Recruiting fees compared
Most recruiting firms charge 20–25% of a new hire’s first-year base salary. #twiceasnice charges 9.9%.
Paid only when your hire starts, and every placement carries an 18-month guarantee.
How fees compare
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| Fee model | Typical cost on a $100,000 hire | When you pay | Typical guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contingency, standard | $20,000–$25,000 (20–25%) | When the hire starts | 30–90 days |
| Retained search | $25,000–$35,000 (25–35%), part paid upfront | In installments, before results | Varies |
| Flat fee | A fixed amount, regardless of salary | Varies by firm | Varies by firm |
| #twiceasnice | $9,900 (9.9%) | When the hire starts | 18 months |
How the 9.9% works
Every client chooses from the same two options: 9.9% for a 60-day exclusive search, or 15.9% non-exclusive.
The fee covers the full search: intake, sourcing, headhunting, screening and interviews.
No upfront retainer and no add-on fee for the 18-month guarantee.
Exclusive doesn’t lock you in: you can still post the job on your own site and use other free channels, and you can end exclusivity at any time.
Every candidate we present is submitted to your search only. We never shop the same candidate around to other employers.
Why it’s lower
We built the firm around efficiency instead of a 20–30% fee.
- 01 Searches are built from scratch by a team of 70, and the cost savings go to the client rather than to margin.
- 02 Commission-free recruiters, so no one is paid to rush a poor fit.
- 03 No retainer and no upfront costs to recover.
Questions about recruiting fees
What do recruiting firms usually charge?
20–25% of first-year base salary for contingency search; retained search often runs higher.
Are there recruiters that charge less than 20%?
Yes. #twiceasnice charges 9.9% on every direct-hire search.
Is a lower fee lower quality?
Our clients get the candidate they hire in a median of 18 days, and every placement is guaranteed for 18 months.
What if I don’t want an exclusive search?
Choose our non-exclusive option at 15.9%, still with the 18-month guarantee.
Do you charge anything upfront?
No. The fee is due when your hire starts.
Related: Recruiting guarantees compared →
Hire once. Keep them.
9.9% fee, 18-month guarantee, and the candidate you hire presented in a median of 18 days.