Hiring guide · Flat vs percentage
A Somewhere.com alternative, compared honestly
If you're looking for a Somewhere.com alternative, the difference that matters is the fee model: Somewhere charges 25–35% of first-year salary; we charge a flat $1,995.
Salary and fee figures checked July 2026, sourced on our fee comparison.
| Cost | Typical | With Rolemote |
|---|---|---|
| The salary (paid by you, directly) | Flat vs percentage | Flat vs percentage — we take no markup |
| Placement fee | 25–35% of first-year salary | $1,995 flat |
| Ongoing | None (direct-hire) or a monthly markup (managed) | None — optional $99/mo coverage plan |
Where Somewhere is genuinely stronger
Track record, and it isn't close: 5,000+ client companies and 11,000+ completed placements, with a six-month replacement guarantee and reviews you can read. If years of proof are what you're buying, buy theirs — we'd rather say that than pretend otherwise.
Where we're different
Fee model and evidence. Theirs is 25–35% of first-year salary — $4,500–6,300 on a $1,500/month hire — quoted after a consultation call. Ours is a flat $1,995, published, with no call anywhere in the process, and every finalist arrives with a graded work sample and a score you can inspect rather than a shortlist you're asked to trust.
How to choose
Hiring several senior roles and want an established name behind it: Somewhere. Hiring one or two junior-to-mid roles, want to see the evidence yourself, and would rather not sit through a sales call: us. Both models end the same way — you employ the person directly at their local salary, with no ongoing markup.
Start this search
Describe the role once — no call, no payment to start. We confirm your slot within 24 hours and deliver a shortlist of three in two to three weeks.
Not sure this is the right role? Ask us
Tell us what you're trying to get done and we'll reply with a specific recommendation — including telling you honestly if a different route fits better.
Common questions
Somewhere.com alternative — what does it cost?
If you're looking for a Somewhere.com alternative, the difference that matters is the fee model: Somewhere charges 25–35% of first-year salary; we charge a flat $1,995. Agencies charging 25–35% of first-year salary work out to roughly $2,400–$6,300 per hire depending on the salary; a flat fee doesn't move with it. You pay the person their salary directly — we never take a markup on their pay.
How long does it take?
Typically two to three weeks from a confirmed brief to a shortlist of three finalists. You interview whoever you like and hire directly. If no finalist clears your bar, we rerun the search once at no charge.
Do I have to book a call?
No — and this is the one thing we do differently from every other agency in the category. You describe the role in a form, we confirm your slot by email within 24 hours, and the whole search runs asynchronously. There is no sales call at any point.
Who employs the person?
You do, directly, at their local salary. We're a matchmaking service, not an employer or payroll provider — we never pay your hire, set their hours, or take a cut of their salary.