- 15–30% in 2–3 installments
- 4–6 month guarantee
- Offered by Dataforge
Installment recruitment: a dedicated recruiter, paid in stages.
The placement fee is split into a deposit, a shortlist payment and a commission on hire. In return you get a recruiter who works on your role as part of your team, meets agreed deadlines and stands behind the hire with a replacement guarantee.
search: senior-backend
SignedDeposit paid
25% · search starts
Shortlist delivered
25% · 4 interviewed candidates
Candidate signed
50% · commission
Guarantee active
4–6 months
15–30%
of the first-year salary, split into stages
2–3
installments: deposit, shortlist, hire
4–6 mo
replacement guarantee
1
dedicated recruiter on your search
How it works
The same fee as an agency, paid for commitment
Paying part of the fee upfront buys a recruiter who works on your role, not on whichever role closes first.
Key facts
- Commitment
- High
- How you pay
- 2–3 installments
- Typical cost
- 15–30% of annual salary
- Replacement guarantee
- Usually 4–6 months
- Recruiting tools paid by
- Recruiter
Offered by Dataforge
How it works
The total fee is still typically 15–30% of the first-year salary, but it is paid in two or three installments instead of all at the end.
A common schedule is a deposit to start the search, a payment when the interviewed shortlist is delivered, and the commission when the candidate signs.
Typical market examples
- Data analyst, Tallinn · 50% deposit, 50% on hire
- €7,000 total
- Software engineer, Berlin · 25% / 25% / 50%
- €10,000 total
Example payment schedule
- Deposit25%
- Shortlist25%
- Hire50%
A typical search
How an installment search runs
Deposit and kickoff
We map the role, salary range and must-haves with you; the deposit starts a dedicated search.
Search
We source, headhunt and screen, and send you a weekly update on the pipeline.
Shortlist
You receive three to five interviewed candidates with notes, and the shortlist installment is due.
Hire and guarantee
We support the offer. The commission is due when the candidate signs, and the guarantee starts.
Fee calculator
Estimate the fee and each installment
Set the salary and fee to see the total and what each stage costs.
Estimate
- Total fee
- €10,000
- Paid before the hire
- €5,000
By installment
- Deposit · 25%€2,500
- Shortlist · 25%€2,500
- Hire · 50%€5,000
Market estimate. The split shown is 25% / 25% / 50%; a 50% / 50% split is also common.
Pros and cons
Why companies choose installments, and the trade-off
Advantages
Commitment you pay for
Deadlines, weekly updates and hiring advice are part of the deal.
Easier planning
You know the stages and costs upfront, so the hiring budget is predictable.
Part of your team
The recruiter learns your product and culture and represents you well to candidates.
Motivated to close well
The recruiter has already invested in your search, so the goal is the best candidate, not the first.
Replacement guarantee
If the hire leaves within 4–6 months, the search runs again at no extra fee.
Tools included
Sourcing tools, databases and job ads are covered by the fee.
Disadvantages
Money before results
The deposit and shortlist payments are due before anyone is hired.
Harder to walk away
If the partnership doesn't work, the early installments are already spent, so choose your recruiter carefully.
Is it right for you?
When installment recruitment makes sense, and when it doesn't
Installments suit roles where getting the right person matters more than getting many CVs quickly.
Good fit
Choose it when
- You don't have an in-house recruiter
- The role is key, senior or hard to fill
- You want a long-term recruitment partner
- You need to build hiring processes from scratch
- You want a recruiter who works almost only for you
Poor fit
Look elsewhere when
- You only want to pay once someone is hired
- Many roles must be filled at once (consider RPO)
- You need help with one stage only (consider hourly)
Comparison
Installment vs contingency vs RPO
| Installment (retained) | Performance-based | RPO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When you pay | Deposit, shortlist, hire | Only on hire | Every month |
| Typical cost | 15–30% per hire | 15–30% per hire | Fixed monthly fee |
| Recruiter's focus | Your search | Several clients at once | Your company |
| What you receive | 3–5 interviewed candidates | Many CVs, mixed fit | Interviewed candidates |
| Guarantee | 4–6 months | Usually 4–6 months | The team reopens the role |
| Best for | Key or hard-to-fill roles | Urgent, common roles | Many roles, fast growth |
FAQ
Installment recruitment FAQ
What is retained recruitment?
A search where the recruiter is paid part of the fee upfront and works exclusively on your role. Paying in installments (deposit, shortlist, hire) is its most common form.
How much does installment recruitment cost?
Typically 15–30% of the first-year gross salary, the same range as contingency. For a €40,000 role at 25% that's €10,000, for example €2,500 + €2,500 + €5,000.
What if no one is hired?
The deposit and shortlist payments cover work already done. We agree deadlines and shortlist criteria upfront, so you can judge progress before each payment.
How does the replacement guarantee work?
If the person leaves or is let go within the guarantee period, usually 4–6 months, we run the search again without a new fee.
How many candidates will I see?
Usually a shortlist of three to five candidates we have already interviewed, each with notes on skills, motivation and salary expectations.
Can I fill several roles this way?
Yes, each role gets its own schedule. With many roles at once, RPO is often cheaper.
Other pricing models
Compare it with the other recruitment models
Each model trades cost, speed and commitment differently.
- Not offered by DataforgePerformance-basedYou pay only when a candidate the agency sent you is hired.Commitment: LowRead the guide: Performance-based (contingency) recruitment
- Offered by DataforgeHourlyYou buy a recruiter's time and point it at the roles or tasks that matter most.Commitment: MediumRead the guide: Hourly-billed recruitment
- Offered by DataforgeRPOA monthly subscription to an embedded recruitment team that runs part or all of your hiring.Commitment: HighRead the guide: Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO)
Have a key role to fill?
Book a 30-minute call. We'll scope the search, agree the installments and send a proposal within one business day.