$1,500 total. $500 to start. $1,000 on hire.
TruthHire’s placement fee is split into two transparent stages — a $500 downpayment to begin vetting (fully refundable until you confirm a hire), plus a $1,000 final invoice paid in full before we hand over your hire. No retainers. No markups. No conversion penalties. Zero risk to start.
$1,500 total
$500 down + $1,000 on hire. Paid in two transparent stages.
No markup
Zero agency margin on candidate salary.
No lock-in
Pay once. Hire direct. Forever yours.
90-day guarantee
Replacement at no charge if it doesn't work.
How the $1,500 breaks down
Stage 1 — $500 downpayment
Paid after the kickoff call to begin vetting. FULLY REFUNDABLE if our vetting work doesn't impress. The $500 is credited toward your $1,500 total — not an extra fee. This payment qualifies serious clients and protects our sourcing investment.
Stage 2 — $1,000 final invoice
Issued the moment you confirm your hiring decision. Must be paid in full BEFORE we transfer the candidate's contract paperwork and contact details. No partial payments, no escrow, no payment plans.
What you get for $1,500
Everything below is included in your $1,500 total placement fee. No hidden costs. No upsells. No “pro tier” that unlocks the real value. Same package whether you’re hiring your first EA in San Francisco or your fifth ops manager in Sydney.
- Full vetting funnel — we screen 50-100 candidates per role through our four-pillar process.
- Kickoff call — 15-minute alignment to define "success in 90 days" for the specific role.
- 5 vetted finalists — shortlisted candidates ready to interview, already through our human-quality screens.
- Video introductions — 2-3 minute Loom from each finalist so you see them before you commit your time.
- Interview notes — our scoring across all four pillars with specific observations from screening.
- Reference call summaries — real conversations with past managers (where available), not just checkbox checks.
- Sample work — a real artifact from each candidate: deck, email, automation, code, or design.
- AI fluency verification — demonstrated proof, not claims, of daily AI tool use.
- Custom assessment facilitation — your test, your standards, run by us with the finalists.
- 90-day replacement guarantee — any reason, no paperwork, new round at zero additional cost.
What's NOT included (we're upfront about this)
We’re explicit about what TruthHire doesn’t do — so you know what to expect, can plan accordingly, and don’t get surprised later. If any of the items below are dealbreakers, we’ll tell you upfront on the consult call and point you toward better-fit alternatives.
- Payroll processing — you pay candidates directly via Wise, Deel, Remote.com, or your own payroll. TruthHire is not your payroll provider.
- International tax compliance — your candidate handles taxes in their country; you handle compliance in yours. We're happy to share resources but we don't file paperwork.
- Performance management — reviews, raises, training, and termination are between you and your hire after placement.
- HR services — no benefits packages, insurance, or HRIS through TruthHire. Your candidate manages their own.
- Ongoing recruitment for the same hire — after Day 30 (and outside the 90-day guarantee window), we step out of the loop.
- Roles AI can do better — if your job description is pure data entry, scripted Tier-1 support, calendar scheduling, or bulk transaction tagging, we'll tell you to use an AI tool instead. We don't take placements that get automated in 6 months.
How $1,500 total stacks up against the alternatives
Here’s what hiring the same role looks like through each common model. Hover the TruthHire option — it’s not even close.
TRUTHHIRE
$1,500 TOTAL $500 refundable downpayment + $1,000 on hire. No retainer, no markup, no conversion fee. Hire is yours forever.
TRADITIONAL RECRUITER
$12,000 - $28,000 25-35% of the candidate's first-year salary. Charged once per hire. If the hire leaves, fee usually non-refundable.
MONTHLY STAFFING
$1,500 - $3,000 / MONTH Perpetual. As long as the hire works for you, you pay. 12 months = $18,000 - $36,000. 3 years = $54,000+.
MARKETPLACE / PLATFORM
$14,000 - $50,000 Hourly rate ($35-150/hr) for the engagement PLUS a conversion fee if you ever want to hire them directly. The "lock-in tax."
Real example: hiring a $50,000/year executive assistant.
Traditional recruiter: 25% of salary = $12,500 once.
Monthly staffing service: $2,000/month × 36 months = $72,000 over 3 years.
Marketplace: $50/hr × 40hrs × 50 weeks = $100,000 + a $20,000 conversion fee if you want to hire direct.
TruthHire: $1,500 once. Total cost across 3 years = $1,500.
Same hire. Same quality bar (we vet harder). Wildly different total cost.
When TruthHire ISN'T the right fit
Honest list of when you should pick a different tool. We’d rather lose a $1,500 placement than match you with the wrong service and damage your team. Here are the 5 scenarios where we’ll send you elsewhere on the consult call.
- You need someone starting next week. Our 21-day vetting is the honest minimum. For urgent hires, marketplaces (Upwork, Toptal) move faster — at a cost in quality.
- You need W-2 employees in your country. We place independent contractors from PH and LATAM. If you need local W-2 employees, an Employer of Record like Deel, Remote, or Oyster is your tool.
- You need someone in-office. Every TruthHire candidate is remote. For roles requiring physical presence (warehouse, retail, in-person customer-facing), local recruiters fit better.
- The role is pure data entry, scripted Tier-1 support, calendar scheduling, or bulk bookkeeping categorization. Use AI tools (Lindy, Decagon, Motion, ChatGPT). Cheaper, faster, often better. We'll tell you upfront.
- You need a short-term contractor (under 3 months). Our $1,500 fee makes sense for 12+ month engagements. For a quick 4-8 week project, freelance platforms are more economical.
If any of the above describes your role, tell us on the consult — we’ll point you to the right alternative. We’re a recruitment service, not a sales floor.
Pricing FAQ
The money questions prospects ask in every consult — answered here so you don’t have to.
When am I invoiced — before, during, or after vetting?
The placement fee is split in two stages. You pay $500 as a refundable downpayment after the kickoff call to begin vetting. The $500 stays refundable through the entire vetting + shortlist process. The moment you tell us “I want to hire this candidate,” we issue the $1,000 final invoice — at that point the $500 becomes non-refundable. The $1,000 must be paid in full before we hand over your hire’s contract and contact details. Total = $1,500.
Why is your fee less than half of what traditional recruiters charge?
Lean operation. No sales floor, no retainers to maintain, no agency markup on the candidate’s salary. We charge $1,500 because that’s what the work costs — not what we can extract.
Can I negotiate the fee or pay over time?
The fee is flat for everyone — $500 + $1,000. No volume discounts, no payment plans beyond the standard two-stage structure, no negotiation. Simple keeps it fair.
Is the $500 downpayment really refundable?
Yes — fully refundable up until you confirm a hire from our shortlist. The downpayment becomes non-refundable the moment you tell us “I want to hire this candidate,” at which point we issue the $1,000 final invoice. Before that decision — during vetting, during shortlist review, or if you simply decide not to proceed — the $500 is yours to claim back in writing. Refund processed within 7 business days.
What about VAT, GST, or international currency?
We invoice in USD via Stripe. For UK and Australian clients, VAT/GST is generally not charged on B2B services exported from the US under most current rules — but always check with your local accountant. We provide invoice formats your accountant needs.
What if I cancel mid-process?
Cancel within 7 days of the kickoff call: zero charge. After Day 7, we’ve started sourcing — you either continue with us or keep any candidates we’ve already found, your call. We don’t claw back work.
Do I pay you again if the candidate stays long-term?
No. Ever. The $1,500 is a one-time placement fee. No royalties, no annual fees, no “loyalty tax.” Once you’ve paid, we’re done invoicing — even if the candidate works for you for the next 10 years.
Ready to make your next hire without paying $10,000+ for the privilege?
Free 15-minute consult — honest answers, no pitch. We’ll either confirm we’re the right fit, or point you to the better alternative for your situation.
Flat $1,500 · 21-day delivery · 90-day replacement guarantee · Pay once, own the hire