How to Choose a Fractional Recruiter: A Practical Checklist
October 24, 2026 · Chris Stinson, The Kas Group
Short answer: Choose a fractional recruiter who fills the roles you are hiring every week. Ask who does the sourcing and screening, when you see a first look at the market, what the monthly fee covers, how you pause, and who owns the candidates. Good partners answer each one with specifics.
New to the model? Start with what fractional recruiting is and how it works. This page is for the next step: picking the partner.
How to Choose a Fractional Recruiter: The Checklist
Score each item before your first call and again after it.
| Checklist item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Role focus | They recruit the roles you are hiring, and they can name recent searches like yours. |
| Who does the work | You know the person who sources, screens and joins your debriefs. |
| Speed to a first look | They commit to a date for a first market scan or shortlist. |
| How they screen | For sales roles, they check quota history and deal detail, not just titles. |
| Pricing and terms | Pricing is written down, with clear terms for pausing or stopping. |
| Ownership | You own every candidate name, and the work stays in your process and tools. |
| Reporting | You get a regular update on pipeline, interviews and what the market is telling you. |
Questions to Ask a Fractional Recruiter
Ask these on the first call. Listen for specifics.
| Question | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Which roles like ours have you filled recently? | Names the roles, the level and what made each search hard. |
| Who will source, screen and join our debriefs? | Names one accountable person and explains how the work is split. |
| How soon will we see a first look at the market? | Gives a date and says what the first look will include. |
| How do you check a sales candidate's track record? | Walks through quota history, deal size and who owned the deal. |
| What does the monthly fee cover? | Says how many seats or roles are included and what changes the price. |
| How do we pause or stop? | Explains the notice and what happens to the pipeline. |
| Who owns the candidates and the data? | You do, in your own tools. |
Before You Sign: Get These Ready
- A short scorecard for each role: the must haves, the deal size and the motion.
- A pay band you can share with candidates.
- Interviewers and time slots for the first two weeks.
- One owner on your side who can make a call on candidates fast.
A partner can move only as fast as your interview loop.
The First 30 Days
- Week 1: agree on the scorecard, comp band and first milestone.
- Week 1 to 2: review the first look at the market. Adjust the profile if the market says so.
- Weeks 2 to 4: first interviews and debriefs. Judge the fit on shortlist quality and pace.
How The Kas Group Answers These Questions
- Kas Seat: $5,000 a month for up to two open sales roles, $8,000 a month for three to five, up to $10,000 for senior AE and above. Month to month.
- Kas Milestone Search: $5,000 for an SDR or BDR, $7,500 for an AE, $10,000 for a senior AE or sales manager.
- Kas Directed Pursuit: pricing on request.
- First look: a market scan in 48 to 72 hours for SDR through Sales Manager roles.
- Ownership: you own every candidate name, and the work stays in your process and tools.
Details are on the programs page.
Choosing a partner now?
Email me the roles you are hiring. I will answer every question on this page for your search.
Email [email protected]Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose a fractional recruiter?
Start with the roles. Pick a partner who recruits those roles every week. Then ask who does the sourcing and screening, how fast you see a first look at the market, how pricing and terms work, and who owns the candidate names. Good answers are specific and come with examples.
What questions should I ask a fractional recruiter?
Ask which roles they filled most recently, who on their side will source and screen, how they check a sales candidate's quota history, how soon you see a first market scan, how many hours or seats your monthly fee covers, how you pause or stop, and whether you keep every candidate name.
What should a fractional recruiter cost?
It depends on the model. At The Kas Group, Kas Seat is $5,000 a month for up to two open sales roles and $8,000 a month for three to five, up to $10,000 for senior AE and above. Kas Milestone Search is $5,000 for an SDR or BDR, $7,500 for an AE and $10,000 for a senior AE or sales manager. Kas Directed Pursuit is priced on request.
How long should I give a fractional recruiter before judging the fit?
Agree on the first milestones before you start. A clear scorecard and a first look at the market should come early. At The Kas Group, the market scan lands in 48 to 72 hours for SDR through Sales Manager roles. After that, judge on shortlist quality and how fast interviews move.
Further reading: What Is Fractional Recruiting? · Fractional Recruiting for Startups · Fractional vs Contingency vs Retained · Programs