Pricing
A search activation fee to kick off the search, followed by an 18% success fee payable only when your new hire starts.
success fee based on the candidate's first-year salary
+ search activation fee to initiate the search
Cost calculator
Enter the base salary and we'll show you the exact cost breakdown.
Annual base salary
Search activation fee
$500–$1k
Due at kickoff. Covers job boards & ads.
Success fee (18%)
—
Due only when your hire starts.
Based on 18% of first-year base salary only. Bonuses, equity, and commissions are excluded.
If a placed hire leaves within 90 days, or does not meet performance benchmarks in our 30/60/90-day reviews and fails to improve after structured feedback sessions, we run a full replacement search at no additional cost.
Our active headhunting approach means most roles are filled within 3–6 weeks, not months.
The 18% placement fee is only due when your new hire starts. A small search activation fee applies upfront to cover sourcing costs — reimbursed if we don't deliver 3 qualified candidates within 30 days.
A one-time activation fee is charged at the start of your search to cover job postings and sourcing platform costs. This is separate from the placement fee and is due upon engagement.
What's included
The 18% success fee covers the complete search, from the first candidate approach to a signed offer.
We build a target candidate list, reach out proactively, and screen everyone before you see them. No job board spam. Only direct, curated outreach.
You receive a shortlist of 3–5 pre-vetted candidates with our written assessment of each: skills, motivations, compensation expectations, and why we think they fit.
We support the offer and negotiation process. If a placed candidate leaves within the guarantee period, or does not improve after our 30/60/90-day performance reviews and structured feedback sessions, we run a replacement search at no additional cost.
Why Assertive
Most agencies post and wait. We headhunt. That changes everything.
| Assertive Recruiting | Traditional agencies | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee model | 18% success fee only | 15–25% success fee or ongoing monthly contract |
| Upfront cost | $500–$1k activation fee, goes directly into your search | $2k–$10k+ monthly fee, often non-refundable |
| Search approach | Active headhunting: direct outreach to candidates | Passive: post and wait for inbound applications |
| Candidate quality | 3–5 pre-vetted candidates with a written assessment + video introduction | Large volumes of unscreened CVs for you to sort |
| Average fill time | 3–6 weeks | 2–4+ months |
| Replacement guarantee | 90-day replacement at no extra charge | Rare, or offered only for an additional fee |
| Communication | Weekly updates, one dedicated recruiter throughout | Variable, often silent until you chase them |
Pricing questions
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll listen, ask the right questions, and tell you honestly what we can do for you.