The real question isn't who's cheapest. It's how much work is still yours.
Every way of hiring help leaves some effort on your plate. See exactly how much each one leaves, and how much we take off it.
Book a 15-min call See our pricing model How are you getting work done today? Who carries the work, in each modelSame goal: a great hire who actually performs. The difference is how much of the effort stays with you.
| THE EFFORT | Hire in-house | Freelancer (direct) | Self-serve platform | Per-hour agency | One-time placement | Staff4Half |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Find the talent | You | You | You | Shared | They source, you decide | We source. 2 to 3 curated profiles in under a week |
| Vet and verify | You | You | You | They do | They do | We do |
| Onboard and ramp | You | You | You | You | You | We guide it. 30-day activation roadmap |
| Day-to-day follow-up | You | You | You | You | You | Your account manager |
| Payroll and admin | You | You | You | Sometimes | You | Included |
| If it doesn't work | Rehire, start over | Start over | Start over | Replacement | Start over | 3-month trial, free replacement, no exit fees |
| What you pay | Salary + taxes + benefits + your time | Hourly + your time | Subscription + salary | Hourly rate | One-time fee + salary | One fixed monthly fee, everything included |
Tell us the roleApprove the matchDo your actual workGive feedback when it mattersSource and vet the talentRun the 30-day onboardingTrack performance and check inHandle payroll and adminStep in if anything slipsA traditional hire means you run the whole machine.
Weeks of posting, screening, interviewsPayroll, taxes, benefits, equipmentTraining the role from zeroThe cost and risk if it doesn't work2 to 3 vetted fits in under a weekOne fixed monthly fee, all includedA 30-day activation roadmapA 3-month trial with free replacementGoing direct looks cheaper until you count the effort.
Vetting with no safety netNo continuity if they disappearChasing invoices and time zonesNo one accountable but youWe vet, and back it with a replacementA real bench and an account manager behind your hirePayroll handled, US-aligned hoursYour account manager owns the relationshipNot louder. Just less for you to carry, and a team that actually knows you.
Pricing built in the open
You see every tier and every number before you ever talk to us. No "contact us for pricing," no markup you can't trace. You know what you pay, and what it buys.
A real account manager
Not a ticket queue, not a chatbot. One person who knows your hire and your business, and who checks in before you have to ask.
A boutique, not a machine
We take on few clients on purpose. You're not account number four thousand. Yours gets attention, by design.
Reading résumés, chasing leads, second-guessing every shortlist.
You stop reading résumés. We bring 2 to 3 curated fits in under a week.
Guessing at market rates and negotiating in the dark.
Public pricing by seniority. You know the number before you talk to us.
Inventing week one from scratch, hoping it sticks.
A 30-day activation roadmap, so week one isn't yours to invent.
Managing alone, noticing problems only once they hurt.
A real account manager watches the work, not just the contract.
Eating the full cost and lost time if the hire doesn't work.
Three-month trial, free replacement, no exit fees.
You stay in charge of the work. We take the work of finding, onboarding, and following up.
Going direct leaves you without a safety net. We back every hire. Book a 15-min call → No preparation needed. We'll map the role on the call.