Two ways to work with us. Both published up front. No percentage-of-salary, no hidden charges, no ongoing fees.
What it costs
Sourcing Only, or Full Placement. Here's what each costs.
Sourcing Only is for businesses that can run their own screening and interviewing, but need candidate flow. Full Placement is for businesses that want the whole process handled, with a replacement guarantee at the end.
Traditional recruiters charge 15% to 30% of the first year's salary. On a $100k role, that's $15,000 to $30,000. Our fixed fee caps that at $3,650 total for the same role.
The difference: we don't price by how expensive the role is. We price by how much work it takes. And we publish it, so you know what you're agreeing to before the first call.
Part-time placements
A part-time placement is a permanent role worked at reduced hours. The candidate is employed directly by you.
The placement fee is pro-rata based on contracted hours against a 38-hour full-time week. It is not based on the salary package. The Guarantee Period is pro-rata the same way.
| Hours per week | FTE | Placement fee |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | 1.00 | $2,900 |
| 30 | 0.79 | $2,289 |
| 23 | 0.61 | $1,755 |
| 19 | 0.50 | $1,450 |
Overtime, busy periods, and holiday or sick leave don't change the fee or the Guarantee Period. Only a permanent change to contracted hours is relevant.
If the role increases to full-time (38 hours per week) within 90 days of the start date, you pay the balance to the full $2,900, and the Guarantee Period resets to 90 days from the change date. Guarantee Periods for each part-time band are in the Guarantee Periods table below.
Fixed-term placements
A fixed-term placement is a role with a defined end date. The candidate is employed directly by you for the contract period.
The placement fee and Guarantee Period are based on the contract length in months.
| Contract length | Placement fee |
|---|---|
| 12 months or more | $2,900 |
| 6 to 11 months | $2,175 |
| 3 to 5 months | $1,450 |
| 1 to 2 months | $1,000 |
The proposed start and end dates are for the record only. They don't change the fee or the Guarantee Period. Only the contract length in months determines the fee. Guarantee Periods for each band are in the table below.
If the contract is extended and the role stays substantially the same, we recalculate the fee based on the new total length. You pay the difference at the time of extension. Full rules are in the Service Terms.
Guarantee periods
Every Full Placement carries a replacement guarantee. The length depends on the engagement type.
| Engagement type | Guarantee Period |
|---|---|
| Permanent, 1.0 FTE | 90 days |
| Part-Time, 30 hours (0.79 FTE) | 71 days |
| Part-Time, 23 hours (0.61 FTE) | 54 days |
| Part-Time, 19 hours (0.50 FTE) | 45 days |
| Fixed-Term, 12 months or more | 90 days |
| Fixed-Term, 6 to 11 months | 68 days |
| Fixed-Term, 3 to 5 months | 45 days |
| Fixed-Term, 1 to 2 months | 30 days |
Incentives
Four incentives. Eligibility rules apply, and the two discounts don't stack. Any eligible incentive is calculated by us and applied on your invoice.
Rules that apply to all incentives
- The Early Bird Credit and the Repeat Hire Discount cannot be combined. Pick one.
- For part-time and fixed-term placements, discounts apply to the pro-rata placement fee.
- Referral rewards are paid after the placement passes its Guarantee Period, as set out in the Referral Terms.
- Referrals only count if the candidate or business is new to Matchbox Talent.
Payment terms
Straightforward. Three invoice triggers, one standard window.
- Engagement fee: due on invoice. Search begins once paid.
- Sourcing Only fee: due within 14 days of shortlist delivery.
- Placement fee: due within 14 days of the candidate's start date.
The $100 Early Bird Credit applies when the engagement fee is paid within 48 hours of receiving your proposal. We send reminders on Day 15 and Day 21. From Day 22, interest applies at 2% per month, and the 90-day guarantee is paused. The guarantee resumes the moment the outstanding amount and interest are paid in full. Time spent paused still counts against the Guarantee Period.
Common questions about pricing
Do you charge GST?
Not currently. We're not GST-registered, so all pricing shown is exclusive of GST because there isn't any. We're monitoring the $75,000 threshold and will update pricing, Service Terms, and invoices if that changes.
Why is the placement fee flat, not a percentage?
Because the work doesn't scale with the salary. Finding a great Operations Coordinator and finding a great Finance Manager is a similar amount of effort. A flat fee means you know the cost up front and it doesn't balloon when you hire for a senior role.
What if the role changes mid-search?
Minor changes, such as title tweaks and adjusted requirements, are absorbed. If the scope changes significantly (different seniority, different discipline), we'll pause and re-scope. No charge for the conversation.
What if you don't fill the role?
The engagement fee is non-refundable once the search has commenced, as it pays for work already performed. If we can't present a shortlist within 30 days, you can choose to continue at no additional cost, or cancel the assignment.
What if the hire doesn't work out?
You're covered by our 90-day replacement guarantee. Free replacement search, same terms. Full detail on the guarantee page.
Do you offer payment plans?
For the placement fee, yes. Talk to us. We'd rather work with your cash flow than send an invoice you can't pay on time.
Are you insured?
Yes. Matchbox Talent holds current Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance through NRMA. Certificates of currency are available on request. Email [email protected].
Ready to go?
Book a 15-minute call. We'll scope the role together and give you an honest read on timing.