Cost and fees
Do recruitment agencies charge you if you don't hire?
On contingency, no — that is the definition of the model. You pay only when a candidate they introduced starts, so a search that produces nobody costs you nothing but time. Retained and flat-fee arrangements are different: retained search is paid in stages whether or not it completes, and a flat fee is normally paid up front, so with either you can be out of pocket on a role that never fills unless the agreement says otherwise. Always get the answer in writing before you pay.
It depends entirely on the model
| Model | If nobody is hired |
|---|---|
| Contingency | You pay nothing |
| Retained search | You keep the staged fees already paid |
| Flat fee, paid up front | Depends entirely on the terms — a refund, a re-run of the search, or nothing |
| Job advertising | You pay. You bought the advert, not the outcome |
The clause that actually matters
The words used for protection on a flat fee are used very loosely in this market. They can mean a refund of the whole fee, a partial refund, a repeat of the search, a support window, or nothing at all. They are not the same offer, and the difference only becomes visible when the search fails.
Ours, stated plainly:
- TalentFinder Premium Hire — one fixed fee, paid up front, with no refund. What it buys is the work: a five-point review of the role, a dedicated recruiter, advertising plus headhunting and a screened shortlist. A consultant takes you through exactly how it works on a quick call, and the terms come in writing with your proposal.
If you doubt anyone suitable exists at the salary for a particular role, contingency may be the better buy, and we would tell you so.
Three questions to ask before you pay anything
- If nobody suitable is found, what comes back? Get the figure, not the phrase.
- What conditions apply to me? Terms that depend on your own response times are a real condition, not a trick — but you need to know about them before you agree. A search works best as teamwork: a competitive salary, openness to transferable skills, quick feedback and fair, inclusive hiring.
- How long does it last? Any protection that ends at 4 weeks on a role with a 60-day median fill is not much of a window.
Across the roles we have filled the median was 42 days from brief to hire, and the slowest took 169. Ask any provider how long they work a role, and compare it with the honest time-to-fill for your kind of role.
What the fee itself comes to at each salary level is set out in our guide to how much recruitment agencies charge in the UK.
Want the fixed price for your role?
Advertise it yourself from £399 +VAT, or hand the whole search to a dedicated recruiter — a flat fee by salary band, starting with a five-point review of your role.
See Premium Hire Advertise a job
Or call 0161 327 2895.