12 Recruitment and Staffing Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2023]

Updated: July 24th, 2023

Interested in starting a recruitment business in 2023?

We put together 12 of the best recruitment businesses you can start in today.

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other recruitment businesses to help you see what it really takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a freelancer platform

Freelancer platform is a place where people come with skills and services to offer and people come who need those skills and services. So we can say freelancer platforms are a marketplace for sellers and buyers of services and skills.

The freelancing industry is growing rapidly and it's becoming a popular career option for people who are "non-traditional" employees. The global Freelance Platforms market size is expected to reach $6.7B by the year 2025. While working on a full-time job, freelancers simultaneously work on a freelance career. The platforms available online help them to increase their business by attracting new clients.

With all of the businesses looking for help on their websites, it would be a good idea to start a freelancer platform. Freelance platforms do well because people have jobs that need to be done and businesses have the resources to pay for the job at hand.

How much you can make: $3,000 — $5,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 80 days (?)

2. Start an outsourcing business

Outsourcing is when a business obtains a product or a service from an outsider provider rather than building it in-house. Small companies outsource so they have enough time to attend to critical functions like production.

Many businesses are looking to outsource their non-core activities. Therefore, starting an outsourcing business in 2023 has never been more lucrative.

Start your outsourcing business, identify a niche, and develop a well-researched and complete business plan. Then, invest in the necessary equipment and technology to enable you to deliver services to the customers.

Depending on the nature of your business, you may need staff to help you with service delivery. Finally, when your business is up and running, start marketing and focus on delivering superior service to attract repeat customers.

How much you can make: $50,000 — $1,399,996/month

How long does it take to build: 140 days (?)

3. Start an user feedback app

How much you can make: $1,000 — $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 273 days (?)

4. Start a recruiting agency ($3.48M/year)

How much you can make: $100 — $320,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Sharon Koifman from Montreal, Quebec, Canada started DistantJob over 15 years ago, a recruiting agency.

  • Revenue: $290,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 26
  • Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Case Study

I started off by running and owning a hosting company called Empire Host. We had about 3K clients at the time support was run from two offices in India with nearly 30 employees.

We were also providing an outsourcing package. Our business solutions were really cheap and to be frank, our results were mediocre at best. Although the service was fine for any mom and pop shop or even an “any results will do” kind of company, we noticed that too often, people who run tech companies actually outsourced to companies such as ourselves even work that went into their core offering - because it was cheap.

At the time, what outsourcing really was, was an arbitrage business. But the concept that people would outsource big chunks of their business to a company that does not provide the same level of communication, process, quality control, and culture just because they’ll save a lot of money, that idea really stuck with me.

how-i-started-a-3m-year-remote-worker-recruitment-agency

Aren't you interested in starting a recruiting agency? Then check our article about all kind of agency business ideas.

4. Start a human resources consulting business

Human resources consulting is a growing field that helps businesses manage employees and improve overall HR practices. This business advises and supports companies on recruiting, training, employee relations, and compliance with HR laws and regulations.

To start human resources consulting business, you will need a strong background in HR and a good understanding of the needs of different types of businesses. You should also have excellent communication and problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and manage your own time.

In addition to your professional skills, you will also need some basic business essentials to get started. This includes creating a business plan, creating a website, and marketing your services to potential clients. You may also need to invest in basic business tools, such as a computer and office equipment.

Overall, running successful human resources consulting business requires professional expertise and strong business acumen. By offering valuable HR services to companies, you can help them improve employee satisfaction and productivity, ultimately leading to increased profits and success.

5. Start an elderly recruitment business

6. Start a recruiting software

How much you can make: $100/month

How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)

7. Start a job board

Starting a job board is the easiest way to make money online and have others work for you. This is one of the most underrated ways of creating an online business with no start-up costs. The global online job board market size was $28.68B in 2019 and is projected to reach $43.39B by 2027.

It's no secret that finding a job can be tough. In a time when we have to work harder for less money and resources, it's tempting to give up looking for work altogether. Thankfully, there is another option: starting your own job board.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $1,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $250 (?)

How long does it take to build: 70 days (?)

8. Become a security recruiter

A security recruiter is a business that helps companies find qualified candidates for security positions within their organization. This can include positions such as security guards, security managers, and security consultants.

To run this business, you will need a deep understanding of the security industry and the qualifications and skills required for various security positions. You will also need strong networking skills to connect with potential clients and candidates.

One of the benefits of running a security recruiter business is that there is a constant demand for qualified security professionals. Companies are always looking for ways to improve their security and are willing to pay for suitable candidates. Additionally, as a security recruiter, you have the opportunity to positively impact your candidates’ lives by helping them find fulfilling and lucrative careers in the security industry.

Overall, a security recruiter business is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs who are passionate about the security industry and want to help companies and individuals find the right security professionals for their needs.

9. Start an executive recruiter business

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

10. Start a hr and recruiting bots business

How much you can make: $1,020,000 — $1,816,666/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

11. Start an online recruiting automation business

Imagine a world where recruiting is as easy as clicking a button. An Online recruiting automation business can make this dream a reality.

This innovative business idea revolves around developing software that automates the hiring process, eliminating repetitive tasks and improving the efficiency of talent acquisition. By leveraging advanced technologies like AI and machine learning, the software can dramatically expedite candidate sourcing, screening, and communication processes.

The easy-to-understand nature of this business idea lends itself to an array of industries, from tech to healthcare and beyond. But convenience is not the only selling factor; with the rise of remote work and digital nomadism, an online recruiting automation business also caters to the flexibility needs of modern companies.

As the digital world continues to evolve, automation is no longer a luxury, but a critical business need. Starting an online recruiting automation business not only offers potential for financial success but also provides a practical service that can revolutionize industries.

How much you can make: $20,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $250 (?)

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

Pat Walls,  Founder of Starter Story
Want to find more ideas that make money?

Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.

Get our 5-minute email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

Starter Story
Unlock the secrets to 7-figure online businesses
Dive into our database of 4,418 case studies & join our community of thousands of successful founders.
Join thousands of founders