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Serving Columbus, Central Ohio and remote teams

Fractional recruiting for small businesses.

Hiring takes time you already need for the business. Get a recruiter to find and screen candidates, keep interviews moving, and help you make the offer. Want to handle it yourself? Start with our hiring guides and MS Rosie.

Book a conversationChoose a recruiting plan

Flat monthly recruiting plans from $2,950. No per-hire fees.

Useful before you ever hire us

Where is hiring getting stuck?

Start with the problem you are dealing with. Each STACK guide walks through what to check and what to do next, whether you run the search yourself or work with us.

SourceNot enough suitable candidates?Build a sourcing plan → TempoGood candidates go quiet?Keep the search moving → AssessInterviews leave you guessing?Evaluate against the job → CloseOffers are falling through?Prepare a clear offer → KeepIs the job working for both of you?Help your people thrive →

See the whole STACK Method · Download the field guide

Jay Metcalf, founder and managing partner of Metcalf Search
Jay Metcalf · Founder & Managing Partner

When you want someone to run the search

A recruiter who does the work with you.

We source and screen candidates, coordinate interviews, prepare offers, and support the first ninety days after a hire. Your recruiter keeps the search moving. You decide who joins your team.

Founder Jay Metcalf has spent twenty-seven years in recruiting and staffing, including running a staffing business. He built this service for owners who need hiring help while they run a business of their own.

Meet JaySee what the team handlesHow fractional recruiting worksCompare recruiting options
Talk through your hiringChoose a plan →

Pick the tier that fits.

Choose the scope you need. Every plan includes a recruiter, the STACK Method and MS Rosie. Month to month, with no per-hire fees.

START HERE Recruiting Partner $2,950 a month One active role at a time.
  • A senior recruiter as your single point of contact
  • Onsite as needed
  • Ad spend and the MS Rosie desk included
Choose this planSee what's included
HIRING STEADILY Recruiting Partner Plus $5,950 a month Two to three roles at once.
  • Up to 8 hours onsite a month
  • Ad spend and the MS Rosie desk included
  • Short lists on every role
Choose this planSee what's included
FULL EMBEDDED Recruiting Partner Pro $10,950 a month Every open role, no cap.
  • A dedicated recruiter onsite three days a week
  • Ad spend and the MS Rosie desk included
  • The recruiting function your company keeps
Choose this planSee what's included

Common questions

How much does fractional recruiting cost?
Recruiting Partner starts at $2,950 a month, or $35,400 for twelve months. Compare the fee with the number of roles you need to fill and the work you want a recruiter to handle. You can review the scope and pricing for the three tiers before deciding.
Why is it so hard for small businesses to hire good people right now?
A small business may have trouble reaching suitable candidates, offering competitive terms or finding time to follow up between daily responsibilities. Start by checking where the search slows down: few qualified applicants, delayed interviews or declined offers. That helps you decide whether to change the role, the pay, the search or the way you manage the process.
When does a small business need to start working with a recruiter?
Consider a recruiter when an open role is hurting the business, you are not reaching suitable candidates or hiring work keeps slipping behind other priorities. A planned series of hires can also justify ongoing help. If you have one straightforward opening and can manage the search yourself, you may only need better tools or advice.
How is fractional recruiting different from a staffing or contingency agency?
Staffing firms often supply temporary or contract workers and handle their payroll, while contingency recruiters generally earn a fee when you hire a candidate they introduce. Fractional recruiting gives you ongoing help with an agreed part of the hiring process; Metcalf Search charges a flat monthly fee for that work. Compare the actual scope, fees, employment arrangements and replacement terms in each provider’s agreement.
What is the STACK Method?
STACK organizes the hiring work into Source, Tempo, Assess, Close and Keep. Source covers finding candidates, Tempo covers keeping the search moving, Assess covers evaluating candidates, and Close covers working through the offer and acceptance. Keep means keeping people productive, satisfied, and engaged through regular check-ins, practical support, and follow-through.
What does it actually cost to make a hire?
Salary is only part of the cost. Add the time spent finding and interviewing candidates, any advertising or recruiting fees, and the time your team spends training the new hire. If the hire leaves, you may have to repeat that work while covering an open role, so use your own costs and workload to estimate the impact.
A book in progress
Jay is writing a practical book on small-business hiring. Get an update when there is news.