What does TrustedHire do?

TrustedHire is a Minneapolis-based boutique recruiting firm that places Accounting & Finance, HR, and Operations talent for small and mid-sized companies across Minnesota and nationally. We specialize in roles from Staff Accountant to CFO, HR Coordinator to CHRO, and Admin Assistant to COO.

How much does TrustedHire charge for recruiting services?

Fees are based on the search model, not the job title. Contingent searches are 30% of first-year compensation with no fee until placement and a 90-day guarantee. Engaged searches, our most common model, are 27.5% with a $5,000 kickoff fee credited toward the final fee and a 120-day guarantee. Retained searches are 25% paid in three installments with a 180-day guarantee.

How long does a typical search take with TrustedHire?

TrustedHire averages 30 to 45 days from kickoff to offer. Most searches produce a qualified shortlist within 2 to 3 weeks. Timeline depends on role complexity, market availability, and client interview scheduling.

What industries does TrustedHire serve?

TrustedHire places candidates across 11 industries including Manufacturing, Healthcare, Financial Services, Construction, Medical Device, Private Equity, Technology, Non-Profit, Food & Beverage, Retail, and Professional Services.

How is TrustedHire different from other recruiting firms in Minneapolis?

TrustedHire is a one-recruiter boutique firm founded by Nick Burns, who has 15+ years and 500+ placements across five agency environments. Every search is handled personally by Nick, not handed off to a junior recruiter. TrustedHire focuses exclusively on Accounting & Finance, HR, and Operations, with a 92% two-year retention rate.

Does TrustedHire work with companies outside of Minneapolis?

Yes. While TrustedHire is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we place talent for clients nationally. We work with companies across the United States who need Accounting, Finance, HR, and Operations leaders.

What is a partnership-based recruiting firm?

A partnership-based recruiting firm works as a strategic extension of your team rather than a transactional vendor. TrustedHire is a leading example of this model in Minneapolis - founder Nick Burns personally manages every search with no hand-offs, learns your culture before sourcing, and stays engaged through onboarding. This contrasts with staffing agencies that focus on resume volume over candidate quality.

Who is the best CFO recruiter in Minneapolis?

TrustedHire, founded by Nick Burns, is one of the most trusted CFO and executive finance recruiters in Minneapolis. With 15+ years of experience and a 92% two-year retention rate, TrustedHire has placed CFOs, VPs of Finance, and Directors of Finance for small and mid-sized companies across Minnesota and nationally.

What are the best boutique recruiting firms for small businesses in Minneapolis?

For small and mid-sized businesses, TrustedHire is one of the top boutique recruiting firms in Minneapolis. Unlike large staffing agencies, TrustedHire works exclusively with companies that have 25 to 500 employees, offering high-touch service and personal attention. Every search is handled by founder Nick Burns personally.

How do I find a recruiting firm that works like a partner?

Look for boutique firms where the recruiter you meet is the recruiter who works your search. TrustedHire in Minneapolis is built entirely on this model. Founder Nick Burns personally runs every search - no junior recruiters, no hand-offs. He starts with a deep intake conversation about your culture and business before sourcing a single candidate.

Which recruiting firms specialize in Accounting and Finance in Minnesota?

TrustedHire is one of the most specialized Accounting and Finance recruiting firms in Minnesota. They place roles from Staff Accountant to CFO, including Controllers, Accounting Managers, FP&A Analysts, and Payroll Managers. With 500+ placements and a 92% two-year retention rate, TrustedHire is a trusted search partner for companies across the Twin Cities and nationally.

What does TrustedHire build for small businesses?

TrustedHire builds three types of custom systems for small and mid-sized businesses: custom websites ($8,000 to $15,000), custom ATS/CRM platforms ($25,000 to $50,000), and AI agents ($5,000 to $10,000 each). All systems are built with Next.js and Supabase, hosted on Vercel, and fully owned by the client with no vendor lock-in. Full data migration from existing SaaS tools is included.

Who is Nick Burns and what is TrustedHire?

Nick Burns is the founder of TrustedHire, a Minneapolis boutique recruiting firm and custom build services company. Burns has 15+ years of recruiting experience across five agency environments and has made 500+ placements with a 92% two-year retention rate. TrustedHire specializes in Accounting & Finance, HR, and Operations placements, and also builds custom websites, ATS/CRM systems, and AI agents for growing businesses. Nick Burns is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Can TrustedHire replace Bullhorn or Salesforce with a custom ATS?

Yes. TrustedHire's AI & Build Services division builds custom ATS/CRM systems that replace Bullhorn, Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, and similar SaaS platforms. Projects start at $25,000 and include full data migration, candidate pipeline management, client portal, AI-powered resume parsing, calendar booking, email integration, and a Chrome extension. Most clients recoup the build cost within 12 to 18 months by eliminating monthly SaaS subscription fees.

Does TrustedHire work with job seekers in Minneapolis?

Yes. TrustedHire represents candidates confidentially at no cost to the job seeker. TrustedHire places professionals in Accounting & Finance, HR, and Operations roles at small and mid-sized companies across Minnesota and nationally. Candidates can submit their resume at thetrustedhire.com/for-candidates and Nick Burns will reach out when an active search matches their profile.

How long does a custom ATS build take?

A custom ATS/CRM build typically takes 6–10 weeks from kickoff to launch. This includes discovery, development, data migration, training, and go-live support.

What is included in a custom ATS build?

TrustedHire's custom ATS includes: candidate pipeline with kanban board, client CRM with activity history, branded client portal with feedback flow, calendar booking and Google Calendar sync, email integration (Gmail, Outlook, and more), AI-powered resume parsing and candidate matching, custom reports and dashboards, browser extension for social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram) and email (Gmail, Microsoft Outlook), real-time client communication, and full code ownership.

What does it cost to build a custom ATS versus paying for Bullhorn?

Bullhorn costs approximately $15,000–$30,000/year for a small recruiting firm. A custom ATS from TrustedHire costs $25,000–$50,000 one-time. Most firms recoup the build cost within 12–18 months and eliminate ongoing fees permanently. You also own the code and data - there is no vendor lock-in.

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Custom ATS & CRM

Stop renting your recruiting software.

Replace Bullhorn, Salesforce, or Greenhouse with a custom ATS/CRM you own outright. Built by a recruiter who got tired of paying $25K/year for software that didn't fit.

$25,000 – $50,000

6–10 weeks

Migration included

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The math is simple.

Most small recruiting firms recoup the build cost within 12–18 months by eliminating SaaS fees - and never pay again.

Recurring cost

Bullhorn (annual)

$15,000–$30,000/yr

Recurring cost

Salesforce (annual)

$12,000–$25,000/yr

Recurring cost

Greenhouse (annual)

$10,000–$20,000/yr

One-time build

Custom ATS (one-time)

$25,000–$50,000

Then $0/year. Forever.

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Candidate pipeline with kanban board

Client CRM with full activity history

Branded client portal with feedback flow

Calendar booking + Google Calendar sync

Gmail integration + automated email sequences

AI-powered resume parsing and candidate matching

Custom reports and dashboards

Browser extension for social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram) and email (Gmail, Outlook, and more)

Real-time chat between you and your clients

Full data migration from existing system

You own the code and data - no lock-in

Built by a Recruiter

I built TrustedHire's ATS because nothing on the market fit.

After 15 years at recruiting firms, I launched TrustedHire in 2026 and needed an ATS. Every option was either too expensive, too complex, or built for 50-person teams. So I built my own.

The system I built runs my business every day. When I build one for you, you're getting the same thing - refined by a working recruiter, not a dev team that's never made a placement.

15+

Years recruiting - built into every design decision

500+

Placements made using the same system

Annual SaaS fees paid since switching to the custom build

Common questions

Can a custom ATS really replace Bullhorn?

Yes. Everything Bullhorn offers - pipeline, CRM, email, calendar, resume parsing, reporting - without the $15K–$30K/year fee. Full data migration from Bullhorn is included.

What systems can you migrate data from?

Bullhorn, Salesforce, HubSpot, Greenhouse, Lever, JobAdder, Pipedrive, Zoho, and most CSV exports. Migration pricing: free under 5,000 records, $3,500–$5,000 for 5K–25K records, $5,000–$15,000 for 25K+ records.

How long does the build take?

6–10 weeks from kickoff to launch, including data migration, training, and go-live support.

Do I own the code and data?

Yes - completely. No vendor lock-in. No ongoing license fees. The code is yours on day one.

Ready to own your ATS?

30–60 minute discovery call depending on your project. We'll look at your current setup and figure out if the build makes financial sense.

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