For businesses
Contract to hire staffing.
Contract to hire lets you and a new employee work together before the job becomes permanent. They start on the ETS Workforce Solutions payroll, work at your site for about 90 days, and move to your payroll when you are sure. If it is not the right fit for either side, the contract ends and you pay only for the hours worked.
Call a recruiter about a contract to hire role
Plattsburgh and Troy: (518) 562-4673
Williston: (802) 540-1070
Work together first, then hire
What you get with contract to hire.
Contract to hire is the model most of our clients use. The worker is on the ETS payroll while you both find out whether it is a good fit, and the hire happens when you are both ready.
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They are our employee first
While the contract runs, the worker is on the ETS payroll. We carry the taxes, the workers comp and the unemployment insurance, so you don’t have to.
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Ninety days to be sure
The standard evaluation period is about 90 days, and it can run longer if you need it. You and your new employee both see how the job fits before it becomes permanent.
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No penalty if it is not a fit
If it is not the right fit, you tell us and it ends. There is no fee if you don’t hire them, and nothing to pay beyond the hours already worked.
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Weekly pay and benefits
Contract workers get weekly direct deposit, on-demand earned wages, health insurance and 401(k) eligibility. That is a big reason good workers stay.
How it works
How contract to hire works with ETS.
The process has four steps, and you work with the same recruiter through all of them.
Tell us the role
It starts with one call. We learn the role, the team, the schedule and the pay range, and we tell you what the job needs to pay to attract the right people.
We source and check
We go to our talent pool, run skills assessments and check references. You meet only the people we would stand behind.
They start on our payroll
They start as an ETS employee. We handle payroll, taxes, workers comp and the weekly pay run while you manage the work.
You hire when you are ready
When the contract hours are complete, they move to your payroll. There is no fee to hire. If you want to hire sooner, you settle the hours left on the contract.
What it costs
What contract to hire costs.
You pay an hourly bill rate while the person is on contract. Finish the agreed hours and there is nothing more to pay when you hire them. Here is what the bill rate covers. See full pricing for every hiring model.
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Billed by the hour
You pay a bill rate for every hour worked, 40 to 60% over the base pay rate depending on the role and the market.
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What the markup covers
On an $18 an hour pay rate the bill rate works out to $27.54. Of that, 65.4% is the worker pay rate, 16.1% is required employer costs such as workers comp, Social Security and unemployment, and 18.5% is the ETS fee.
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No fee to hire
Each contract runs for an agreed number of hours. Once those hours are worked, the worker moves to your payroll and there is no fee. If you want to hire sooner, you can. You settle the hours left on the contract.
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No cost if it is not a fit
If the job is not the right fit, tell us and the contract ends. You pay only for the hours already worked. You owe nothing for the hours that are left.
Questions
Contract to hire questions, answered.
The questions we hear most about contract to hire. Call us at (518) 562-4673 for anything else.
What is contract to hire?
Contract to hire is a hiring model where the worker starts as an ETS employee, works at your site for an evaluation period of about 90 days, and moves onto your payroll once you decide to hire them. Both sides see how it works before it becomes permanent.
How long is the evaluation period?
About 90 days is standard, and it is flexible. You tell us how many hours you need and we write it into the agreement.
What does it cost per hour?
You pay an hourly bill rate that runs 40 to 60% over the base pay rate, depending on the role and the market. On an $18 an hour pay rate that works out to about $27.54 an hour, of which 65.4% is the worker pay, 16.1% is required employer costs and 18.5% is the ETS fee.
What happens if it is not a good fit?
You tell us and the contract ends. There is no fee, and nothing to pay beyond the hours already worked. We find you someone new, and we help the employee find a job that suits them better.
Who employs the worker during the contract?
ETS does. During the contract the worker is on our payroll, and we carry the federal and state taxes, unemployment insurance, workers compensation and paid sick time.
How fast can you fill a contract to hire role?
Industrial and warehouse roles are usually sourced within 24 to 48 hours. Skilled trades and professional roles take longer, and we give you a realistic timeline on the first call.
Is contract to hire the same as temp to hire?
Yes. Temp to hire is another name for contract to hire. The worker starts on the ETS payroll and moves to yours when you decide to hire them.
What is the difference between contract to hire and direct hire?
With contract to hire, the worker starts on the ETS payroll and you hire them after the contract period. With direct hire, the worker is on your payroll from day one and you pay a one-time placement fee.
Can I hire the worker before the contract ends?
Yes. You can hire the worker at any time, and there is no hiring fee. If hours are left on the contract you agreed to, you settle those and the worker joins your payroll.
Is there a fee to hire the worker?
No. ETS does not charge a fee to hire. Each contract is for an agreed number of hours. Work those hours, or settle the balance if you hire early, and the worker moves to your payroll.
I am looking for a contract to hire job. Where do I start?
Contract to hire jobs come with weekly pay and benefits from your first day, and 95% of our contract to hire employees get hired full time. See our open jobs to apply.
Ready to hire with confidence?
Tell us the role. We will show you what it takes to fill it and what it will cost.