12 Recruitment and Staffing Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2025]
Interested in starting a recruitment business in 2025?
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: $1,000 — $5,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $6,100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 95 days (?)
CloudDevs, a tech talent platform that sources and vets freelance tech talent and matches them with companies, has achieved $1 million in GMV in its first year, plans to achieve 100% growth year on year, and focuses on customer loyalty through its Net Promoter Score metric.
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 2025 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 (?)
This case study follows the founder of SupportNinja, a company that specializes in providing back-office and customer support outsourcing for tech companies, which generates over $9M ARR, has over 100 clients, and has seen a growth rate of 3,684% in the past 3 years.
3. Start an user feedback app
Imagine having direct insight into customer needs and preferences at your fingertips. That's the power of a user feedback app. This business idea revolves around creating a platform that solicits, organizes, and analyzes customer feedback in real time.
By developing an app that integrates seamlessly with websites, mobile apps, and even email campaigns, you can help businesses gather valuable insights without disrupting the user experience. This tool could provide companies with actionable data to improve their products, services, and overall customer satisfaction.
Setting up this business requires technical know-how—app development, data analysis, and user experience design are key components. But the payoff is huge: tapping into what customers actually want, which translates to better business decisions and a stronger market position. This idea offers the potential for recurring revenue through subscription models, making it a solid option for a sustainable business.
How much you can make: $100 — $150,000/month
How long does it take to build: 165 days (?)
Page Flows is a library of inspiration videos for digital product designers and makes about $4,500 per month in revenue from a small, one-off price, with slow and steady growth and long-tail keyword SEO as key drivers of success.
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 about 17 years ago, a recruiting agency.
- Revenue: $290,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 26
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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.
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.
How much you can make: $2,000,000/month
Movo's innovative real-time workforce management platform, led by CEO Jason Raddison, has leveraged a founder-led sales approach and strategic pilots to transform workforce scheduling, achieving a $24 million annual revenue through adaptable solutions that address industry-specific challenges, all while bootstrapping early development without external investment.
5. Start an elderly recruitment business
6. Start a recruiting software
Companies often face various challenges during the hiring process, from managing resumes to scheduling interviews.
To help tackle these problems, recruiting software can be an effective solution by automating many of the tasks involved.
If you’re looking to start a recruiting software business, it’s important to identify the specific pain points in the hiring process that your software can address. For instance, you may focus on resume parsing or candidate tracking, among other tasks.
To ensure that your software is user-friendly and efficient, it’s crucial to develop a robust algorithm that can match candidates to job requirements with ease.
Finally, market your solution to businesses and highlight its time and cost-saving benefits. By streamlining the hiring process, your recruiting software can help companies find the best candidates in less time and with less effort.
How much you can make: $100 — $19,000/month
How long does it take to build: 361 days (?)
Vettted, a marketplace for pre-vetted marketers to outsource digital marketing efforts, has launched and has over 65 sellers and 287 users so far, with the goal of providing a platform for talent to keep 100% of their earnings.
7. Start a job board
Starting a job board can be a lucrative way to make money online with little to 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 today's job market, it can be tempting to give up on job hunting, but here's another option: start your own job board.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $1,500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $375 (?)
How long does it take to build: 70 days (?)
Loopcv is a job search automation platform experiencing 15% monthly growth, offering solutions for bootcamps, universities, career coaches, developers, recruitment companies, job boards, affiliates, and companies looking to perform internal restructuring.
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.
How much you can make: $500,000/month
Safe Hiring Solutions, a security technology company that provides comprehensive background checks for schools, ministries, volunteer organizations, and corporations has more than 7,000 clients and has been included on the Inc 5000 list the past five years, with a number 16 ranking for the fastest-growing private company in the Indianapolis region by the Indianapolis Business Journal.
9. Start an executive recruiter business
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
10. Start a hr and recruiting bots business
Streamline human resources and recruitment processes with HR and recruiting bots. This business involves creating AI-driven software that automates tasks like resume screening, interview scheduling, and candidate communication.
The software uses advanced algorithms to analyze and shortlist candidates, reducing the administrative burden on HR departments. Additionally, these bots can provide a more consistent and unbiased review of applicants, ensuring a fair hiring process.
Start by developing a basic prototype with common features and then expand based on client feedback. Marketing your solution to small and mid-sized businesses that lack extensive HR resources could be particularly effective.
If you have a background in technology and an interest in human resources, this business idea offers a promising opportunity to innovate in a rapidly growing field.
How much you can make: $7,000 — $1,020,000/month
How long does it take to build: 227 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of Jessica Miller-Merrell, a top 50 social media influencer according to Forbes, who founded Workology, a workplace HR resource that reaches half a million HR and recruiting leaders each month with 8,000+ published articles and resources, generating $12M in annual revenue, offering on-demand courses for HR certification and career development, providing Ace the HR Exam, Upskill HR, and HRCI recertification courses, and developing a proprietary learning system with LEARN by Workology, which has trained nearly 15,000 HR leaders.
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: $5,138 — $583,333/month
How long does it take to build: 257 days (?)
A 24-year-old entrepreneur from Botswana founded iBranch Recruiters, which has already recorded over 90,000 users and has helped 1,600 users get employed since launching in 2020, using technology and artificial intelligence to connect graduates across Africa to employers globally.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
