HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a recruitment agency in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A recruitment agency in Ireland costs €2,000–€15,000 per hire, typically around €5,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a recruitment agency in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers recruitment agency work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — onboarding Support — many recruitment agencies offer onboarding services to help new hires transition smoothly into their roles.
- How does complexity of the recruitment process change the price?It is worth being specific about when you ask for a price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does agency's expertise change the price?Existing damage has to be made good before the new work goes on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Recruitment agency fees usually do not cover additional costs such as advertising job postings, background checks, or any relocation expenses for candidates — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a recruitment agency job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
- Who insures you, and what is the policy number?Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — employer Branding — recruitment agencies assist businesses in enhancing their employer brand to attract top talent.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether they are a trader — a business name and an invoice, not a favour with money attached; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; For anyone in your home unaccompanied, references you actually telephone; For food, whether they hold food-safety training and where the food is prepared; Exactly what the hours cover and what counts as extra; Keys and access in writing: who holds what, and how it comes back.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers recruitment agency work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — onboarding Support — many recruitment agencies offer onboarding services to help new hires transition smoothly into their roles.
A good answer: It is worth being specific about when you ask for a price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Existing damage has to be made good before the new work goes on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Recruitment agency fees usually do not cover additional costs such as advertising job postings, background checks, or any relocation expenses for candidates — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a recruitment agency job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — employer Branding — recruitment agencies assist businesses in enhancing their employer brand to attract top talent.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the recruitment agency starts, and an itemised invoice after — candidate Sourcing — recruitment agencies actively search for qualified candidates through various channels, including job boards and social media.
A good answer: VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately — candidate Sourcing — recruitment agencies actively search for qualified candidates through various channels, including job boards and social media.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the recruitment process — it is worth being specific about when you ask for a price.
- Agency's expertise — existing damage has to be made good before the new work goes on.
- Complexity of the role — it is agreed before the work starts, not after.
- Urgency of the hiring need — quiet periods are where the better prices are.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the recruitment process — it is worth being specific about when you ask for a price
- They will not talk about it: agency's expertise — existing damage has to be made good before the new work goes on
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the role — it is agreed before the work starts, not after
- A price for the recruitment agency before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the recruitment agency has begun
What a recruitment agency costs: €2,000–€15,000 per hire
The figures are for the job, per hire, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Permanent recruitment consultant and Temporary staffing specialist each carry their own band. Recruitment Agency price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Recruitment agencys near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the recruitment process — it is worth being specific about when you ask for a price — that is what the recruitment agency is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneAgency's expertise — existing damage has to be made good before the new work goes on — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the role — it is agreed before the work starts, not after — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherUrgency of the hiring need — quiet periods are where the better prices are — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the recruitment agency is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, scope of services provided — it decides whether the work can be done in one go.
- Candidate Sourcing
- Recruitment agencies actively search for qualified candidates through various channels, including job boards and social media.
- Employer Branding
- Recruitment agencies assist businesses in enhancing their employer brand to attract top talent.
- Onboarding Support
- Many recruitment agencies offer onboarding services to help new hires transition smoothly into their roles.
- Temporary Staffing Specialist
- Handles the recruitment of staff for short-term assignments, often filling gaps in workforce quickly and efficiently.
- Recruitment Coordinator
- Supports the recruitment process by managing schedules, conducting initial screenings, and coordinating interviews.
- Industry-Specific Recruiter
- Focuses on specific sectors, such as IT or healthcare, providing expertise in sourcing candidates with niche skills.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a recruitment agency: questions people ask
The cost can be influenced by the level of the position being filled, the complexity of the recruitment process, and the agency's expertise. Higher-level or specialised roles typically incur higher fees due to the additional resources and time required.
The duration of the recruitment process can vary significantly, ranging from a few weeks to several months. Factors such as the urgency of the hire, the availability of candidates, and the thoroughness of the selection process all play a role.
Choosing between a generalist or specialist recruitment agency depends on the specific needs of your business. If you are hiring for niche or technical roles, a specialist agency with industry-specific knowledge may be more beneficial.
Yes, many recruitment agencies can handle multiple job openings simultaneously. This can often lead to cost savings and a more streamlined process, as the agency can utilize its resources efficiently across various roles.
Recruitment agency fees usually do not cover additional costs such as advertising job postings, background checks, or any relocation expenses for candidates. It's important to clarify what is included in the agreement to avoid unexpected costs.
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
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