The cost of recruiting a developer is larger than the job ad or supplier invoice. Include the vacancy, internal time and the risk of having to restart the process.
Four costs to include
- External cost: job ads, sourcing tools, assessments and suppliers.
- Internal time: hours from the manager, HR, tech lead and interview team.
- Vacancy cost: delayed development, pressure on the team and lost delivery capacity.
- Risk cost: a poor match can mean another search, new onboarding and additional months without the right skills.
Three common pricing models
In-house advertising
A good fit when candidates are active, the role is clear and the organisation has time to manage selection. The visible cost is low, but internal time and a long vacancy can be significant.
Success fee
The supplier is paid when someone is hired, often as a percentage of annual salary. It reduces the initial cost but can be expensive for senior roles.
Search subscription
You pay for ongoing search capacity rather than a fee per hire. Tech Search costs SEK 25,000 per active role and month, excluding VAT, with no start fee, placement fee or minimum commitment.
When is ongoing search a good fit?
- The role targets people who rarely apply through job ads.
- You want continuous market activity and candidate presentations.
- You can run later interviews but need senior support with search, outreach and qualification.
- You want a predictable cost without a fee when someone is hired.
Compare what is included, who does the work, how often you receive updates and what happens when you hire. Assess the expected total cost, not only the lowest price.
Also read the guide to hard-to-fill tech roles.
Do you have a tech role that has stalled?
Tech Search gives you targeted sourcing and qualified candidates for a fixed monthly price — with no placement fee or minimum commitment.