The Search Sprint
Flat-Fee Recruiting, No Percentage Games
25 years of talent network, sharpened with AI sourcing. $12,000 per sprint. No percentage games, no 6-month retainers, no agency math.
What It Is
Traditional agencies charge 20-30% of first-year salary — uncapped, unpredictable, and the same regardless of how hard the role actually is to fill. The Search Sprint replaces that with one number: $12,000 per role, covering 45 hours of dedicated, expert recruiting time. Guaranteed. Predictable. Yours to budget around.
Predictable Recruiting Economics
| Target Salary | Traditional Agency (25%) | Keystone Sprint | Net Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $90,000 | $22,500 | $12,000 | $10,500 |
| $120,000 | $30,000 | $12,000 | $18,000 |
| $180,000 | $45,000 | $12,000 | $33,000 |
Second-Hire Advantage: Add an identical second hire within the same active sprint for +$5,000 — multiply the savings on repeat roles instead of paying full agency fees twice.
Real Client Results
10 for 10. Every role in this multi-hire engagement got filled. Representative examples:
| Role | Base Salary | Agency Fee (25%) | Keystone Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Executive Assistant | $130,000 | $32,500 | $12,000 |
| Sr. Software Engineer — Full Stack | $147,500 | $36,875 | $12,000 |
| Sr. Software Engineer (2nd Hire) | $145,000 | $36,250 | $5,000 |
Across the full 10-role program: typical agency fees would have run $328,125. Keystone Sprint fees: $113,000. Verified savings: $215,125.
“The Search Sprint model solved a problem we didn’t realize we had. As a mid-market company, we couldn’t justify $30K-$40K agency fees per hire, but we also couldn’t afford to leave critical roles unfilled. Keystone’s flat-fee structure gave us enterprise-quality recruiting at an SMB price point. More importantly, James took the time to understand both our technical requirements and our culture—something contingency recruiters never have the incentive to do. We’ve filled multiple roles over the past year, turning the service on exactly when we need it. That’s the kind of flexible, long-term partnership that works in today’s market.”
COO, The Media Trust
How the Search Sprint Works
Define
Role scope, search terms, process, and communication cadence aligned on Day 1.
Calibrate
Search opens immediately with broad market mapping and early candidate signal checks.
Screen
First screened candidates typically in 3-5 days; pipeline managed actively until fill.
Close
Interviews, feedback loops, and offer readiness managed to accelerate decision-making.
Enterprise Scaling
Running more than one search at once? Retainer options are available for prolonged engagement and hiring needs — customizable structures for multi-search programs, with maximum priority and dedicated capacity.
Ideal For
Companies who need a critical hire fast, without paying a percentage of salary for it — one role, or a running program of them.
Explore other ways to work with Keystone: AI Talent Acceleration · Fractional TA Leadership · FAQ
Ready to See It Work?
Book a free Discovery Call, or start with one Search Sprint and see the candidate quality and speed firsthand.