in short
In France, a recruitment agency usually charges a percentage of the role's gross annual salary, paid on success or in several instalments, sometimes from the start. No public scale sets that rate: it is negotiated. With Muzzo, you set the fee yourself, between 5 and 30%, and only pay it when you hire.
how does a recruitment agency set its fees?
An agency quote comes down to three things: the basis (the pay the rate applies to), the rate or amount, and the payment schedule. Check all three before comparing two offers: a low rate on a broad basis can cost more than a high rate on base salary alone.
a percentage of annual pay
This is the most common model. The agency charges a percentage of the hire's gross annual pay. The contract states whether bonuses, commission or benefits count towards the basis: it is the first line to read.
a flat fee
Some agencies offer a fixed price per hire, whatever the salary. A flat fee makes the budget predictable and suits standard roles or volume hiring.
on success or in instalments
The schedule matters as much as the rate. Apec, the French executive employment agency, describes two models among agencies working with SMEs: on success (you pay when you hire) or in three stages (payments spread over the assignment). In the second case, read the contract closely: a payment due before the hire usually stays with the agency, even if nobody is hired.
19%
of French SMEs have a precise idea of agency prices and fee models, against 53% of large companies
Apec, Le recours des PME aux cabinets privés de recrutement, 2024 (in French) (opens a new window), 2024 data
42%
of French companies with 10+ staff used an intermediary for at least one executive hire
Apec, Pratiques de recrutement de cadres 2026 (in French) (opens a new window), 2025 data
is there a standard rate for a recruitment agency?
No. Agency fees are unregulated in France: no law and no professional body currently publishes an open scale we could cite. The ranges you find online are mostly published by agencies themselves. We do not repeat them here.
Apec's SME study notes that price is a selection criterion that is “rarely negotiated, with little competitive tendering”, and that guarantee clauses are often offered. In other words: ask for several quotes and negotiate. Two offers differ as much on the basis and schedule as on the rate.
To estimate a budget, run the numbers yourself from the role's salary. The table below shows how, with rates taken from the range used on Muzzo, 5 to 30%.
| gross annual pay | 10% rate | 20% rate | 30% rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| €45,000 | €4,500 | €9,000 | €13,500 |
| €60,000 | €6,000 | €12,000 | €18,000 |
| €90,000 | €9,000 | €18,000 | €27,000 |
who pays the recruitment agency: the employer or the candidate?
Always the employer. French labour law forbids charging job seekers: under article L5321-3 of the Code du travail (opens a new window), no payment, direct or indirect, may be required from people looking for work in return for placement services (apart from specific cases for performing artists and sports agents).
A reputable agency never charges candidates. If one does, walk away.
what does a recruitment agency guarantee cover?
The guarantee protects you if the new hire leaves in the first months. It is not required by law: its length and terms depend on the contract. It usually takes two forms: a new search at no cost (replacement) or a partial refund of the fee.
The risk is real. In France, the probation period of a permanent contract can last up to four months for an executive (article L1221-19 of the Code du travail (opens a new window)), and a significant share of permanent contracts end at that stage.
902,400
permanent contracts ended at the close of the probation period in 2024, out of 4,233,000 ended in the French private sector
Before signing, ask three questions: how long it lasts, which departures are covered (resignation, probation ended by you), and what happens if no replacement is found.
how much does hiring with muzzo cost?
On Muzzo, nothing is charged at launch. You post your role, set the fee between 5 and 30% depending on how hard the hire is, and the assignment goes to the headhunters who have hired the most in that field, among more than 2,500 selected headhunters. You only pay on hire: no deposit, no subscription, no exclusivity.
| model | who sets the price | when you pay | if nobody is hired | guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| success-fee agency | the agency, on quote | on hire | nothing to pay | per contract |
| instalment agency | the agency, on quote | in several instalments, per contract | instalments paid are owed | per contract |
| flat fee | the agency, fixed price | per contract | per contract | per contract |
| Muzzo | you, from 5 to 30% | on hire | nothing to pay | replacement within 3 months, 50% refunded without a replacement within 4 months |
how do you pay the right price for a hire?
- Set the rate by how hard the role is. A rare or urgent profile justifies a higher rate than one that is easy to find.
- Write a precise brief: responsibilities, real salary, the criteria that matter and the ones you can flex on. A vague brief drags the search out.
- Read the basis and the schedule before the rate, and get the guarantee in writing.
- Pick a specialist in the role. For sales recruitment, a business developer, developers or a management accountant, a headhunter who knows the market sends fewer off-target profiles.
For a leadership role, also read our guide headhunter or recruitment agency: the search method changes the price as much as the rate.
frequently asked questions
How much does a headhunter cost?
A headhunter also charges a percentage of the role’s gross annual pay, on success or in instalments depending on the contract. No public scale sets the rate. On Muzzo, you set the fee between 5 and 30% and pay it on hire.
Do you pay a recruitment agency if nobody is hired?
On a success fee, no: nothing is owed without a hire. In an instalment model, what you paid at launch and during the search stays with the agency, even if the search fails.
Are recruitment agency fees negotiable?
Yes. Fees are unregulated, and Apec observes that French SMEs rarely negotiate them. Compare several quotes on basis, rate, schedule and guarantee.
Does the candidate pay the agency anything?
No. Article L5321-3 of the French Code du travail forbids requiring any payment from job seekers for placement services. The employer pays.
What happens if the new hire leaves during probation?
It depends on the guarantee in the contract. With Muzzo, if the new hire leaves within 3 months, the search is relaunched at no cost, and 50% of the fee is refunded if no replacement is found within 4 months.
sources
- Apec, Le recours des PME aux cabinets privés de recrutement, 2024 (in French) (opens a new window)
- Apec, Pratiques de recrutement de cadres 2026 (in French) (opens a new window)
- Insee, Emploi, chômage, revenus du travail, 2025 edition (Dares data, in French) (opens a new window)
- Code du travail, article L5321-3 (Légifrance, in French) (opens a new window)
- Code du travail, article L1221-19 (Légifrance, in French) (opens a new window)