Vouch vs a traditional recruiting agency
Updated
A contingency recruiting agency usually charges 20 to 25 percent of a hire's first-year cash pay, according to SHRM in 2016. Vouch charges 10% of first-year base salary, only when someone signs an offer, and interviews every candidate itself before you see a name.[1][2]
What an agency charges
Many agencies that fill startup roles work on contingency: you pay only if you hire someone they introduced. In 2016, SHRM put the usual contingency fee at 20 to 25 percent of the role's first-year cash compensation, and retained executive search at about 33 percent.[1]
Vouch's fee is 10% of the hire's first-year base salary, invoiced when the offer is signed and payable within 30 days of the start date. There is no retainer, no fee to open a role, and no charge for a search that does not end in a hire.[2]
Who does the first round
Ask any agency who runs the first interviews. If the answer is you, you will still spend your hours on first calls.
- Vouch interviews every person before you see a name.
- Each candidate gets a fit score out of 5 against your own must-haves, one requirement at a time, with a line of evidence for each. Strong means 4 or better.
- You read the write-up on a private page that updates every week, then say Meet or Pass. Vouch sets up the call.
- A recruiter reviews every shortlist before it reaches you.
Side by side
| Contingency agency | Vouch | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | Usually 20 to 25% of first-year cash pay | 10% of first-year base salary |
| When you pay | On a hire | When an offer is signed, due within 30 days of the start date |
| First interviews | Varies: ask who runs them | Done by Vouch before you see a name |
| What you get | Varies: ask what you see first | A shortlist with a fit score and a written verdict on each person |
When an agency is the better fit
An agency with deep contacts in one niche can be worth the higher fee, for example a firm that has placed sales leaders in your exact market for years. Ask for the last five placements they made at your stage before you sign.
Questions founders ask
Does Vouch charge anything up front?
No. There is no retainer and no fee to open a role. The fee is owed only when someone you met through Vouch signs an offer, and is payable within 30 days of their start date.
Can I stop a search?
Yes. Either side can stop at any time, with no notice and no penalty. A fee already owed on a signed offer still stands.
Sources
- SHRM, How to Work Effectively with an Executive Search Firm, 18 July 2016. Read 25 October 2026.
- Vouch, Terms of Service, The fee. Read 25 October 2026.