How do the two models charge?
On contingency, the agency invoices after you hire. The invoice is normally worked out from the candidate's first-year pay, so a higher salary means a higher fee. Terms differ between agencies, and the agreement you sign is the only reliable source for yours.
TaaSFlow charges for the search work, not the outcome. The pilot is $699 for one role, once per company, and larger packages are one total for a stated number of positions. The pilot is a paid evaluation of one role. It is not a free trial.
What does the comparison look like side by side?
The table describes each model in general terms. It deliberately names no agency and states no agency price, because agency terms are private and vary. TaaSFlow figures are from our published pricing, as of 7 October 2026.
| Dimension | Contingency agency | TaaSFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | A share of first-year salary, due on a successful hire; terms vary by agency | A flat published total for a stated scope |
| Public price | Usually agreed in a contract, not published | $699 for the one-role pilot; $8,000 for up to 10 positions |
| What you receive | Candidates presented by the agency, often through to offer | A ranked shortlist of up to 10 candidates with the evidence behind each score |
| Who does the work | The agency's recruiters | Agents source and score; a recruiter reviews; you decide |
| Who runs interviews and offers | Shared, depending on the agreement | You |
| Timing | Varies by agency and search | Your first ranked shortlist usually arrives within 5 business days of an approved role brief. |
Read the scope on both sides. A fee that includes help through to the offer and a fee for a shortlist are not the same product.
When is a contingency agency the better choice?
An agency can be the right call when the work is as much relationship as research. TaaSFlow does not try to be everything, and saying so plainly is part of a fair comparison.
- You want one person to manage candidates and negotiation through to a signed offer
- The role is senior, confidential or heavily dependent on a personal network
- You are filling one role and prefer to pay only if it is filled
When should you not choose TaaSFlow?
These are the cases where we would tell you to look elsewhere.
- You need a confidential or retained senior search handled end to end
- You need someone else to run interviews, negotiate and close the offer
- You need licensure verification, clinical credentialing or background checks carried out for you
- You need a promised outcome or start date; TaaSFlow promises neither
- You need direct sync with an external applicant tracking system today; it is planned, not built
How should you decide between them?
Ask both for the same three things: the scope in writing, the total you would pay for your own role, and what you keep afterwards. With TaaSFlow the answers are on the pricing page and in the workspace terms. Agents source and score candidates. A recruiter reviews every shortlist before you see it. You make every hiring decision.
No candidate is rejected or advanced by software alone. Scores support a person’s decision; they do not make it. Timing depends on the role, the market and how quickly the brief is approved. It is not a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Does TaaSFlow replace a recruiting agency?
For a defined role where you want a ranked shortlist, it can. For a search that needs someone to manage candidates through to the offer, an agency may fit better. Both can be used in the same company for different roles.
Why does this page name no agencies or agency prices?
Agency terms are private and differ by firm. We publish a competitor fact only when we have read it on that company's own public page and can link to it. Until then we describe the model, not the company.
How much is the TaaSFlow pilot?
$699 for one role, once per company. The pricing page lists every package total, for example $15,200 for up to 20 positions.
Is the TaaSFlow fee refundable if I do not hire?
TaaSFlow does not promise a hire or a refund. The pilot is a paid evaluation of one role, so read what it includes before you request it.
How fast would I see candidates?
Your first ranked shortlist usually arrives within 5 business days of an approved role brief. Timing depends on the role, the market and how quickly the brief is approved. It is not a guarantee.