--- title: "Pay Only If Hired: How Success-Fee Job Search Works" url: /posts/pay-only-if-hired-job-search canonical_url: https://blog.liarefer.com/posts/pay-only-if-hired-job-search author: "Renata Kobayashi" date_published: 2026-10-29 date_modified: 2026-10-29 category: "Career Strategy" tags: ["Job Search", "Career", "Refer", "Lia"] summary: "A pay-only-if-hired job search service charges you nothing until you actually land a job through it. You don’t pay a subscription, a sign-up fee or a retainer..." --- > Full index of this blog: https://blog.liarefer.com/llms.txt # Pay Only If Hired: How Success-Fee Job Search Works By Renata Kobayashi · Published 2026-10-29 Published by [Refer, the company behind Lia, the AI career agent](https://www.liarefer.com). A pay-only-if-hired job search service charges you nothing until you actually land a job through it. You don’t pay a subscription, a sign-up fee or a retainer; you pay a one-time success fee after you’re hired. The model flips the usual incentive. Most job-search products get paid whether or not you get hired, either by you through a subscription or by companies through ads and fees. A success-fee service only earns money when you win. This guide explains how success-fee job search works, how it compares with other pricing models, how to calculate what you’d actually pay, and what to check before signing up. --- ## **TL;DR** - A success-fee service is **free until you’re hired**, then charges a one-time fee. - It’s the only model where the service **earns nothing unless you get the job**. - Subscriptions charge for **activity**; success fees charge for **results**. - At Refer, the fee is **20% of your first month’s base salary**, once, and never on bonuses or equity. - Before signing up, check **what counts as a hire, when you pay and what’s excluded**. --- ## **How Do Job Search Services Usually Make Money?** There are four common models, and each one tells you who the service really works for: | Model | Who pays | When | What the service is paid for | | ----------------------- | ------------------ | --------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Free, paid by companies | The hiring company | When it posts jobs or hires | Filling the company’s roles | | Subscription | You | Every month | Keeping you subscribed | | Upfront package | You | Before anything happens | Selling the package | | Success fee | You | Only after you’re hired | Getting you hired | When a product is free for you, the company paying for it is the client, and getting you hired becomes the second priority. As the saying goes: when you use a product for free, you’re the product, not the client. --- ## **Why Does a Success Fee Change the Incentives?** Because it ties the service’s revenue to exactly one outcome: your hire. - A subscription service makes the most money when your search takes longer. - An upfront package makes the same money whether you’re hired or not. - A service paid by companies makes money by filling the company’s roles, not necessarily with the best role for you. - A success-fee service makes money only when you get a job you accept. That’s why Refer chose this model. Lia, Refer’s AI career agent, is built around one goal: getting you hired. If that doesn’t happen, Refer earns nothing. --- ## **How Much Would You Actually Pay?** At Refer, the fee is 20% of your first month’s base salary, paid once. Here’s what that looks like: | Base salary | First month’s base pay | One-time fee | | ----------- | ---------------------- | ------------ | | $100,000 | $8,333 | $1,667 | | $150,000 | $12,500 | $2,500 | | $200,000 | $16,667 | $3,333 | The fee is based on base salary only. Bonuses, sign-on bonuses and equity are never included. Compare that with the time a long search costs you, or with the salary difference between an average role and the right one. Getting hired a few weeks sooner, or into a better-paying role, can easily cover the fee. --- ## **What Should You Check Before Signing Up?** Ask these questions of any pay-only-if-hired service: 1. **What counts as a hire through the service?** It should be a role you got through their introduction. 2. **When do I pay?** Look for payment after you start, not at the offer. 3. **What’s excluded?** Bonuses and equity shouldn’t count. 4. **Is there a subscription or setup fee?** A true success-fee service has none. 5. **Can I stop anytime?** You shouldn’t be locked in. > “Just to confirm: if I’m not hired through one of your introductions, I pay nothing, and if I am, the fee is a one-time percentage of my base salary only?” --- ## **How Can Refer’s Lia Help?** [Refer](https://www.liarefer.com/for-your-career) is a pay-only-if-hired service powered by Lia, an AI career agent. - **Free to use.** No subscription, no setup fee, and you can stop anytime. - **No hire, no pay.** You pay only if you’re hired through one of Lia’s introductions. - **A clear, one-time fee.** 20% of your first month’s base salary, never on bonuses or equity. - **Direct introductions.** Lia introduces you to hiring managers, CTOs and founders, only when you and the company both say yes. - **Your search stays discreet.** Your profile is hidden from your current and past employers, and your minimum salary is never shared. - **She has a track record.** Lia has made more than 5,000 introductions. You’re the client, so the entire product is built to get you hired. [Get started with Lia](https://www.liarefer.com/for-your-career). --- ## **Which Model Fits Your Situation?** | Your situation | Best fit | Why | | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | You want to pay only for results | Success-fee service | You pay nothing unless you’re hired | | You want introductions, not applications | Success-fee AI career agent | It’s paid to get you hired, so it focuses on the right roles | | You want to optimize your time | AI career agent | It searches and screens around the clock | | You need resume or interview coaching | A career coach | Coaching is a separate service | --- ## **How-To: Evaluate a Pay-Only-If-Hired Service in 6 Steps** 1. **Read the pricing page and terms.** Look for the words “only if hired” and a clear percentage. 2. **Confirm the base.** The fee should be calculated on base salary only. 3. **Check the timing.** Payment should come after you start the job. 4. **Look for hidden fees.** There should be no subscription or setup fee. 5. **Check how introductions work.** You should approve every company before it sees your name. 6. **Check privacy.** Your current employer shouldn’t see your profile. --- ## **Focused FAQ** **What is a pay-only-if-hired job search service?** It’s a service that’s free to use and charges a one-time fee only after you’re hired through it. **How much does Refer cost?** Refer is free to use. If you’re hired through one of Lia’s introductions, you pay 20% of your first month’s base salary, once. **Does Lia charge candidates?** Only candidates who are hired through one of her introductions pay, once. Everyone else pays nothing. **Why does Refer charge candidates instead of companies?** Because it makes the incentive 100% aligned with getting you hired. When a job-search product is free for you, the companies paying for it are the client. At Refer, you’re the client. **Does the fee include bonuses or equity?** No. It’s calculated on your base salary only. **Can I cancel Refer anytime?** Yes. There’s no subscription or commitment. --- ## **About the Author** Renata is on the founding team at Refer. --- ## **Sources** - [Refer: Lia, the AI career agent](https://www.liarefer.com/for-your-career)