Not every domestic staffing agency in Pakistan prices its services the same way, and the differences between pricing models matter considerably more than most households realise when they first start comparing options. This guide walks through the main pricing structures you will encounter, how to evaluate which is actually fair, and specific questions worth asking before committing to any agency's fee structure.
The One-Time Placement Fee Model
Under this model, an agency charges a single fee, typically equal to one month of the salary you agree with the staff member, charged only once you confirm and hire a specific candidate. Browsing candidates, asking questions, and arranging interviews costs nothing. There is no recurring charge afterward, and the staff member's salary is paid directly by the household to them, with no ongoing markup taken by the agency. This is the model Staffly and several other established agencies, including RX Direct, use, and it is generally considered the fairest and most standard structure in Pakistan's current market.
The Monthly Commission Model
Some agencies instead take an ongoing percentage of the staff member's monthly salary for as long as the placement continues, sometimes framed as a small management fee. While this can appear cheaper upfront since there is no large one-time charge, it adds up considerably over a long placement and creates an ongoing financial relationship between the household and the agency that a one-time fee model avoids entirely. Before agreeing to any commission-based structure, calculate the total cost over a realistic placement duration, a year or more, and compare it honestly against a one-time fee model.
The Hourly or Per-Visit Model
Common for part-time arrangements and some specialised services like clinical home healthcare, this model charges based on actual hours or visits rather than a placement fee or monthly commission. This makes sense for genuinely occasional or session-based work, physiotherapy visits, occasional babysitting, but is a poor fit for full-time ongoing roles, where a monthly salary structure is more standard and predictable for both the household and the staff member.
Hidden Costs Worth Asking About Directly
Regardless of which model an agency uses, ask directly whether there are any additional charges beyond the headline fee: registration fees, administrative charges, charges for interview scheduling, or fees charged even if you do not end up hiring anyone. A transparent agency will have a short, clear answer to this question. An agency with a complicated fee structure involving multiple smaller charges is worth extra scrutiny, since these additions can meaningfully change the real cost compared to what was initially advertised.
When the Fee Is Charged Matters As Much As How Much
Beyond the amount, confirm exactly when payment is due. The fairest structure charges only once you have confirmed a specific candidate and decided to proceed, meaning browsing, interviewing and even running a trial period costs nothing. Agencies that require payment before sharing any real candidate information, or before you have had a chance to interview anyone, shift risk onto the household in a way that is worth questioning directly, and is one of the warning signs covered in our separate guide on spotting unreliable agencies.
How Pricing Interacts With the Guarantee
A one-time placement fee only remains fair if it is backed by a genuine guarantee, since without one, a placement that does not work out means paying the full fee again for a second search. When comparing pricing between agencies, look at the fee and the guarantee together rather than in isolation, since a slightly higher fee attached to a longer, clearer guarantee may work out better value than a lower fee with a vague or short guarantee window.
Comparing the Real Total Cost, Not Just the Headline Fee
To genuinely compare pricing between agencies, calculate the total realistic cost over the period you expect to need the staff member, factoring in the placement fee, any ongoing commission if that model applies, and the likelihood you might need the guarantee at some point. This full picture is a more honest comparison than simply looking at whichever agency advertises the lowest upfront number.
Comparing the Total Cost of Different Models Side by Side
To make the comparison concrete, consider a maid hired at PKR 40,000 a month. Under a one-time fee model, the total agency cost over a full year is a single PKR 40,000 payment, regardless of how long the placement continues afterward. Under a monthly commission model charging even a modest percentage, the ongoing cost accumulates every single month for as long as the placement lasts, and over a year or more can end up costing considerably more than the one-time fee, even though the individual monthly amount looks small in isolation. Running this kind of simple calculation against any agency's actual proposed terms is the clearest way to see which model genuinely costs less over the period you expect to need the staff member.
Why Households Sometimes Choose Informal Hiring Instead
Some households skip agencies entirely and hire through personal referrals to avoid any placement fee at all. This is a legitimate choice, but it comes with a real trade-off covered in our separate guide comparing agency hiring to informal hiring: no structured verification process, no guarantee, and the full burden of vetting falls on the household. The placement fee an agency charges is, in large part, payment for the verification work and the guarantee backing it, not simply a markup for making an introduction.
Negotiating Fairly Within Whichever Model You Choose
Regardless of pricing model, remember that the fee is not the only number worth negotiating or clarifying, the salary you agree with the staff member matters just as much to the total picture. A household focused entirely on minimising the agency fee while underpaying the actual staff member relative to market rate is likely to see higher turnover and repeated placement costs down the line, which usually costs more overall than simply paying a fair market salary from the start. Treat the agency fee and the staff member's salary as two connected parts of the same decision, not separate line items to be minimised independently.
Getting Everything Confirmed Before You Commit
Whichever pricing model an agency uses, ask for a simple written summary before you commit: the exact fee, when it is charged, what it includes, and whether the guarantee is tied to it. This does not need to be a formal contract, a clear WhatsApp message or email confirming these points is enough to protect both sides and avoid any confusion later about what was actually agreed at the outset.
Staffly's Pricing Model in Full
Staffly charges a one-time placement fee equal to one month of the agreed salary, charged only once you confirm a specific candidate, with no registration charges, no administrative fees, and no ongoing commission. This fee is backed by our six month written replacement guarantee, meaning a genuine mismatch does not cost you a second fee to resolve.
If you want a clear breakdown of exactly what Staffly's fee covers before you commit to anything, message us on WhatsApp and our team will walk you through it, no pressure and no obligation to proceed.