---
title: "Cost Calculator - lemonly vs Recruiting Agencies"
lang: en
canonical_url: "https://www.lemonly.ai/cost-calculator"
last_updated: "2026-10-11"
last_updated_source: build
summary: "An interactive tool that compares recruiting costs for a hiring plan. A traditional agency typically charges 15–25% of the hire's first-year salary, which comes to $15,000–25,000 on a $100,000 hire and scales up with every salary band. lemonly charges one flat $8,000 placement fee regardless of salary. On a $150,000 hire an agency's 15–25% is $22,500–37,500 versus lemonly's flat $8,000."
---

# What would you actually pay?

Cost calculator

A recruiting agency charges 15–25% of first-year salary – $15,000–25,000 on a $100K hire. lemonly charges $8,000 flat, due only when you hire.

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## How to use it

Three inputs – the comparison updates live as you adjust.

1Set how many roles you're hiring

2Enter the salary you expect to pay

3Set the fee % you've been quoted

Number of roles

role to hire

Salary

$

Traditional recruiter fee

20%

10%35%

Save$12,000

60% less than a traditional recruiter

TotalPer role

lemonly

$8,000

$8,000 flat

Traditional recruiter

$20,000

$100,000 × 20%

## One flat fee, whatever you're paying

$8,000 no matter the salary, paid only on successful placement. Try lemonly for yourself.

[Book a demo →](https://www.lemonly.ai/book-a-demo.md)

## Why this works

- Predictable at any scale – the fee never scales with headcount plans or salary bands, so you can budget with certainty.
- Aligned incentives – a flat fee means there's no reason to push a higher offer just to earn a bigger commission.
- Non-exclusive – end it on 15 days' notice, and every placement is backed by a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.

## How recruiting agency fees work

Most recruiting agencies price a hire as a percentage of the candidate's first-year salary. Knowing how that percentage is charged makes the comparison above easy to read.

### Contingency fee (most common)

Typically 15-25% of first-year base salary, invoiced only once the candidate accepts and starts – usually with a short rebate window if they leave early. On a $100,000 hire that comes to $15,000-25,000.

### Retained search

The same kind of percentage, but paid in instalments up front regardless of outcome. Common for senior and executive roles.

### Why the percentage matters

Because the fee is a share of salary, it rises with every offer – a higher salary means a bigger fee. lemonly replaces the percentage with one flat $8,000, due only when you place someone, so the cost is the same whether the role pays $80,000 or $200,000.

## What you'd pay at a few common salaries

A traditional agency fee of 15-25% versus lemonly's flat $8,000, on the same hire. The flat fee doesn't move with salary, so the savings grow as the salary rises.

| Hire salary | Traditional agency (15-25%) | lemonly | You keep |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $80,000 | $12,000 - $20,000 | $8,000 | $4,000 - $12,000 |
| $100,000 | $15,000 - $25,000 | $8,000 | $7,000 - $17,000 |
| $150,000 | $22,500 - $37,500 | $8,000 | $14,500 - $29,500 |

Agency figures use the standard 15-25% contingency range. lemonly is a flat $8,000 per hire, due only on placement.

FAQ

## Recruiting cost, answered

### How much do recruiting agencies charge?

Most recruiting agencies charge a contingency fee of 15-25% of the hire's first-year base salary, due when the candidate starts. On a $100,000 hire that is $15,000-25,000, and it scales up with every salary band. lemonly charges one flat $8,000 placement fee instead, the same on every hire.

### What is the difference between contingency and retained search?

A contingency fee is only paid if the agency places a candidate you hire, and is charged as a percentage of first-year salary. A retained search charges the same kind of percentage but is paid in instalments up front, regardless of whether a hire is made. lemonly's $8,000 fee is closer to contingency - you only pay when you place someone - but it is a flat amount, not a percentage.

### When is a recruitment fee due?

With a contingency agency the fee is typically invoiced once the candidate accepts and starts, often with a short rebate window if they leave early. Retained fees are paid up front in stages. lemonly's flat $8,000 is due only when you place someone, and it is backed by a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.

### Is a flat-fee recruiter cheaper than a percentage agency?

Almost always, and the gap widens as salaries rise. A flat $8,000 fee does not change when the salary goes up, while a 15-25% agency fee does. On a $150,000 hire an agency's cut is $22,500-37,500 versus lemonly's flat $8,000 - roughly a third of the cost on the same hire.

### What does lemonly cost?

One flat $8,000 placement fee per hire, due only when you place someone. There is no percentage of salary and a non-exclusive agreement; every placement is backed by a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. Hiring for several roles is $8,000 each, with no volume or salary scaling.

### Are there any hidden or extra fees?

No. lemonly is a single flat $8,000 fee per placement. It does not scale with the salary you offer or the number of candidates assessed.

### How much does an AI recruiter cost compared to an agency?

An agency charges 15–25% of first-year salary, so $15,000–25,000 on a $100K hire, and 25–35% for retained search. AI recruiting software is typically $100–500 per month per seat and bills whether or not you hire, with the interviewing left to you. lemonly is $8,000 flat per hire, due only when you hire – roughly 60–68% below a percentage agency fee – with human recruiter interviews included.

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_Markdown version of [this page](https://www.lemonly.ai/cost-calculator) for AI agents and LLMs. More lemonly content: [llms.txt](https://www.lemonly.ai/llms.txt) · [full index](https://www.lemonly.ai/llms-full.txt)._