Administrative fees or surcharges are additional charges that some — but not all — retained executive search firms add on top of their standard professional service fee. These fees are intended to cover indirect operational costs associated with conducting a search, and they can vary significantly from one firm to another.
For companies carefully reviewing search firm proposals, especially CFOs and procurement teams, understanding what these fees cover — and whether they are justified — is essential to budgeting accurately and avoiding surprise expenses.
What Do These Fees Typically Cover?
Search firms that charge administrative fees often justify them as necessary to offset the internal costs of running a high-quality, resource-intensive process. Common line items include:
- Research Tools & Databases
Access to paid recruiting platforms such as LinkedIn Recruiter, proprietary candidate databases, or market intelligence tools. - Project Administration
Time and effort spent by non-recruiter staff on scheduling interviews, managing candidate documentation, and coordinating feedback loops. - Communication & Technology
Use of premium video conferencing platforms, CRMs, ATS systems, or custom-built project management dashboards for client collaboration. - General Overhead
A flat percentage sometimes added to cover office expenses, compliance, and other administrative infrastructure.
These fees are typically billed as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage surcharge (e.g., 5–10%) on top of the base search fee.
The JRG Partners Approach: No Hidden Fees. Ever.
At JRG Partners, we believe clarity builds trust. That’s why our professional service fee is fully all-inclusive.
We do not charge separate administrative fees or surcharges — period.
From proprietary research tools to support staff, technology, and candidate management, everything we use to deliver world-class results is part of the value we promise — not an extra line item.
When you partner with us, what you see in the proposal is exactly what you pay. No ambiguity. No “nickel-and-diming.” Just a singular focus on outcomes.
Understand the Full Picture of Executive Search Fees
For a complete explanation of how executive search fees are structured — including common pricing models and what’s included — explore our in-depth guide:
👉 The Retained Search Fee Structure Explained: A Guide to Pricing & ROI
