Cost and fees
How much do headhunters charge in the UK?
A traditional executive search firm charges a retained fee of 25–33% of first-year salary, usually billed in three instalments whether or not the role is filled. A contingency headhunter charges 15–25% on placement only. A flat-fee headhunting service charges one agreed figure by salary band — ours runs £1,500 to £4,000 +VAT — so a £50,000 hire costs £3,000 rather than £12,500 to £16,500. The work being bought is the same: someone approaches people who are not applying to adverts.
The three ways headhunting is priced
| Model | What you pay on a £50,000 hire | When you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Retained executive search | 25–33% — £12,500 to £16,500 | In thirds, usually regardless of outcome |
| Contingency headhunting | 15–25% — £7,500 to £12,500 | Only if you hire someone |
| Flat fee by salary band | £3,000 +VAT | On instruction, refunded in full if the role is not filled |
The percentage models tie the price to the salary. Nothing about the search costs more because the salary is higher, so the flat-fee model prices the work rather than the outcome.
What the fee actually buys
Headhunting is not advertising. An advert reaches people who are looking. A headhunt reaches people who are not, which means somebody has to build a list, contact each person individually and hold a conversation with most of them.
Across the 46 roles we filled and publish in full:
| Stage | Candidates |
|---|---|
| Sourced and screened | 1,542 |
| Internal interview | 560 |
| Presented to the client | 235 |
| Client interview | 143 |
| Hired | 51 |
That is a median of 26 people worked per role to produce one hire, and only about one in six of those was worth putting in front of the employer. The fee is buying that filtering, not a database search.
Our prices
| Salary band | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £30,000 | £1,500 +VAT |
| £30,000 – £44,999 | £2,000 +VAT |
| £45,000 – £59,999 | £3,000 +VAT |
| £60,000 – £79,999 | £4,000 +VAT |
Above £80,000 the work changes shape and we quote it separately through executive search. If the role is not filled you get 100% of the fee back — not a replacement candidate, the money.
Where a percentage fee is the better buy
Two honest cases. If you hire rarely and want to pay nothing at all unless somebody starts, a contingency agency carries that risk for you and a flat fee paid on instruction does not. And if you are recruiting a board-level appointment where the search itself is confidential and may run for months, a retained firm is structured for that and a fixed fee is not.
How long it takes
Across those same 46 roles the median time from opening to filled was 42 days, with the middle half landing between 29 and 68 days. The fastest was 14 days and the slowest 169. Anyone quoting you a single number for "how long a headhunt takes" is quoting an average that hides that spread.
FAQs
Do headhunters charge if they do not fill the role? A retained firm generally does, because the fee is billed in stages during the search. A contingency headhunter does not. We charge on instruction and refund the full fee if the role is not filled.
Is there VAT on a headhunting fee? Yes. Recruitment services are standard-rated in the UK, so add 20% to every figure above. More on VAT on recruitment fees.
What is the difference between a headhunter and a recruitment agency? Mostly where the candidates come from — approached rather than applied. The full comparison is here.
Can a small business afford a headhunter? At a percentage fee, often not. At a flat fee the cost of a £35,000 hire is £2,000 +VAT, which is why most of the 46 roles above were filled for small and mid-sized employers rather than large ones.
Sources
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 with a 100% refund if the role is not filled.
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Or call 0161 327 2895.