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Recruitment agency: Should I use percentage points or percentage growth?

Estimate the contribution change from a conversion improvement scenario.

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Recruitment agency / placement economics
Answer

Moving from 20% to 25% is a five percentage-point improvement. Apply the difference in rates to the same lead count.

Try this with your own numbers

Formula and worked example

Net change = leads × (new close rate − old close rate) × contribution − extra cost

Example figures
InputExample
Qualified leads per month100
Current close rate20 %
Scenario close rate25 %
Contribution per sale400
Extra monthly follow-up cost500
Calculated result1,500 per month

Choose reliable inputs

Account for delivery time, review work and when you expect to be paid for each engagement. For this recruitment agency calculation, use time sheets, engagement scopes and invoice ageing and a consistent definition of one placement.

  • Sourcing: include the portion belonging to this placement or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
  • Screening: include the portion belonging to this placement or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
  • Account management: include the portion belonging to this placement or reporting period, and record where the value came from.

Use the same currency for every money input. Do not mix weekly costs with monthly revenue, or count the same expense in both an itemised cost and allocated overhead.

Should I use percentage points or percentage growth?

Moving from 20% to 25% is a five percentage-point improvement. Apply the difference in rates to the same lead count.

Rate improvement must be measured or explicitly treated as a scenario.

Compare a different assumption

What if this input changes?

If qualified leads per month rises by 10%, this example changes by 200 per month. This shows the effect of one change; it does not predict what will happen.

Open the calculator, save your baseline, then change the input supported by the least reliable estimate in your records. Compare both scenarios before committing to a price or capacity promise.

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