms of the likely fees you can earn, the placements it is realistic to make per member of staff, the salaries that your staff would expect to command, etc.4) Making yourself non-critical to the business I would say is one of the biggest keys to making it a saleable asset. All the while investors believe that you are key to the continued success of the business, there will be a reluctance to acquire the business without tying you in to a very significant earn-out period. So I would focus on building a business where leads are generated and pursued - and assignments completed - without you as the critical cog.Hope this helps - and all the best with your venture.Tony RestellTop-Consultant.com
