Episode 112 - 5 Costly Mistakes UK Staffing Firms Make in the US & Canada (And How to Avoid Them)

Thinking about expanding your UK staffing business into North America?

Don't move an inch until you hear this. In this episode of Talent Titans, Suky breaks down the top five mistakes UK and European recruitment agencies make when entering the US and Canadian markets...errors that can cost you thousands in fines, lost contracts, or worse: your business. From misjudging employment laws to underestimating tax burdens and cash flow traps, this episode is the ultimate guide in what not to do, and how to do it right with the help of partners like Ascen.

Whether you're already operating overseas or considering your first move, this episode will save you time, money, and major compliance headaches.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:39 Common Mistakes in North American Market Entry
01:16 Mistake 1: Right to Work Advertising Trap
03:46 Mistake 2: Multi-State Compliance Challenges
05:45 Mistake 3: Miscalculating Loaded Labor Costs
08:28 Mistake 4: The At-Will Employment Illusion
10:16 Mistake 5: Cashflow Death Spiral
13:01 Summary and Key Takeaways

Favorite Quote:

"Bill rate is vanity—loaded cost is sanity."

Suky

Check out more episodes of the Talent Titans Podcast:

Why Contingency Recruiting is Dying: https://youtu.be/BAE9lrl8z74

Master Niche Recruiting: https://youtu.be/RoRWQ5bwPm0

Connect with Suky:

Award-Winning Advisor & Industry Voice | Founder: Canadian Staffing Summit, Talent Titans, Recruitment Professionals Forum | Backing Bold Moves in Staffing, Tech & Investment — No Clickbait, Just Real Talk

Suky doesn't just observe the staffing industry — she helps shape it.

She's built platforms where the industry's most honest conversations happen:

🔹 Canadian Staffing Summit

🔹 Talent Titans Podcast

🔹 Recruitment Professionals Forum

For over two decades, Suky's helped recruitment businesses scale with integrity — from internal team builds to boardroom strategy. She works with agency leaders, tech innovators, and the investors backing the future of staffing.

But here's what Suky doesn't do: copy-paste playbooks, fluff-filled advice, or empty hype.

She believes in smart growth, real talk, and community over competition.

Her work sits at the intersection of:

People + Performance

Tech + Disruption

Strategy + Soul

Whether she's coaching founders, advising SaaS firms, or connecting those quietly rewriting the rules — one thing holds true:

Suky backs those who build.

www.eliteglobalrecruiters.com

Grab of a copy of "How to Launch a Staffing Agency: Plan to Profits in 90 Days or Less"

Talent Titans is sponsored by Ascen. Ascen is an employer of record that helps staffing and recruitment agencies hire employees compliantly throughout the US and Canada. Ascen's all-in-one, white-label platform handles onboarding, timesheets, payroll, benefits, insurance, invoicing, and funding so you can grow quickly in the US and Canada without worrying about back office and paperwork. Visit ascen.com to learn more.