Hiring a seller eats the owner's time. You run the interviews, chase the follow-up, and still own the number. A bad hire costs about a quarter. The U.S. Department of Labor's often-cited estimate puts the cost of a bad hire at roughly 30% of that person's first-year earnings. In sales, the quota that seat never covers is the bigger bill. The longer math is in the real cost of a wrong sales hire.
Short answer: Compare the fee, when you pay it, the guarantee, and how the firm treats speed. Contingency is often about 20% of first-year pay, paid only if you hire, and a 90-day replacement guarantee is typical. A retained or committed search is paid during the search. Offshore monthly models charge a fee per seat each month. Sellers Hub's published terms are in the last row.
Fees, guarantees, and speed
These are market norms, not a list of named firms. Put any quote next to this table, and ask the firm to confirm the fee and the guarantee in writing.
| Model | Fee | Guarantee | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contingency | Often about 20% of first-year pay, paid only if you hire. A common range is 20 to 25 percent of first-year base. | A 90-day replacement guarantee is typical. | Built around a fast placement, because the fee is paid when you hire. |
| Retained or committed | A retained search is paid during the search, and the firm works the role exclusively. The percentage varies by firm. | Ask. Length and what a replacement costs vary by firm. | An exclusive search. Ask for a typical range for the role. |
| Offshore monthly | A monthly fee per seat. The amount varies by role and provider. | Often tied to the months you keep paying. Ask what a replacement costs. | Depends on the role. Ask for a typical range in writing. |
| Sellers Hub | U.S. committed search: 25% of the hire's first-year base. Offshore: a one-time 35% of first-year base, or a subscription from $900/mo per hire. | U.S.: full replacement at no fee in the first four months, a 25% discount on the replacement search for the rest of year one, and a 10% discount in year two. Offshore direct hires carry a six-month full replacement. Subscription seats are replaced at no charge while the subscription runs. | Most U.S. placements are signed within 4 to 6 weeks. Most offshore seats are filled in under 4 weeks. |
Contingency
You pay only if you hire their candidate. A common quote is about 20% of first-year pay. Our note on committed vs contingent search puts the usual range at 20 to 25 percent of first-year base. A 90-day replacement guarantee is a typical term on this model. The firm is paid when someone is hired, so the search is built to move.
Retained or committed
A retained search is paid during the search, and the firm works the role exclusively. The percentage varies, so the number on the proposal is not the whole comparison. Committed search is the engaged model Sellers Hub uses for U.S. hires. The published fee is 25% of the hire's first-year base. More on how the models differ is in how much sales recruiters charge.
Offshore monthly
Some firms place offshore sales hires on a monthly fee per seat. The dollar amount varies by role and provider, so ask for it in writing. Sellers Hub's published offshore terms are a one-time 35% of first-year base with a 6-month replacement guarantee, or a subscription from $900/mo per hire. See global talent solutions and how much an offshore SDR costs.
What Sellers Hub publishes
Sales hiring only. U.S., offshore, or both, from one team.
U.S. committed search is 25% of the hire's first-year base. The guarantee is full replacement at no fee in the first four months, a 25% discount on the replacement search for the rest of year one, and a 10% discount in year two.
Offshore direct hire is 35% of first-year base, one time, with a 6-month replacement guarantee. A subscription starts at $900/mo per hire, and subscription seats are replaced at no charge while the subscription runs. Exact terms are in your agreement. The same wording is on the FAQs.
How Sellers Hub works
Every candidate is scored on our SELLER framework, with quota attainment and reference checks. Most U.S. placements are signed within 4 to 6 weeks. Same SELLER vetting, with proven quota attainment and reference checks. Most offshore seats are filled in under 4 weeks.
Speed
Ask about speed before you sign. Contingency is built around a fast placement, because the fee is paid on hire. A retained or committed search spends the time on an exclusive search. An offshore monthly search depends on the role. Ask each firm for a typical range for your seat, in writing.
How to use this
Line the quotes up on four things: the fee and when it is due, the guarantee and what a replacement costs, whether U.S. and offshore sit with one firm, and a written range for how long a search usually takes.
Frequently asked questions
How much do sales recruiting firms charge?
Contingency is often about 20% of first-year pay, paid only if you hire. A retained search is paid during the search, and the firm works the role exclusively. Offshore monthly models charge a fee per seat each month. Sellers Hub's U.S. committed search is 25% of the hire's first-year base. Offshore is a one-time 35% of first-year base, or a subscription from $900/mo per hire.
What guarantee is typical, and what does Sellers Hub publish?
A 90-day replacement guarantee is typical on contingency. Sellers Hub's U.S. placements include full replacement at no fee in the first four months, a 25% discount on the replacement search for the rest of year one, and a 10% discount in year two. Offshore direct hires carry a six-month full replacement, and subscription seats are replaced at no charge while the subscription runs.
How should I compare firms on speed?
Ask each firm for a typical range for your role, in writing. Contingency is built around a fast placement. A retained or committed search spends the time on an exclusive search. Sellers Hub's published timelines are on the FAQ page.
Sources
- RevPilots: 20% fee on first-year salary, 90-day replacement guarantee.
- Vantage Talent: 18-22% of first-year OTE, 90-day guarantee.
- Scalerr: contingent fees around 20% to 25%, 60 to 90 days as the norm.
- Hire South: 90-day replacement guarantee, monthly offshore pricing.
Comparing firms?Book the call.
Bring the role. We'll walk through the fee, the guarantee, and whether U.S., offshore, or both fits.