Answer
How much does executive search cost?
Reviewed by Tito Caceres, Founder & CEOUpdated July 2026
Executive search is priced one of two ways: a contingency fee set as a percentage of the hire's first-year compensation, due only when they start, or a retained fee paid in structured stages from kickoff to placement. The investment scales with the seniority and difficulty of the seat, and a clear proposal spells it out before any commitment.
What actually drives the fee
What actually shapes the number is how you commit and how hard the seat is to fill, not a sticker price. A confidential, fully retained executive search is resourced differently from a single contingency role, and the fee reflects that.
What the fee buys you
Bloom backs placements with a replacement guarantee sized to the engagement — 45 to 90 days on a contingency search, 90 days on an engaged search, and up to 12 months on a fully retained search — alongside a 90%+ one-year retention track record, so the fee buys a hire who stays, not just a hire who starts. You see the model that fits the seat before any commitment, with no hidden add-ons.
Related
Do candidates pay anything?
No. It is always free for candidates. The hiring company covers the fee, so candidates get a specialist representing them at no cost.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, and it scales with the engagement: 45 to 90 days on a contingency search, 90 days on an engaged search, and up to 12 months on a fully retained search, plus onboarding and performance tracking so problems surface early.