Recruiterflow now supports Project-Based job engagements: a flexible model designed for agencies handling high-volume or fast-growth hiring projects.
This engagement model blends elements of contingent and retained search to offer better risk sharing, cash flow predictability, and client commitment.
What is Project-Based Job Engagement?
A Project-Based job engagement is a hybrid search model where:
The agency receives an upfront project fee from the client.
A success fee (percentage of the hired candidate's salary) is also paid when a hire is made.
The upfront project fee is deducted from the success fee before final payment is made.
This model gives agencies some guaranteed revenue early in the process, while keeping performance incentives aligned with successful hires.
🔍 Example 1: Single Hire
Expected Salary: $100,000
Success Fee: 30% ($30,000)
Upfront Project Fee: $10,000
If a candidate is placed at $110,000, the new success fee is 30% of $110,000 = $33,000.
Since $10,000 was already paid, the adjusted revenue due = $23,000.
🔍 Example 2: Multi-Hire
2 Openings, Expected Salary: $100,000
Success Fee: 30%, Upfront Project Fee: $20,000
Hire 1 at $110,000 → Success fee = $33,000
Adjusted revenue = $33,000 - $20,000 = $13,000
Hire 2 at $100,000 → Success fee = $30,000
Adjusted revenue = $30,000 (no deduction left)
The upfront project fee is tracked and deducted across placements within the same job.
How Project-Based Contingent Works in Recruiterflow
You can define this engagement model under the Billing section of any job.
Adding Project-Based Contingent Billing Details
Go to the job’s Billing section while setting up a new job.
Choose Project from the dropdown.
Add:
Salary and commission on successful hire (contingent-like success fee)
Upfront Project Fee
Upfront Project Fee
You'll be asked to enter:
Project fee
Billing date
Due date
Attribution (team members and contacts)
Successful Hire Details
When a candidate is hired, Recruiterflow will:
Auto-calculate adjusted revenue (Revenue - remaining project fee)
Display both gross and adjusted revenue
Ensure adjusted revenue is never negative (leftover fees carry over)
Key Differences: Contingent vs Retained vs Project-Based Contingent
Factor | Contingent | Retained | Project |
Up-front cash | None | 30–50% of projected fee (in stages) | Modest project fee (e.g., 10–20% of total) |
Risk for agency | High (may go unpaid) | Low | Shared – upfront fee offsets risk |
Client commitment | Low | High | Medium–High – upfront fee = buy-in |
Best for | Common roles, price-sensitive clients | Executive/niche searches | High-volume hiring, startup scaling |
Cash-flow timing | At hire | At kick-off + milestones | At kick-off + per hire |
Downside | Competitive, unpredictable revenue | Longer sales cycle, pushback on fees | Scope management, tracking fee usage |
Upside | Fast sales, low friction | Predictable revenue, deeper relationships | Blends speed + security, aligns incentives |