Staffing & recruiting
Run placements without the enterprise ATS bill.
Independent recruiters and boutique staffing agencies get a full ATS for free, contractor management without per-seat fees, and a self-managed VMS for running multi-client programs.
Staffing agencies and independent recruiters sit at an awkward intersection — the ATS market is priced for enterprise HR departments, but the work looks nothing like enterprise HR. You place candidates across multiple clients, each with their own workflow. You run contractor engagements where the margin is thin enough that a $49/seat SaaS fee kills it. Engage is built for this shape — free ATS, per-seat-free contractor management, self-managed VMS for multi-client programs, and a flat markup when clients need EOR services through HQ Simple.
Free ATS with multi-client workspace
Run placements for multiple clients with separate pipelines, role templates, and approval chains per client. All at $0.
VMS for running your own programs
Become the MSP — run RFQs, submit candidates, score vendors. Self-managed VMS at no cost to the client.
Contractor placement without the SaaS tax
Place a candidate as a 1099 contractor? Engage handles classification, onboarding, time, expense, and invoicing without a per-seat fee eating your margin.
Branded candidate experience
Candidates see your agency's branding when they onboard. Engage operates in the background.
Client-level reporting
Report spend, headcount, and placement performance per client. Export to Excel for QBRs.
Path to EOR through HQ Simple
Client needs an international hire? Route through HQ Simple's EOR service. You keep the relationship; HQ Simple handles the legal employer side.
Multi-client pipeline management
- Separate workspaces per client
- Branded candidate experience
- AI-assisted resume review
Run your own VMS programs
- Post RFQs across your vendor roster
- Track submissions and vendor performance
- Scorecards that improve allocation over time
Placement spend and performance per client
- Spend rollups by client or by vertical
- Active engagements dashboard
- Export to Excel for quarterly reviews
What staffing agencies pay without Engage
| Feature | Engage | Bullhorn + Bill.com | Crelate + QuickBooks | Enterprise ATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATS included | yes (~$300/seat/mo) | yes (~$100/seat/mo) | yes ($5-12K/yr) | |
| Contractor management | Bolt-on | Bolt-on | Manual | |
| VMS for multi-client programs | Partial | Partial | ||
| Per-placement fee | $0 | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| International EOR handoff | yes (HQ Simple) | Partial |
Agency use-cases Engage supports today
- Independent recruiters running placements across 3-15 clients without enterprise ATS licensing
- Boutique staffing agencies (10-50 internal staff) running contract, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire workflows
- Specialty recruiters in healthcare, legal, finance, tech — using industry-specific workflow configurations
- Recruiting-plus-contract-management firms who want one tool for both
- Agencies managing their own VMS programs — self-managed instead of paying an MSP
What you stop paying when you move to Engage
- Enterprise ATS license ($300-$1,000/user/month at Bullhorn, $5-12K/year at Greenhouse/Lever) — replaced by the free ATS
- Per-contractor SaaS fees ($49/mo at Deel, similar at Rippling) — replaced by flat-markup-only when EOR is used
- Separate VMS (gated pricing, typically $20-50K/year) — replaced by the self-managed VMS module
- Manual spreadsheets for contractor tracking — replaced by the contractor management module
Frequently asked questions
- Yes. The ATS is free forever with no seat limits. You make money on placements and client fees as you always have; Engage does not take a cut.
Your client needs an international hire?
HQ Simple's EOR service runs through your Engage workspace. You keep the client relationship and the fee; HQ Simple handles legal employer duties. Direct in US, Canada, UK, Australia and via partner network worldwide.
Ready to engage your workforce?
Start with the free ATS. Grow into contractor management, VMS, and International EOR without changing systems.