The fee charged by an executive search firm upon successful placement of a candidate, typically calculated as a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year total compensation.
Executive search placement fees vary by engagement model and firm tier. Retained search fees typically range from 25-35% of the candidate's estimated first-year total cash compensation (base salary plus target bonus), with one-third of the estimated fee paid upfront, one-third at mid-search, and one-third upon placement or acceptance. Some firms charge flat fees for specific role levels. Contingency search fees range from 20-30% of first-year compensation, paid only upon successful placement. Additional expenses — travel, candidate assessment tools, advertising — may be billed separately or included in the fee. Most retained search firms offer a guarantee period (typically 6-12 months) during which they will replace a candidate who leaves or is terminated at no additional professional fee, though expenses may be re-billed.
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