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What Is Fixed Fee Recruitment and Why SMEs Are Switching in 2025

Fixed Fee Recruitment: A Smarter Way for SMEs to Hire


Looking for a cost-effective way to recruit without the high price tag of traditional agencies? Fixed fee recruitment offers a smarter solution for small and medium-sized businesses.


In simple terms, fixed fee recruitment is a pricing model where you pay a single, agreed amount for the entire recruitment campaign, regardless of the candidate’s salary or role level. It’s ideal for SMEs that want predictable recruitment costs, faster hiring, and reliable candidate sourcing.

In this guide, we explain how fixed fee recruitment works, what it includes, and why more UK SMEs are turning to this model to scale their hiring affordably.


Table of Contents

What Is Fixed Fee Recruitment?


Fixed fee recruitment is a simplified, transparent recruitment model. Rather than paying a percentage of a candidate’s salary (common in traditional recruitment), employers pay a one-time, flat fee for end-to-end hiring services.


Key features include:


  • A fixed recruitment cost agreed upfront

  • Services like advertising, CV filtering, and candidate shortlisting

  • No commission-based surprises

  • A straightforward alternative to contingency recruitment


It’s often referred to as flat fee recruitment or a fixed service recruitment fee.


How Does Fixed Fee Recruitment Work?


The process is structured and designed for speed, quality, and clarity - especially important for growing businesses.


Step-by-step overview:


  1. Define Your Vacancy Share the job role, expectations, and candidate profile.

  2. Set the Fixed Fee The price is agreed before recruitment begins.

  3. Advertising & Outreach Your role is promoted across top job boards and sourcing platforms.

  4. Candidate Filtering The agency screens applicants and shortlists top talent.

  5. Interview Support You’re presented with ready-to-interview candidates.


Some providers also offer multi-role recruitment bundles or unlimited hiring within a time period - great for larger SME growth phases.


Benefits of Fixed Fee Recruitment for SMEs


Fixed fee recruitment is gaining popularity among SMEs because it offers clear advantages over traditional recruitment models.

Benefit

Why It’s Valuable

Predictable costs

You know what you’ll pay before the process begins

Time-efficient

Vacancies are filled faster with streamlined sourcing

Access to talent

Top job boards and proactive sourcing are included

Budget control

No commission-based pricing surprises

Scale-friendly

Great for bulk hiring or multi-role campaigns

Industry Insight: Traditional agencies often charge between 15%–30% of a candidate’s salary. With fixed fee recruitment, you can hire for a fraction of that cost.

Fixed Fee Recruitment vs Traditional Recruitment Models


Choosing the right recruitment strategy depends on your business needs. Here’s how fixed fee recruitment stacks up against other models:

Model

Cost Structure

Best For

Fixed Fee Recruitment

Set price per campaign

SMEs, growing teams, cost-conscious hiring

Contingency Recruitment

% of candidate salary

Specialist roles, one-off urgent hires

Retained Search

Upfront fee with milestones

Executive search, confidential placements

Fixed fee recruitment provides the most value when hiring generalist, mid-level, or volume-based roles.


How to Choose the Right Fixed Fee Recruitment Partner


To get the most from this model, choose a recruitment partner that offers:


  • Clear, transparent pricing with no extra charges

  • Nationwide job board access

  • In-house UK-based recruitment consultants

  • Robust CV screening processes

  • Flexible options for one-off or repeat hiring


For example, Kamro delivers tailored recruitment packages designed to help SMEs hire better, faster, and more affordably. Explore our services


Top Tips to Maximise Your Fixed Fee Recruitment Success


  1. Write a detailed job spec Include responsibilities, required skills, salary range, and team culture.

  2. Act fast on shortlists Good candidates don’t wait. Schedule interviews promptly after shortlisting.

  3. Communicate your brand clearly Use the interview process to sell your company’s mission, growth, and values.

  4. Give candidate feedback Providing feedback—even to unsuccessful applicants—improves your reputation and response rates in future campaigns.

  5. Use analytics Ask your recruiter for performance stats on job ads and conversion rates.


FAQs About Fixed Fee Recruitment


What is a fixed service recruitment fee?

It’s a flat rate paid upfront to a recruitment provider to manage the full hiring process, regardless of salary or job level.


Is fixed fee recruitment more cost-effective than traditional recruitment?

Yes. It avoids percentage-based commissions, making it far more budget-friendly for SMEs.


Can fixed fee recruitment be used for multiple hires?

Yes. Many providers offer packages or subscription-based pricing for hiring across multiple roles.


Does fixed fee recruitment include job advertising?

Absolutely. Most fixed fee recruitment packages include listings on major UK job boards, CV screening, and shortlisting.


Why SMEs Choose Kamro for Fixed Fee Recruitment


Kamro specialises in helping SMEs make smarter hiring decisions without high agency markups. Our fixed fee recruitment service includes:


  • Fixed, transparent pricing with no hidden extras

  • Campaigns run by experienced UK-based recruiters

  • Access to premium job boards and candidate pools

  • Fast turnarounds and shortlist delivery

  • Flexible packages for single or multiple hires


👉 Start your fixed fee recruitment campaign with Kamro

 
 
 

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