{"id":1919,"date":"2026-09-12T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fosfor.nl\/?p=1919"},"modified":"2026-08-31T11:32:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T09:32:18","slug":"compare-recruitment-agency-fees-commission-or-fixed-fee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fosfor.nl\/en\/recruitmentbureau-tarieven-vergelijken-fee-of-vast\/","title":{"rendered":"Compare recruitment agency fees: commission or fixed fee"},"content":{"rendered":"

When comparing recruitment agency fees, you\u2019ll generally come across two main models: a fee per hire (a percentage of the annual salary upon a successful placement) and a fixed fee (an agreed price, independent of the final salary). Which model works out more cost-effectively for you depends on your recruitment volume, the type of role and how predictable your costs need to be.<\/p>\n

Many employers focus solely on the fee itself. The real question is broader: what do you get for that amount, how many vacancies do you want to fill, and how predictable do you want your recruitment costs to be? Below, you can read about how to compare the two models.<\/p>\n

What does \u2018fee per hire\u2019 mean, and what does a fixed amount mean?<\/h2>\n

With a \u2018fee per hire\u2019 model, you only pay once someone has been hired, usually a percentage of their gross annual salary. With a fixed fee, you agree on a single price in advance for the assignment or for a campaign period, regardless of the candidate\u2019s salary. The first model shifts the risk to the agency, whilst the second makes your costs predictable.<\/p>\n

The fee-per-hire model has historically been the best-known model in recruitment and selection. You often pay between 15% and 25% of the annual salary, which means that a higher-paid role automatically results in a higher invoice.<\/p>\n

A fixed fee is usually associated with recruitment marketing and data-driven campaigns. You pay for the process and the reach, not for the salary level of the eventual candidate. With positions that are regularly advertised, that difference quickly becomes apparent.<\/p>\n

When should you opt for a fee per hire?<\/h2>\n

A fee-per-hire model is best suited if you occasionally need to fill a single specific role and the agency is required to bear the full risk. You pay nothing if no results are achieved, but you pay a substantial fee as soon as the placement is successful, particularly in the case of high salaries.<\/p>\n\t\t

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