Recruitment Agency Fees in 2026: Retained Search Costs and Alternatives

The right hiring investment depends on how much of the work you want to own. HireLikeaPro gives founders a free structured DIY workflow. The Search Readiness Sprint costs €1,500 for one role and is delivered in three business days. Evidence-Led Retained Search is typically 10% to 15% of first-year base salary, with 30% to 50% usually paid at kickoff and the balance usually due on contract signature.

There are three standard routes, each with a different level of founder involvement. The exact retained-search scope, fee, payment schedule, and replacement term are agreed in writing before a search begins.

Recruitment fee models at a glance

Model	How it is priced	Best fit	What to clarify
HireLikeaPro	Free	A founder who wants to build the role, interview bar, and evidence review process independently	Who owns sourcing, interviews, references, and offer management
Search Readiness Sprint	€1,500 pilot for one role	A team that can run the search but needs a calibrated role, scorecard, and interview plan	Role scope, decision-makers, three-business-day delivery window, and 30-day retained-search credit
Evidence-Led Retained Search	Typically 10% to 15% of first-year base salary	A priority leadership or specialist hire that needs dedicated research and direct outreach	Scope, kickoff payment, balance due date, and replacement term
Bespoke multi-role support	Tailored to the hiring plan	Several planned searches over a defined period	Expected hiring pipeline, capacity, review points, and whether a targeted headhunt is in scope
Other agency arrangements	Terms vary by provider and engagement	Roles where a different service model is appropriate	The fee basis, what the work includes, and the consequences if the hire does not work out

How our Evidence-Led Retained Search fee works

Evidence-Led Retained Search, including focused headhunting and the deeper executive-search track, is typically 10% to 15% of the placed candidate's first-year base salary. The exact rate reflects the seniority and complexity of the role, the search scope, and the work needed to build the right candidate market.

The calculation uses first-year base salary. Bonus, commission, equity, and benefits are excluded unless an engagement agreement expressly says otherwise.

First-year base salary	Fee at 10%	Fee at 15%
$150,000	$15,000	$22,500
$200,000	$20,000	$30,000
$250,000	$25,000	$37,500

What a retained search includes

A retained fee pays for the work required to make a well-supported hiring decision. The exact scope depends on the brief, but it normally includes:

• Kickoff and scorecard definition. We align on the business need, outcomes, must-have evidence, and interview process before outreach starts.
• Market mapping and direct outreach. We identify and approach people who are not actively applying, including relevant passive candidates.
• Structured assessment. Candidates are assessed against the agreed scorecard, not just their CV or title history.
• Written candidate briefs and process management. Shortlisted candidates come with relevant evidence, and we keep interviews, feedback, and offers moving.
• References and offer support. The final process includes the appropriate reference work and support through contract signature.

For a standard search, the first shortlist contains 3 to 6 candidates assessed against the agreed scorecard and is normally delivered within 10 business days after role alignment and kickoff. Executive, confidential, and multi-stakeholder searches usually take 2 to 4 weeks for the initial shortlist.

Payment stages

Clients typically pay 30% to 50% of the agreed fee at kickoff. This starts the calibration, market mapping, and outreach work. The balance is usually due on contract signature.

The written engagement agreement confirms the exact payment dates and any role-specific scope. It should also state whether a search is confidential, which stakeholders will make the decision, and what happens if the brief changes materially.

When the Search Readiness Sprint is the better starting point

The Search Readiness Sprint is for a team that can source and interview candidates but needs a stronger definition of success before the search begins. In a 60-minute calibration session, we turn one role into 90-day outcomes, evidence criteria, disqualifiers, a calibrated job description, a scorecard, and structured interview questions. You receive the completed materials within three business days, followed by a 30-minute review.

The pilot costs €1,500. If you start an Evidence-Led Retained Search for the same role within 30 days, the Sprint fee is credited toward it. Companies with several planned searches can ask about bespoke multi-role support, but it is scoped around the hiring plan rather than presented as a standard package.

Replacement terms

Retained searches can include a 3 to 6 month replacement period where the hire does not meet the agreed performance expectations or working-context requirements. Eligibility, exclusions, duration, and the replacement process are confirmed in the signed engagement agreement.

Questions to ask before signing

• Is the fee based on first-year base salary, and what is excluded?
• Who will run the search and what evidence will be included in the candidate brief?
• What is paid at kickoff, and when is the balance due?
• What does the replacement period cover, and how long does it run?
• Can we run the search ourselves after a Search Readiness Sprint, or do we need retained support?

Choose the route that matches the work you want to own: use HireLikeaPro free, review the Search Readiness Sprint, or explore Evidence-Led Retained Search. For a fee proposal tied to your role and hiring plan, book a 30-minute search fit call or send a brief.