When a growing company needs to hire, the default option is often a contingency agency charging around 20% of the first-year salary per hire. It works for one-off roles, but once you have several openings, the cost climbs quickly. Fractional recruiting is an alternative many companies overlook.
The agency model
You pay only when a candidate is hired, which feels low-risk. But on a $120,000 role, a 20% fee is $24,000, for a single hire. Agencies also tend to optimize for speed of placement rather than long-term fit, and guarantees are often limited to a few months.
The fractional model
A senior recruiter joins your team part-time and runs your hiring like an in-house recruiter would: intake with managers, sourcing, screening, interview coordination, offers. You pay for the time, not a percentage of salaries.
A quick comparison
- Cost: agency fees scale with every hire and every salary; fractional costs are fixed and predictable.
- Control: with an agency, the process happens outside your company; with a fractional recruiter, it stays inside, with your brand and your candidates.
- Long-term value: a fractional recruiter also builds your process (job descriptions, interview scorecards, employer brand) so you hire better after they leave.
When fractional makes sense
- You have 2 to 5 open roles at the same time.
- Your managers spend too much time screening.
- You are preparing for a growth phase and want a structured process.
Findeed's fractional plans
- Essential: 8 to 10 hours per week, up to 2 active roles.
- Growth: 15 to 20 hours per week, up to 5 active roles.
- Strategic: 20 to 30 hours per week, leading your full recruiting function.
0% commission, 100% collaboration. For single, highly specialized roles, our head hunting service with a 1-year guarantee may be the better fit, and we will tell you honestly which one suits you.
Want to compare both options for your hiring plan? Contact us.