These are the most common questions business owners ask about executive recruiting. Every answer is based on our experience working with growth-stage companies doing $1M to $50M in revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an executive search firm charge?
Retained executive search firms charge 25-35% of the hired executive's first-year compensation. For a $250K total comp hire, expect to pay $62,500-$87,500. Contingency recruiters charge 20-25% but only if they make the placement. WETYR uses a retained model with milestone-based payments to align incentives.
How long does an executive search take?
A typical executive search takes 60-120 days from kickoff to signed offer. This includes 2 weeks for role definition and sourcing strategy, 4-6 weeks for candidate identification and outreach, 2-3 weeks for interviews and assessment, and 1-2 weeks for offer negotiation and closing.
What is the difference between retained and contingency recruiting?
Retained search firms are paid upfront (usually in three installments) and work exclusively on your search. Contingency recruiters are only paid if they fill the role and often work on multiple searches simultaneously. For C-suite and VP-level roles, retained search is the standard because it ensures dedicated attention and confidentiality.
When should a company hire a VP of Sales?
Hire a VP of Sales when you have proven product-market fit, a repeatable sales process, and at least $1M-$2M in ARR. The VP of Sales should inherit a working playbook and scale it, not create one from scratch. If you do not have a repeatable process yet, you need a player-coach who can close deals AND build the team.
How do I know if I need a CTO or a VP of Engineering?
Hire a CTO if you need someone to set technical vision, evaluate architecture decisions, and represent technology to investors and customers. Hire a VP of Engineering if you need someone to manage the engineering team, improve development processes, and ship product reliably. Companies under $10M ARR often need both roles combined in one person.
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