Main contract
Contingency recruiting agreement
Fee percentage, triggering event, replacement guarantee, exclusivity window, and candidate off-limits. The document every search engagement needs.
Independent recruiters and small staffing agencies — placement agreements, contingency fees, replacement guarantees, exclusivity windows, and candidate non-solicitation. Free.
Free. No registration. No card. No catch.
What makes recruiting contracts different
A recruiting agreement has to nail down the fee basis (percentage of base salary or total comp), what triggers payment (offer acceptance vs. start date vs. X days employed), the replacement guarantee if the hire doesn't work out, and whether you have an exclusivity window to prevent the client from hiring candidates you introduced without paying your fee.
Placement fee as a percentage of base salary or total comp. Triggering event (offer accepted, start date, or 30/60/90 days employed). Replacement guarantee terms. Exclusivity window. Off-limits / candidate non-solicitation. Retained vs. contingency fee structure.
Contingency recruiting, retained search, temp-to-hire staffing, contract staffing, executive search, and multi-position agreements with volume fee schedules.
BizDraft asks about your fee structure (contingency vs. retained), fee basis (base salary or total comp), triggering event, replacement guarantee period, exclusivity window, and candidate non-solicitation terms.
The recruiting stack
Generate per engagement type. Every search starts with a signed agreement.
Main contract
Fee percentage, triggering event, replacement guarantee, exclusivity window, and candidate off-limits. The document every search engagement needs.
Executive search
Upfront retainer, milestone payments, exclusive engagement, and completion fee. For senior or hard-to-fill roles where you commit to the search.
Temp staffing
Temp or contract worker placement. Bill rate, pay rate, temp-to-hire conversion fee, workers' comp responsibility, and co-employment disclaimer.
Multi-position
Multiple positions or ongoing hiring relationship. Fee schedule by level, exclusivity terms by role, and preferred vendor status terms.
Confidentiality
Mutual confidentiality covering candidate identities, client headcount plans, compensation structures, and strategic hiring intentions.
Common deal types
Contingency
Standard contingency recruiting. Fee as a percentage of first-year base salary, triggered on the candidate's start date, with a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Retained
Upfront retainer, exclusivity, and completion fee. For VP, director, or C-suite searches where the client commits to your firm as the exclusive search partner.
Temp-to-hire
Candidate starts as a contractor, converts to full-time after a defined period. Bill rate for contract period, conversion fee schedule based on time worked before conversion.
Niche
Engineering, finance, or other specialist recruiting. Premium fee rate reflecting candidate scarcity, longer replacement guarantee, and exclusivity window.
Volume
Ongoing hiring relationship for multiple roles. Tiered fee schedule by level, defined exclusivity period per role, and preferred vendor terms.
The recruiting risk map
Client hires your candidate directly after you introduced them but outside your agreement window. Fix: candidate introduction clause with a defined ownership period — if client hires within 12 months, your fee is due.
Client argues your fee isn't due because the candidate didn't start. Fix: explicit triggering event — offer letter signed, start date, or X days employed — defined unambiguously in the agreement.
Hire works out but client terminates them for reasons unrelated to performance and demands a replacement. Fix: replacement guarantee with defined eligibility — involuntary termination for performance only, not layoffs or role elimination.
Client is working with three recruiters on the same role. You find a great candidate but can't control if they apply directly. Fix: exclusivity clause locking your firm as the exclusive recruiter for the specific role during the search window.
Client directly solicits candidates you introduced for other positions without engaging you. Fix: candidate non-solicitation clause covering all candidates introduced through you for a defined period.
Your flow with BizDraft
Contingency, retained, temp-to-hire — BizDraft shapes the agreement around your fee structure.
Fee percentage, triggering event, replacement guarantee period, exclusivity window, non-solicitation terms.
Adjust fee trigger, guarantee terms, or exclusivity clause inline before downloading.
Word or PDF. E-sign before submitting the first candidate. Done in five minutes.
Free. Built for how recruiting work actually runs.
Draft your agreement