Why do hiring teams look for an alternative to a recruitment agency?
The reasons are usually practical. Fees that depend on salary are hard to forecast. The reasoning behind a shortlist is often invisible: you receive names, not the evidence. And the candidate relationships built during a search commonly stay with the agency, so the next search starts from zero.
Speed is the other reason. A search can stall while you wait for updates. Teams want to see what is happening to a role while it is open, not only at the end.
What does a recruitment agency do well?
An agency is not the wrong choice by default. A good one brings a network, market knowledge and a person who will phone a passive candidate on your behalf. For a confidential senior search, or a niche role where relationships matter more than process, that can be worth the fee.
Treat this page as a way to decide, not a way to avoid agencies. Some teams use both: an agency for rare senior roles, and a flat-fee service for defined roles that repeat.
How does TaaSFlow work differently from an agency?
Recruiting platform with managed execution describes the model. Agents source and score candidates. A recruiter reviews every shortlist before you see it. You make every hiring decision.
You see the evidence behind each score, in your workspace, so a shortlist comes with its reasoning. Your candidate records are yours to export. The price is published, so you do not have to wait for a quote to know what a search costs.
- Pricing: a published pilot total and published package totals, with no percentage of salary
- Process: four steps, with scope confirmed before sourcing starts
- Control: you interview and you make every hiring decision
What does an agency fee look like next to a flat fee?
Agencies commonly charge 20–25% of first-year salary. As an illustration only, a $85,000 salary at that range comes to $17,000–$21,250. The salary is an example, not a benchmark, and agency terms vary.
The TaaSFlow pilot costs $699 for one role. Do not read the two figures as the price of the same thing. The agency fee usually covers a placement, and the pilot delivers a ranked shortlist of up to 10 candidates that you take through interviews yourself. A fair comparison puts the work you still do on your side of the ledger.
When should you stay with an agency?
Stay with an agency, or add one, when the search is confidential, when the role is rare enough that a personal network decides the outcome, or when you want someone to manage the candidate through to a signed offer. TaaSFlow is better suited to defined roles where a ranked shortlist and a known price matter more than a relationship.
TaaSFlow also does not guarantee a hire or a timeline. Timing is usually quick for an approved brief, but it depends on the role and the market.
How do the operating models differ?
A qualitative view of five ways to hire. It has no competitor prices, because rates vary by agency and by search.
| Operating model | How you pay | Who does the work | What you keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-house recruiter | Salary, benefits and tools for a recruiter you employ | Your own recruiter | Everything, in your own systems |
| Job boards | Posting or subscription fees | You, reviewing the applicants | The applicant data you collect |
| Agency on contingency | A share of first-year salary when you hire; agencies commonly charge 20–25% | The agency's recruiters | Usually the agency keeps its candidate relationships |
| Subscription recruiting | A recurring fee for hiring capacity | The provider's team and tools | Varies by provider, so ask |
| TaaSFlow flat fee | A published total: $699 for the one-role pilot, and package totals for more positions | Agents source and score; a recruiter reviews; you decide | Your workspace and records, which you can export at any time |
Frequently asked questions
Is TaaSFlow a recruitment agency?
No. TaaSFlow is a recruiting platform with managed execution. Agents source and score candidates, and a recruiter reviews every shortlist, but you run the interviews and make the hiring decision.
Does TaaSFlow charge a percentage of first-year salary?
No. The pilot is $699 for one role, and larger packages have fixed totals. Nothing is charged as a share of salary.
Who keeps the candidate records?
You can export your candidate records at any time. Workspace access for a one-off package lasts three months; records are deleted after that unless you renew.
How quickly will 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.
Can TaaSFlow handle a confidential executive search?
It is not designed for retained executive search. If a role is confidential and relationship-driven, an agency with the right network may be a better choice. You can use both.
Does TaaSFlow guarantee a hire or a refund?
No. TaaSFlow does not promise a hire, a timeline or a refund. The pilot is a paid evaluation of one role.
What does TaaSFlow not do for regulated roles?
TaaSFlow supports sourcing, screening and ranking. It does not perform licensure verification, clinical credentialing or background checks unless separately agreed. Your team verifies those before an offer.
How do I try it before I commit?
Request the $699 pilot for one role. It is a paid evaluation, available once per company, and the scope is confirmed with you before sourcing starts.