The US Expansion Playbook
How to test, establish and scale a recruitment business in America.
The US offers significant opportunities for recruitment businesses, but expanding into America comes with a different set of commercial, operational and compliance considerations.
This practical playbook covers the key decisions to consider before making the move, from testing demand and choosing your market to managing risk, capital, people and infrastructure.
Inside, you’ll discover:
An estimate drawn from our conversations with US recruitment operators, not a guaranteed outcome. Driven by higher markups, stronger margins and faster placement velocity.
Six decisions that shape whether US expansion works
Test, establish, scale
Start remotely and win your first clients before building infrastructure. Let traction dictate the investment, not ambition alone.
Pick your beachhead
America is enormous. Start with a niche you already understand, win there, and expand from strength.
Understand the risk
Worker classification, state-by-state rules, tax and ACA compliance sit with the employer. Know where the risks are.
People and capital
Who builds it, and how do you fund it? Your first hire and your working capital plan shape the whole operation.
Know when to evolve
What works at 10 contractors may not work at 100+. Build for the business you have, then evolve as you grow.
Lean on the ecosystem
Infrastructure, compliance, FX and recruitment finance specialists exist so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Learn from people who’ve done it
We’ve been unpacking the realities of US expansion with Agile Partnering through the RecWired Live series.
How to easily and profitably start and scale in the US
A practical look at the Test → Establish → Scale approach and how to enter America without betting the business.
Watch the LinkedIn LiveEOR to in-house: mind the gap
When does outsourcing stop making commercial sense — and what should you consider before bringing more of your US operation in-house?
Watch the LinkedIn Live
Getting to America is one thing.
Winning there is another.
The best US expansion strategy isn’t necessarily the fastest.