ROI CalculatorHow Much Are Agency Fees
How Much Are Agency Fees
Really Costing You?
Adjust the sliders below to model your current recruiting spend and see your projected savings with the Blueprint Model™.
Your Hiring Inputs
Adjust the values to match your current recruiting reality.
8 hires
1 hires30 hires
$95,000
$50,000$250,000
20%
15%30%
2 active
1 active6 active
Agency fees in AEC typically range from 18–25% of first-year compensation. The national average is ~20%.
Annual Agency Cost
$152,000
$19,000 per hire
Blueprint Model Cost
$72,000
Growth Plan
Projected Annual Savings
$80,000
That's 53% less than you're paying today
Break-Even Point
3.8 hires
Blueprint pays for itself after
Value Multiple
2.1×
Return vs. agency spend
Recommended Blueprint Tier
Growth Plan
2 active searches · $6,000/month
- Zero per-hire placement fees
- Dedicated AEC recruiting team
- Unlimited hires within search capacity
- Passive candidate sourcing included
Side-by-Side
Blueprint Model™ vs. Traditional Agency
| Factor | Blueprint Model™ | Traditional Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Structure | Fixed monthly retainer | 18–25% per-hire fee |
| Cost Predictability | ✓ 100% predictable | ✗ Varies with every hire |
| Hiring Volume | ✓ Unlimited within capacity | ✗ Each hire costs more |
| Dedicated Resources | ✓ Your team, full time | ✗ Shared across clients |
| Passive Talent Access | ✓ Continuous outreach | ✗ Reactive, on-demand |
| AEC Specialization | ✓ AEC-only focus | ✗ Often generalist |
| Employer Branding | ✓ Included | ✗ Not typically included |
| Workforce Planning | ✓ Proactive partnership | ✗ Transactional |
Stop Paying Per Hire.
Start Building a Pipeline.
The Blueprint Model™ turns your recruiting from a cost center into a competitive advantage.