Marketplace Fee Model
TAL.co's marketplace operates on a success-fee model: companies pay when a placement is made, not when a search is posted. This section explains how that fee flows from company to platform to recruiter — with full transparency.
- 01Role postedStructured intake brief
- 02Recruiters matchedAI-ranked, recruiter-chosen
- 03Candidates sourcedNetwork + AI sourcing
- 04AI scoredFit ranking signals
- 05InterviewsCoordinated automatically
- 06HirePlacement tracked
The success-fee model, explained
In a success-fee model, the recruiting fee is only charged when a candidate is placed and accepted into the role. There is no retainer, no engagement fee, and no charge for sourcing activity that doesn't result in a hire. This aligns the interests of the company, the recruiter, and the platform — everyone earns when a placement is made.
TAL.co's marketplace applies this model across all standard searches. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year base compensation, and varies by role category and seniority. The fee is split between TAL.co (platform infrastructure, AI agents, marketplace coordination) and the recruiting partner who made the placement.
How the fee model works
Fee trigger: placement acceptance
The success fee is triggered when a candidate accepts an offer and a start date is confirmed. The fee is not triggered by offer extension — only by accepted placement. This is consistent with industry-standard contingency search economics.
Fee calculation: % of first-year base
The fee is calculated as a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year base compensation — not total cash, not OTE for variable-comp roles. The percentage varies by role category (e.g., individual contributor vs. leadership vs. executive). Configurable for Managed Search and Enterprise accounts.
Fee split: platform + recruiter
The gross fee is split between TAL.co (for platform infrastructure, AI sourcing, marketplace coordination) and the recruiter who made the placement. The recruiter's share is their commission. The specific split is disclosed in recruiter and company agreements before any search activation.
No double-fee for AI-sourced candidates
When a placement is sourced by a TAL.co AI agent rather than a human recruiter, the fee structure is adjusted accordingly — companies are not charged a full recruiter commission on AI-sourced placements. The specific structure for AI-sourced placements is disclosed in the company agreement.
Success-fee flow
From placement acceptance to platform fee and recruiter commission — how the money moves.
- 01Role postedStructured intake brief
- 02Recruiters matchedAI-ranked, recruiter-chosen
- 03Candidates sourcedNetwork + AI sourcing
- 04AI scoredFit ranking signals
- 05InterviewsCoordinated automatically
- 06HirePlacement tracked
The fee lifecycle
- 01
Search posted — no fee
A company posts a search and activates the marketplace. No fee is charged at this stage.
- 02
Recruiters activate — no fee
Vetted recruiters and AI agents begin sourcing. No fee is charged for sourcing activity.
- 03
Submissions reviewed — no fee
Candidates are submitted, reviewed, interviewed, and evaluated. No fee is charged until placement.
- 04
Offer extended — no fee yet
The company extends an offer. The fee is not triggered until the offer is accepted.
- 05
Placement confirmed — fee applies
The candidate accepts the offer and a start date is confirmed. The success fee is calculated and invoiced according to the company agreement terms.
Questions, answered
What if the placed candidate leaves within 90 days?
TAL.co's standard placement guarantee provides a replacement search or partial fee credit if a placed candidate departs within the guarantee period. Specific guarantee terms are outlined in the company agreement.
Is the fee percentage the same for all role types?
No. Fee percentages vary by role category and seniority. Executive and leadership searches typically carry a higher percentage than individual contributor searches. Current fee schedules are disclosed in the company agreement.
What happens if a candidate is sourced by both an AI agent and a human recruiter?
Candidate sourcing attribution is tracked in the platform. The source-of-record is the first legitimate submission or sourcing action. Fee structures for mixed-source placements are defined in the company and recruiter agreements.
Are there any platform fees for companies that don't make a placement?
Standard marketplace accounts have no platform fee if no placement is made. Managed Search monthly platform fees apply regardless of placement outcomes — see the Managed Search description for details.
Related
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