Setting up a recruitment agency - HELP

[Zazz101]

I am just wanting to draw on some mums net experience if I can. I am in the process of setting up a niche recruitment/ executive search agency. I have many years experience, but all over seas. I am struggling finding out what fees I should be charging, as they seem to vary so much. I obviously want to be competitive. I really need some advice on fees for contingent assignments, and retained. Thank you in advance to anyone that can help me.

I've paid in the past anything up to 30% of basic for executive search of a senior role. Also agreed for one role fixed amount up front to manage applications / screening (that they and the company had attracted) and the % fee if we recruited one of their applicants.

There are many forms of fee charges and executive search / head hunting is going to be specific and tailor made for the client.

Thank you so much for the reply, I do appreciate it. It does feel as if I have to pluck a figure out of thin air ! I think I will have to go ahead and get my T & Cs drawn up, and just change if I need to. Once again, thank you for the reply.

Not my core business, but I'll do one or two senior appointments a year. I charge 25% of annual salary and then client pays as follows:

30% at start
30% on getting to shortlist
30% on appointment

I don't offer a refund if candidate leaves etc but client knows that upfront.

Oops - that should have been 33.3% at each stage!

We never pay more than 20% of basic but then we do have decent volumes for them over the year.

Thank you so much for the replies, it all really does help !

I think sector could be really important in my sector recruitment companies charge 10% of basic which they receive once the candidate has started in the role.
It is a very competitive sector both candidates and companies will register with several agencies when looking. It is not uncommon when you are recruiting to receive the same candidate from two agencies. The time stamp on the email is then all important if you think the candidate is the right one as to which agency you use. This illustrates that different sectors use agencies in different ways hence why fees are often so variable.