Contingency, flat-fee, retained, and embedded recruiting are priced in completely different ways, which makes them hard to compare. Here is how BizFirst’s published fees line up against the typical market, so you can weigh total cost, not just a percentage. We are based in Ashburn and recruit nationwide.
Most firms use one or two of these models. BizFirst offers all of them, and publishes the price for each, so you can pick the structure that fits the role instead of paying for one that does not.
| Model | Typical market | BizFirst |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency placement | About 20 to 30% of salary | DirectHire, typically 10 to 15% |
| Single straightforward hire | About 15 to 25% | Flat $3,500 through HireSelect |
| Embedded recruiting (RPO) | Monthly, varies widely | PartnerHire Core, from $8,500/mo + $1,000/hire |
| Full embedded function | Varies | PartnerHire Complete, from $18,000/mo + $1,000/hire |
| Retained executive search | About 25 to 35% placement fee | Senior-led search, scoped per engagement |
Market ranges are typical industry figures for comparison. BizFirst figures are current published pricing and may vary by role difficulty and scope.
A percentage is abstract until you put a salary behind it. Here is the contingency math: BizFirst DirectHire at its typical 10 to 15 percent against a traditional 25 percent fee. The higher the salary, the wider the gap.
| First-year salary | BizFirst (typically 10 to 15%) | Traditional 25% | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $15,000 (minimum fee) | $25,000 | $10,000 |
| $150,000 | $15,000 to $22,500 | $37,500 | $15,000 to $22,500 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 to $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 to $30,000 |
| $300,000 | $30,000 to $45,000 | $75,000 | $30,000 to $45,000 |
The answer changes with the salary, the number of roles, how hard each one is to fill, clearance, urgency, and whether you need a shortlist or a full-cycle search. For one straightforward role where you run the interviews, HireSelect at a flat $3,500 is the lowest published fee at any salary. For a full-cycle search on one role, DirectHire at 10 to 15 percent, with a $15,000 minimum, comes in under a 20 to 30 percent agency fee at salaries of $100,000 and up. When you hire every month, an embedded PartnerHire recruiter at $8,500 a month plus $1,000 per placement usually costs less per hire than either. Cleared, executive, and highly complex roles are quoted on their own terms.
Most buyers want the right model at a fee they can see and plan around, run by senior people. That is the whole idea behind our pricing.
DirectHire contingency, typically 10 to 15 percent, with a senior Client Delivery Lead on every search. The published rates are our small and midsize business pricing. Enterprise programs (an MSA, preferred-vendor terms, or several roles at once) and executive, highly complex, or high-clearance (Poly) roles are scoped and quoted separately.
PartnerHire embedded recruiting and RPO for steady or high-volume hiring, billed monthly.
Retained executive search, scoped per engagement, run with discretion.
It depends on the model. Contingency placement typically runs about 20 to 30 percent of first-year salary, retained executive search about 25 to 35 percent, and embedded recruiting or RPO is billed monthly. BizFirst publishes its fees: DirectHire contingency typically at 10 to 15 percent, embedded PartnerHire from $8,500 a month plus $1,000 per placement, and flat-fee recruiting for a single role at $3,500 through HireSelect.
Contingency is usually a lower percentage than retained, but the right choice depends on the role. Retained and engaged search fits confidential or hard-to-fill leadership hires. The total dollar cost matters more than the label, which is why comparing the actual fee at your salary level is the useful test.
DirectHire contingency is typically 10 to 15 percent of first-year salary; $5,000 opens the search and is credited in full toward the fee, and a $15,000 minimum placement fee applies. PartnerHire Core embedded recruiting starts at $8,500 a month plus $1,000 per placement, and PartnerHire Complete from $18,000 a month. HireSelect is flat-fee recruiting for a single role at $3,500. The published rates are our small and midsize business pricing. Enterprise programs (an MSA, preferred-vendor terms, or several roles at once) and executive, highly complex, or high-clearance (Poly) roles are scoped and quoted separately.
Compared with a traditional agency at 20 to 30 percent of salary, yes, and every price is published so you can check the math at your own salary level. HireSelect is flat-fee recruiting for a single role at $3,500. DirectHire is typically 10 to 15 percent of first-year base salary with a $15,000 minimum. PartnerHire Core is $8,500 a month per dedicated recruiter plus a flat $1,000 per placement, which at a hire a month or more costs less per hire than any percentage fee. Every DirectHire and PartnerHire engagement includes a senior Client Delivery Lead. Total cost depends on the role, the model, and how many hires you make.
Tell us the roles and salaries you are hiring for, and we will recommend the right model and send a firm quote, usually within one business day.
Start hiringBook a time, email us, or just call. Whatever's easiest.
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