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Global Professional Services Firm Saves $7M Over Traditional Staffing Fees
25%
cost savings per professional
compared to standard agency fees
100
professionals transitioned to MBO
$7M
estimated cost savings in total
Challenge
Access Top Talent and Reduce Costly Agency Fees
A global professional services firm had been relying on a familiar model, working with a long-standing staffing agency to source high-performing independent professionals for 12-month contract roles. Given their limited in-house recruiting resources, the agency played a critical role in keeping talent pipelines full.
But traditional staffing came at a cost. Like many agreements, this one included a strict clause: Converting these professionals off the agency’s payroll before the 180-day period meant paying steep fees. The firm saw an opportunity to take a smarter path—stepping outside the standard model to onboard top performers sooner and reinvest savings into critical business priorities.
The challenge was finding a solution that would:
- Minimize disruption to ongoing operations
- Ensure a seamless transition for their professionals
- Preserve the strong relationship with the staffing agency
GATE
Solution
A Strategic, Cost-Effective Approach
For more than six years, MBO Partners has been a strategic partner to this firm, providing Employer of Record (EOR), Agent of Record (AOR) and other services to help them source, onboard, and engage an increasing number of top talent while staying compliant.
Together, we developed a plan to speed up and simplify the transition of professionals away from the staffing agency into MBO’s EOR solution combined with our unique AOR solution in a way that benefited both organizations. The goal was to reduce costs without interrupting the talent’s ability to keep working during the transition from the staffing agency to MBO or impacting the client’s access to top professionals.
- Initial Placement: The staffing agency continued sourcing and placing professionals as usual, which kept the firm’s talent pipeline intact and preserved the client’s relationship with the agency.
- Transition to MBO: After a 90-day period—half the time specified in the client’s original contract with the agency—valued professionals moved to MBO’s payroll through our existing EOR/AOR solutions, avoiding ongoing agency markups and resulting in significant cost savings.
- Full Conversion & Ongoing Support: Following the transition, MBO took responsibility for managing payroll, benefits, and compliance through our centralized platform. This reduced the client’s administrative burden and ensured their talent faced no disruptions in pay or benefits.
Results
Dramatically Reduced Cost Savings
Transitioning top talent to MBO in a shorter timeframe offered a scalable, cost-efficient alternative to traditional staffing—without increasing compliance risks or disrupting internal operations. The client realized immediate, measurable savings by eliminating costly agency markups and gaining greater control over workforce management.
Beyond the financial benefits, they retained direct access to industry-leading professionals who had the specialized skills needed for critical business projects. The staffing agency remained a valued partner, continuing to provide qualified professionals aligned with the client’s evolving needs.
Most importantly, the client could focus fully on advancing key business goals, confident that their talent needs were being met efficiently and effectively.
The MBO Difference
MBO Partners can connect your organization with high-value independent talent across a range of in-demand roles. Powered by data-driven insights and advanced technology, we help companies achieve measurable cost savings and sustainable growth while giving professionals the flexibility to do their best work.
Ready to build your workforce for the future? Explore our EOR solution and AOR solution or reach out to our team to get started.
Industry
Professional Services
Number of employees
10,000+
Company revenue
$3.8 Billion
Areas served
30 Countries
25%
cost savings per professional compared to standard agency fees
100
professionals transitioned to MBO
$7M
estimated cost savings in total
Holly Kehrer
Vice President, Enterprise Solutions
Holly manages client relationships and program growth for a portfolio of accounts. Her years of experience in human capital management and workforce solutions give her the expertise to help clients build sustainable program strategies that align technology, services, and solutions with critical business initiatives-all while increasing visibility and mitigating risk.
