According to the British Franchise Association people who run their own businesses are almost twice as happy with their working lives as employees.

But working for yourself is not easy, and it's not for most people. The majority of businesses close not because they are wound up, but because the owner no longer considers the rewards worth the effort . So you need to ask yourself three searching questions:

• Are you suited to working for yourself?
• What do you want your business to do for you?
• Have you the right outlook to succeed with my format?

Are you suited to self-employment?

If you have never worked for yourself before then first take the self-employment on the right. It will give you a good idea of your suitability for self-employment. A score of less than 65 out of 100 means that you are unlikely to succeed with my format.

What do you want your business to do for you?

Most people would be happy to earn an average income in return for as little work as possible. This means that they will find it hard to cope with the repetition and frustrations inherent in my head-hunting process.

For the ambitious minority who really want a high income and the freedom it brings (and who can combine this desire with discipline, great interpersonal skills and a determination to work to the highest professional standards), my format offers the easiest route I know of.

Have you the right outlook to succeed with my format?

Success indicators

• Set meaningful objectives and be clear what life-goals you want head-hunting to deliver
• Work hard and never cut corners on the format, even when you think the assignment's in the bag
• Pay particular attention to understanding your client's requirements
• Stick ruthlessly to your time management and avoid unnecessary meetings
• Always communicate precisely, thoroughly and regularly
• Guard your integrity and reputation by treating clients and candidates with honesty and respect. Don't be seduced into bad practices by the exceptional profit potential of my head-hunting format
• Maintain excellent relationships with everyone you have contacted and constantly leverage additional opportunities with clients and candidates
• Realise that clients and candidates can be fickle and never take either for granted

Reasons people will fail

• What they really want from life is out of line with what head-hunting can give them
• They don't stick to the proven business format
• They are not prepared to work really hard when required
• They focus more on what the format can do for them, rather than what it can do for their clients and their candidates
• Their people skills are no more than average
• They are more inclined to tell rather than listen
• They find it hard to take knocks and rejection
• They say 'yes' to clients however much they privately disagree
• Their partner isn't fully behind them

Please note: I only coach a limited number of people whom I view as having real potential and I reserve the right to refuse to supply my services to anyone who, in my absolute discretion, does not possess this potential.

"Paul's thorough approach means that he really gets under the skin of what we want. I have used him many times over more than 5 years and every single candidate has been bang on brief. Impressive!" Tina Shah, HR Manager, Virgin Cars.

How I made my first £million

Paul Eyton-Jones, MD, Beechbrook Consulting

Click here to read my case study

Take the self-employment test

Click here to find out if self-employment is for you