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 days to fill a role. 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 much does TrustedHire charge for recruiting?

TrustedHire fees are based on search model, not job title. Contingent searches are 30% of first-year compensation with no fee until placement. Engaged searches are 27.5% with a $5,000 fee at search kickoff. Retained searches are 25% paid in three equal installments at kickoff, interview stage, and placement.

What is the TrustedHire placement guarantee?

Contingent searches include a 90-day guarantee. Engaged searches include a 120-day guarantee. Retained searches include a 180-day guarantee. If a placed candidate leaves within the guarantee period, TrustedHire conducts a full replacement search at no additional fee.

What is an engaged search and how is it different from contingent?

An engaged search involves a $5,000 fee at the start of the search. In exchange, the fee drops to 27.5% (vs 30% for contingent), the guarantee extends to 120 days (vs 90), and TrustedHire prioritizes the search more aggressively. It is the most common model for leadership and mid-senior roles.

What is a retained search?

A retained search is structured as a full partnership. The fee of 25% is split into three equal payments: one-third at search kickoff, one-third when candidates reach the interview stage, and one-third at placement. Retained searches include a 180-day guarantee and are best suited for executive and confidential searches.

Which search model is right for my role?

Contingent works well when you want zero upfront risk and are open to a 90-day guarantee. Engaged is the most common choice for leadership roles where you want speed and a longer guarantee with modest upfront commitment. Retained is best for C-suite, confidential, or hard-to-fill searches where full alignment from both sides matters.

Pricing

Recruiting fees based on how you want to engage, not just what role you are filling.

Three search models. Each with a different fee structure, guarantee length, and payment timing. You pick the model that fits the search. We do the work either way.

Contingent

30%

of first-year compensation

No fee until a candidate is placed and starts.

No upfront investment. You pay only when the right person accepts the offer and walks through the door.

90-Day Guarantee

Full replacement search at no additional fee

When money moves

100%

Placement

KickoffPlacement

Due at start of search$0

Due upon candidate placement30% of first-year comp

Common roles

Staff AccountantSenior AccountantHR GeneralistHR CoordinatorOperations ManagerPayroll ManagerOffice Manager

Most Common

Engaged

27.5%

of first-year compensation

$5,000 engagement fee due at search kickoff.

Our most common model. A modest upfront commitment unlocks a faster, more aggressive search and a longer guarantee.

120-Day Guarantee

Full replacement search at no additional fee

When money moves

$5K

Kickoff

Balance

Placement

KickoffPlacement

Due at search kickoff$5,000

Due upon candidate placement27.5% of first-year comp, less $5K

Common roles

ControllerAccounting ManagerHR DirectorHRBPBenefits ManagerTalent Acquisition ManagerDirector of OperationsPlant ManagerProcurement Manager

Retained

25%

of first-year compensation

Fee paid in three equal installments tied to search milestones.

Our lowest fee and longest guarantee. For high-stakes or confidential searches where full commitment from both sides is the right structure.

180-Day Guarantee

Full replacement search at no additional fee

When money moves

1/3

Kickoff

1/3

Interviews

1/3

Placement

KickoffPlacement

1st: Search kickoff1/3 of total fee

2nd: Interview stage1/3 of total fee

3rd: Placement1/3 of total fee

Common roles

CFOVP FinanceDirector of FinanceCHROVP PeopleCOOVP OperationsDirector of Supply Chain

All fees are based on first-year compensation including base salary and guaranteed bonuses. Not sure which model fits? We will talk through it on the discovery call.

The TrustedHire Guarantee

We do not disappear after the offer letter.

Most recruiting firms offer a 30 to 60-day guarantee as a formality. Ours starts at 90 days and goes up to 180. The more committed the engagement, the longer the guarantee. That is not a coincidence. It reflects how seriously we take the work.

If something goes wrong within the guarantee period, we own it. We conduct a full replacement search at no additional fee. No fine print, no exceptions for things we could have caught.

Contingent Search, 30% — 90-Day Guarantee

Full replacement search at no additional fee

Engaged Search, 27.5% — 120-Day Guarantee

Full replacement search at no additional fee

Retained Search, 25% — 180-Day Guarantee

Full replacement search at no additional fee

Pricing FAQ

Common questions.

Ready to start a search?

30 minutes. We will talk through the role, the right search model, and what a realistic timeline looks like.

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