in short
On success, you only pay an agency or headhunter when you hire: no risk if the search fails. With a retainer, part of the fee is due from the start, in exchange for a priority commitment, mostly for strategic roles. Muzzo only works on success, with a double guarantee.
what is a success fee?
On a success fee, the agency or headhunter is only paid once the role is filled. Nothing is owed during the search, even if it takes several months. The risk of failure sits with the provider, not your budget.
what is a retainer, and why do some agencies ask for one?
A retainer pays part of the fee before any result, in exchange for the headhunter's priority commitment to your search. Our guide headhunter fees: how do they work covers how it works and what clauses to check before signing.
what are the risks of each model?
| criterion | success fee | retainer / instalments |
|---|---|---|
| when you pay | on hire | partly from the start |
| if the search fails | nothing to pay | instalments paid usually stay due |
| priority given to your search | depends on the headhunter's interest in the role | reinforced by the financial commitment |
| budget | controlled, no advance | to plan for even without a result |
when does a retainer make sense?
A retainer mostly makes sense for a small number of high-stakes searches: an executive role, a confidential search, a profile that a standard search cannot find. The choice of model now concerns more SMEs, as more of them use a provider for executive hires.
49%
of French SMEs (10 to 249 staff) that hired executives in 2023 used a provider for at least one of those hires, up from 39% in 2019
Apec, Le recours des PME aux cabinets privés de recrutement, 2024 (in French) (opens a new window), 2023 data
Beyond that case, a success fee is enough: it shifts the risk of failure onto the provider, without putting the uncertainty on your budget.
how does muzzo combine simplicity and a guarantee?
Muzzo only works on success: you set the fee between 5 and 30% of gross annual pay, and only pay it on hire, for an executive role just as for a standard one.
frequently asked questions
Does a retainer guarantee a better result?
Not on its own. It commits the headhunter to prioritise your search, but does not guarantee a hire. Read the guarantee that comes with it, not just the payment model.
Can you negotiate switching from a retainer to a success fee?
Yes, it is a clause like any other. Some agencies offer both models depending on the role.
Does a success fee suit an urgent recruitment?
Yes: urgency is better reflected in a higher fee percentage (read our guide [what fee percentage should you set](/guides/pourcentage-de-commission-recrutement)) than in a change to the payment schedule.
What do you pay if a Muzzo assignment does not succeed?
Nothing. Muzzo only works on success: you only pay on hire, with no retainer and no upfront payment.