Ricky Burns: How to build £1M profit in year one (after losing it all at 26)

Ricky Burns made incredible money at 26.

Then he drank it all away.

Partied it into oblivion. Got hit with a massive VAT bill he couldn't pay. Shut the whole thing down.

Most people never recover from that kind of failure.

Ricky went back into employment for 10 years.

Ran European divisions. Watched. Learned. Took notes on what actually works.

At 33, he started again.

September 2024: Pulse Group launched with his co-founder Tony.

12 months later:

• £1.2M in fees
• £1M in EBITDA (profit)

I don't know anyone who's achieved these numbers in year one.

This week on The RAG Podcast, Ricky breaks it all down.

We cover:

• How they hit £1M profit in 12 months (it's simpler than you think)
• What killed his first business (beyond the partying)
• The 10 years of lessons that made the comeback inevitable
• Why he paired recruitment with SOW consultancy
• The systems and client focus driving 83% margins
• How AI is making them more efficient without adding headcount
• Why work-life balance is now non-negotiable

This isn't your typical "I scaled fast" story.

This is brutal honesty about failure, sobriety, and building something sustainable the second time around.

If you've ever wondered what separates 6-figure founders from 7-figure founders - or if you think you've already missed your shot - this episode has the answers.

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