The Real Cost Of A Bad Hire & How To Avoid It

Kick On Recruitment
Aug 27
3 min read

In the fast-paced, people-driven world of equestrian business, every team member plays a vital role. Whether you’re running a tack brand, horsebox dealership, insurance company or luxury equestrian retailer, hiring the wrong person isn’t just a minor setback - it can be a costly, time-consuming mistake that impacts your bottom line and your reputation.

So What Does A 'Bad Hire'Actually Cost?

Many businesses, including the equestrian sector, think of a bad hire as someone who simply didn’t work out. But the hidden costs go far beyond salary:

Lost productivity - Time spent training someone who wasn’t right for the role.
Team morale damage - A poor fit can create friction, unsettle your team or lower standards.
Reputational risk - In customer-facing roles, a mismatch can affect your brand perception.
Recruitment costs - Time and money spent advertising, interviewing, onboarding… only to start again.
Lost sales or opportunities - Especially in commercial or client-facing roles, the wrong hire can lead to missed deals and lost trust.

Here are some key figures:

The cost of replacing an employee is estimated to be 30% to 400% of their salary (Gallup)
Brandon Hall Group found that companies with poor onboarding practices are twice as likely to lose new hires within the first year.
A study by Leadership IQ showed that 46% of new hires fail within 18 months, and 89% of those failures are due to attitudinal reasons, not lack of skills.

“Hiring the wrong people is the fastest way to undermine a sustainable business.” - Kevin J. Donaldson

Why Do Bad Hires Happen?

They are often the result of speed over strategy. In a busy business, it’s tempting to fill a gap quickly. But hiring based on CVs alone without really digging into values, culture fit and long-term potential is where many go wrong.

Other common causes:

No clear role brief - If you don’t know exactly what you need, how can anyone deliver it?
Not checking references properly - Especially in such a connected industry, this step is vital.
Interviewing without structure - A “nice chat” isn’t enough to assess capability or alignment.
Hiring on gut instinct alone - Culture fit matters but so does evidence.

How To Avoid It

At Kick On, we believe great recruitment is never just about filling a gap, it’s about building the future of your brand. Here’s how to get it right:

Define the Role Properly

Start with clarity. What does success look like in 3, 6 and 12 months? What soft skills matter? Who will they work with?

Hire for Values, Not Just Skills

We dig deeper than the CV to uncover how candidates work, what drives them and whether they'll thrive in your world - not just any role.

Use Industry Specific Recruiters

We speak your language. We know the differecne between a good hire and a great one in this industry. Our network means we can often match you with candidates who aren't even actively looking yet but who are the perfect fit.

Invest in Onboarding

Even the best hire needs support. A thoughtful onboarding proces makes all the difference in getting someone up to speed and feeling part of the team.

The Takeaway

In the equestrian world, where relationships are everything and reputation is earned, the cost of a bad hire is simply too high to gamble with. Taking the time (and getting the right support) to hire well isn’t a luxury, it’s a smart business decision.

Let’s make sure your next hire is one that adds real value, from day one.

Passionate about people. Passionate about horses. And passionate about helping you get hiring right.