Are your recruiting fees negotiable?

Flat fees are firm. Contingency rates can move within the 18–20% range based on role volume and search complexity. Director, VP and Executive engagements are scoped per search. For negotiated terms, the Priority Partner program prices to your hiring volume.

What does Net 15 payment mean?

Standard B2B payment terms. The invoice is due 15 days after the issue date, and invoices are issued on the candidate's start date.

What It Costs

Pricing, posted in public.

Q: Why are your fees lower than other agencies?

Two reasons. First, we run lean by design — no account management layer, no junior recruiters, no offices you end up paying for. Second, we focus exclusively on manufacturing, so we don't carry the overhead of supporting twenty industries. Lean operation, focused expertise, fees that reflect both.

Q: Do you offer payment plans?

Standard searches are paid in full on net 15. Director, VP and Executive engagements are structured as milestone payments by default. Custom payment terms can be negotiated for Priority Partner clients case by case.

Most recruiting agencies hide their fees behind a “request a proposal” form. We don’t. Every fee for every engagement is on this page. Pick what fits, sign the agreement, and we start the search.

Posted Fees

Net 15 Terms

60–90 Day Guarantee

No Hidden Costs

Side By Side

Pick the one that fits.

All four engagements at a glance. Different models for different hiring needs.

Flat-Fee

Contingency

Priority Partner

Executive

Fee

$3,500–$6,500 (skilled trades)

15%

$1,500/mo + flat fees

20% (Partners: $18,000 flat)

Guarantee

30 to 60 days

90 days

Best for

One-off hires

Senior or hard-to-fill

Ongoing volume

Roles at $130K+ base

Predictability

Highest

Variable

Highest at scale

High

Commitment

Per search

3 / 6 / 12 months

Per search, exclusive

Exclusivity

Non-exclusive

Exclusive during term

Exclusive

/ 01Tier One

Priority Partner.

Monthly retainer plus Partner flat fees on every role. Built for companies hiring four or more roles a year. The retainer credits toward placement fees, so it's not added cost.

Monthly Retainer

$1,500/mo

Credited toward placement fees during your term. Charged on the 1st via Stripe or ACH.

Recommended

Placement Fee

Flat

Flat fee on every role, no percentages and no deposits. Trades $3,000 / $4,250 / $5,500. Engineer, quality, ops $11,500. Supervisor, manager $14,000. Executive $18,000.

Term options: 3, 6, or 12 months.

Replacement guarantee: 90 days on every placement.

Unlimited active searches during the term.

Exclusive partner for manufacturing and engineering roles during the term.

Partner Savings vs. Standard Pricing

Example Hire

Standard

Partner Flat Fee

You Save

Engineer, $92K base

$13,800

$11,500

$2,300

Manager, $110K base

$16,500

$14,000

$2,500

Executive, $140K base

$28,000

$18,000

$10,000

The retainer is credited. Every $1,500/month payment is credited toward placement fees during your term. It secures priority capacity, dedicated search, and Partner flat fees on every hire.

Explore the Priority Partner program →

/ 02Tier Two

Flat-Fee Direct Hire.

Skilled trades roles only. A fixed fee per tier, set by the role's base pay. No percentage math. No surprises when the candidate accepts higher than expected.

Role Level

Examples

Flat Fee

Skilled Trades: Entry (base pay under $50K)

CNC Operator, Machine Tender, Deburr Tech, Assembler

$3,500

Skilled Trades: Mid (base pay $50K to $65K)

CNC Setup Tech, Experienced Machinist, Fabricator, MIG/TIG Welder

$5,000

Skilled Trades: Senior (base pay over $65K)

5-Axis CNC Programmer, Lead Machinist, CMM Programmer, Industrial Maintenance Tech

$6,500

Payment: Entry roles start with a $500 deposit, credited toward the fee. Mid and Senior are 50% at signing, which locks the rate and starts the search. The balance is invoiced on the candidate's start date, net 15.

Deposit protection: Skilled trades tiers are set by the role's base pay. If you cancel or fill the role on your own, your deposit carries over to any new search within 6 months. If we can't present qualified candidates within 60 days, half your deposit is refunded and the other half carries over.

Replacement guarantee: 30 days for Entry. 60 days for Mid and Senior.

Multiple roles: Hiring for more than one position? Commit two or more searches together and the per-role fee comes down. Ask us for multi-role pricing.

/ 03Tier Three

Performance Contingency.

Traditional contingency. You pay only when our candidate starts. Aligned incentives, fast turnaround, non-exclusive.

15%

Of First-Year Base

Default rate: 15% of first-year base for engineering, quality, operations, supervisor, and manager roles. Roles paying $130K+ base are 20%. Skilled trades roles use flat fees.

Payment: Invoice issued on candidate start date, net 15.

Replacement guarantee: 90 days from start date.

Non-exclusive: Work with us alongside other channels.

/ 04Tier Four

Executive Search.

For roles paying $130K+ base salary. Agreed in writing before the search begins, with confidential off-market sourcing and a 90-day guarantee.

Priority Partners

Flat Engagement

$18,000 flat, for Partners hiring roles at $130K+ base.
Payment structure: Part of your Partner fee schedule. No deposit. Invoiced on the start date.
Best for: Executive searches where you want a fixed, predictable cost.

Standard

Executive Contingency

20% of first-year base salary, for roles paying $130K+ base.
Payment structure: Invoiced on the candidate's start date, net 15. Nothing owed unless you hire.
Best for: Executive searches where you'd rather pay only on a successful hire.

Both include a 90-day replacement guarantee and confidential off-market sourcing. Custom terms available on request.

FAQ

Questions hiring managers ask.

If yours isn’t answered here, ask us directly.

Why are your fees lower than other agencies?

Two reasons. First, we run lean by design: no account management layer, no junior recruiters, no offices you end up paying for. Second, we focus exclusively on manufacturing, so we don't carry the overhead of supporting twenty industries. Lean operation, focused expertise, fees that reflect both.

Why flat-fee instead of percentage?

Predictability and aligned incentives. You know the cost of the hire before the search starts, and we get paid the same whether your machinist accepts at $55K or $62K. We work to find the right person at the right comp — not the most expensive person we can place.

Are the fees negotiable?

Flat fees are firm. Contingency is 15%, and 20% for roles paying $130K+ base salary. Skilled trades roles are flat fee only. Partner clients get flat fees on every role. Need negotiated terms? That’s what the Priority Partner program is for — pricing and terms there are scoped to your hiring volume.

What’s included in the fee?

Sourcing, screening, candidate management, offer negotiation, replacement guarantee. We don’t bill for travel, advertising, background checks, or anything else. The fee on this page is the fee you pay.

Net 15 — what does that mean?

Standard B2B payment. The invoice is due 15 days after issue date. Invoices issue on the candidate’s start date.

Do you offer payment plans?

Skilled trades flat fees: $500 deposit for Entry, 50% at signing for Mid and Senior, balance on the start date. Contingency searches are invoiced in full on the start date, net 15. Priority Partner placements are flat fees with no deposit. Custom payment terms can be negotiated for Priority Partner clients case-by-case.