Lots of people talk about leaving at their leaving drinks. Rachel and Kris went and did it, and they did it together.
Going into business with a friend is a big decision. I worked with both of them back in my corporate days. A year ago they left to set up Empowr HR, an HR consultancy which, in their words, is “HR with personality.” On the latest episode of Complicated Conversations, we talked about what starting a business with a friend looks like in real life. The leap, the roles, the disagreements (or lack of them), and the lessons they’re taking into year two.
Everything on the podcast sits under one of four pillars: growth, people, brand or structure. This one is all about growth.
Leaving corporate to start a business with a friend
Rachel was ready to go. She wanted a challenge she had more control over, and she’d committed to starting a business on her own if she had to. But she knew she and Kris would be great together. So she sat down with him (technically her boss at the time) and told him straight.
“Look, I’m going to go. But in an ideal world, I’d love you to come, and I think we could smash it if we joined forces.”
Kris had never planned to run his own business. He needed a couple of months to work out the financials and whether he was comfortable with the risk. Choosing Rach as a business partner, he said, was “a bit of a no-brainer.”
I love that. The partnership was never the question. The timing and the money were. That’s a very honest way to make a big decision.
For Rachel, imposter syndrome came before they left. She questioned every day whether they could do it. What helped was the number of people around her saying, “Why would you not? We’re here to support you.”
Empowr HR helps business owners, directors and managers solve their HR problems. Kris and Rachel came into HR through a non-traditional route, so their advice is business-led, pragmatic and commercial. Kris put it simply. They ask the owner, “What do you want to happen?” Then they get them there in the safest possible way and explain the risks along the way. When you’re an SME making quick decisions, that’s exactly the kind of HR support you need.
I can’t leave this out. Launch day was delayed because Kris was on a stag do in Krakow and lost his phone. Rachel found out he was safe through a LinkedIn message from a stranger using Kris’s account. Relieved first, then cross. “It was like having a third child,” she said.
Kris has no regrets. “Have fun, right? That’s the main thing.
The first six months in business: nine clients in month one
They thought they’d have time to build the back office first. Templates, documents, branding, networking. Instead they had nine clients in their first month in business and were heading towards 30 within six months. Onboarding a new client is the most time-heavy part of their work, because the first few weeks are about getting policies up to date. So they were straight into the thick of it.
Most of their early clients came through the network they’d built over years in the Sheffield and Doncaster area. They never built it with a business in mind. But when they launched, people who had always been supportive started hiring them and recommending them to others. Rachel was pleasantly surprised by how naturally work came their way, without too much cold, hard selling.
Then something unexpected happened. Once things settled, Rachel rang Kris and said:
“I feel a bit guilty that I’m not working 12 hours a day.”
Kris felt the same. Everyone had warned them about 12 and 14-hour days. But coming from management roles full of admin and meetings, they found they had more time to focus on the work they wanted to do. As Kris said, if you enjoy the work, enjoy who you work with and manage your time well, there’s no reason it has to feel like a grind. I think a lot of people need to hear that.
Kris didn’t think he was an overthinker until he had his own business. Now an email that goes unanswered for two days sends him into overdrive. In his old job, he wouldn’t have given it a second thought for weeks.
HR comes in waves. People need you when they need you. This August was quiet and, even though they’ve seen that pattern for years, it felt different in their own business. “Where is everyone? Why has it all gone quiet?” Then September arrived and everyone wanted to talk.
If you run a small business, you’ll know that feeling. The pattern doesn’t change. How it feels when it’s yours does.
How to make a business partnership work
This is the bit I’d underline for anyone going into business with a friend.
They didn’t define roles at the start. They both gave everything 100%, spoke pretty much every day for the first three months and naturally fell into their strengths. Rachel leads on sales, finance and new business. Kris leads on operations, documentation and the technical side.
A couple of months ago they sat down and properly agreed who is accountable for what. Kris said if they started again, they’d do that from day one. You’ll both still get involved in everything. But someone has to own each area and drive it forward.
Rachel said that clarity has given them focus. Instead of staring at a list of 50 things, she can say, “These are my areas of responsibility, so that’s my priority.” It also stops either partner sitting back because the other one picked it up last week.
So how do business partners handle disagreements? I asked, and they genuinely haven’t had one. Rachel puts that down to values that align and being open from day one about where they wanted the business to go, what success looks like and what each of them needs financially. Their personal lives are very different, so that conversation mattered. They have regular formal meetings alongside their everyday chats. If something might become an issue, it goes on the table.
They have different approaches and they both love a debate. When they’re unsure, they try it, look at the data and move on if it doesn’t work. There are also a lot of voice notes. Rachel’s tip: if Kris sends one, he’ll get one back that’s twice as long. Rach and I are exactly the same.
Does having a business partner slow down decisions? A little, Kris said. On your own you can decide on a whim. But he values having a sounding board. His big ideas tend to arrive at 10pm and go straight into his notes app. Now there’s one phone call before he acts on them. Is this going to work, or have I pulled it out of thin air?
Compared to corporate life, they can still make decisions quickly and stay light on their feet.
Lessons from year one and what’s next for Empowr HR
Rachel: don’t overthink. Their decisions come from a good place. Be confident that what you’re doing is right for your clients and right for the business, and do more of what’s worked.
Kris: give yourself some grace. Because they took on so many clients early, they got used to that pace. So quieter months could feel like failure. They’re not. Mistakes are how you learn. He said they’ve learned the most in the quiet spells, when they’ve had to decide where to focus their time and energy.
In year one they’ve built a business that gives them both a comfortable lifestyle. And they’re not stopping there.
From November, they’re taking on their first intern to support with marketing, through Harrison College in Doncaster. The college builds a curriculum around each young person and what they want to do in life, then places them with employers so they can learn real skills. Many of its students are neurodiverse. Rachel told me how many of them left school labelled as “bad kids” when what they needed was more understanding of where their strengths lie.
This is something I’m passionate about, and it’s how I think the system should work. A big shout-out to Gemma, the CEO.
Depending on how they finish the year, they may also bring in extra HR support. Their growth plan is flexible on purpose. Rachel doesn’t want a change of direction to feel like a missed target
Their advice for anyone starting a business with a friend
Be clear on your values and stick to them. Rachel said pragmatism is one of theirs. If you’re in a business partnership, make sure your values align. Every decision you make should tick them.
Don’t underestimate your existing network. Kris said before you spend hours on cold calls, look at who already knows you. Former colleagues, suppliers and contacts are already warm to you. That’s where quick wins and referrals come from.
For me, values are your roots. They guide your decisions, the problems you solve and who you hire. And your network is so valuable, even when it’s for advice rather than business.
And what would they tell their 10-year-old selves?
Kris would tell himself to keep playing sport. Most of his closest friendships come from it, and it comes back to the power of community. Rachel, a self-confessed people pleaser, would say: “Do what’s right for you. Stop trying to make everyone else happy. And back yourself.”
Watch or listen to the full episode
If you’re having the “should we do this together, or should I do it on my own?” thought, this episode is for you. Thank you, Rachel and Kris. That conversation filled my cup.
Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify. If it resonated, share it with someone thinking about starting a business with a friend.
And if you’re working out how to grow your own business, take the Business Health Check or find out how I can help at thecomplicatedcoach.co.uk.
