No Surprises. Ever.
No Contingency. No Hidden Fees.
No Surprises.
We publish our fees openly because trust starts before the first call. If a recruiting firm will not tell you what it charges, that tells you something.
Three Engagement Models
The right model depends on how often you hire.
A refundable fee, a clear success fee, no contingency. That is the whole model. No hidden add-ons. No surprises at close.
Most Common
Engaged Search
For firms hiring one to three people this year. A dedicated search partner, fully committed to your role from day one.
Engagement Fee
$10,000
Fully refundable within 21 days. Credited 100% toward your placement fee at close.
Placement Fee
25% of OTE
$25k minimum for non-advisor roles · $30k minimum for advisor/CFP roles
- Dedicated search specialist from day one
- AI-powered sourcing via The Brain
- Access to The Vault, our proprietary passive candidate network
- Video-first screening on every candidate before your calendar is touched
- Curated slate of 3 to 6 fully vetted candidates
- Counter-offer prep, resignation coaching, and Day One support
Ongoing Partnership
ScaleWell
For firms where hiring is now an operational function. One ongoing partnership replaces the transactional search model entirely.
Savings vs. Engaged Search
30 to 50%
Exact pricing built around your firm's hiring roadmap. Requires 4+ hires per year to qualify.
- Everything in Engaged Search, for every role
- Dedicated Talent Planning session included
- Priority access to The Vault for every open role
- Discounted per-hire economics at volume
- Talent roadmap built around your growth plan
- One partner who knows your firm, no re-briefing each search
- ScaleWell pricing locked for the contract year
Executive Level
Retained Search
For C-suite, CPA/EA, and senior executive roles that require full partner-level attention and complete market coverage.
Structure
Fully Retained
Fee structure customized to scope. Discuss on call. Refund terms vary by engagement.
- Full market mapping before the first candidate is contacted
- Senior partner oversight throughout
- Board or ownership-level coordination as needed
- Discreet outreach, no public job postings unless requested
- Compensation benchmarking included
- Offer structuring and negotiation support
- Extended replacement provision (terms detailed in your service agreement)
Our Guarantee
21-Day Full Refund Guarantee.
The $10,000 engagement fee is fully refundable within 21 days, no questions asked. We would rather lose the fee than start a search without full alignment.
The engagement fee is credited 100% toward your placement fee at close. You never pay it twice.
Common Questions
Pricing, Answered.
What does OTE mean?
On-Target Earnings: total expected annual compensation at full ramp, base salary plus expected bonus, commissions, or production-based income. For an advisor role at $180k OTE, the placement fee is $45,000 (25% of $180k). The $10k engagement fee is already counted toward that number.
Why is there a minimum placement fee?
We only take roles with enough at stake to do the search right. The $25k minimum for non-advisor roles and $30k minimum for advisor/CFP roles reflects the depth of work involved. Below those thresholds, we are not the right partner.
When is the engagement fee charged?
The $10k engagement fee is invoiced at kickoff, when the search formally begins. It is fully refundable within 21 days if you decide not to proceed. After 21 days it becomes a credit toward your placement fee, never an additional charge.
Do you work on contingency?
No, and that is intentional. Contingency firms work five searches to close one. We commit to your search because you commit to it with us. That alignment is why our median fill time is 55 days, 45 days faster than the industry average.
What if we need to pause or cancel the search?
Within the 21-day window, full refund, no questions. After 21 days, the engagement fee converts to a credit you can apply to a future search within 12 months. If the firm pauses a search beyond 60 days, we discuss a re-engagement fee structure then.
Is ScaleWell available for our first search?
Most ScaleWell relationships start with one or two Engaged Searches. It is a natural progression. We will be direct about when ScaleWell makes sense versus when Engaged Search is the right starting point. Learn more about ScaleWell.
One Call. No Pitch. Direct Answers.
30 minutes. No pressure. We walk you through our process and tell you honestly whether we are the right partner for your next search. 100% confidential.