Use two budgets: expense and cash
A published service fee helps compare platform charges. It is not the employee’s total cost. Build an expense view for the employment arrangement and a cash view showing when your company must transfer money. The two views can differ, especially in the first month.
| Line item | Ask the provider |
|---|---|
| Gross compensation | What salary, variable pay and other compensation assumptions are included? |
| Employer charges | Which local charges apply to this role, and which assumptions set the amount? |
| Benefits | What is included, optional, or paid separately? When does coverage start? |
| Service fee | Is it monthly, prepaid annually, flat, discounted, or subject to a minimum? |
| Deposit or prefunding | Is it refundable? What triggers an adjustment or a refund? |
| FX and transfers | Which currency, rate method and additional charges apply? |
| Changes and exit | Which service charges and employment obligations might arise? |
A simple example, with invented inputs
Imagine a proposal with $4,000 in gross monthly salary, $900 in employer charges and benefits, and a $650 service fee. The modeled monthly expense is $5,550. If the provider also asks for a refundable $5,000 deposit, the initial funding requirement may be $10,550 when that deposit and the first month are due together. The deposit is not automatically a recurring expense. These are illustrative numbers, not a country estimate or a provider quote.
Compare uncertainty explicitly
Mark each quote line as fixed, estimated or excluded. Ask which numbers can change, who approves a change and how often the provider updates an estimate. When one provider excludes an item, obtain it before calling that proposal cheaper.
Our comparison tool calculates service fees only. Use it for a first shortlist, then replace starting rates with written quotes and add the employment costs for the actual candidate. Keep deposits separate so a low monthly fee does not hide a larger upfront cash requirement.
Sources & scope
Public source material reviewed September 15, 2026. Provider descriptions are not independently verified service outcomes. Confirm current terms directly. The decision questions are our editorial framework, not country-specific legal advice.