Speed. Stability. Cost. Clarity.

Contract vs Permanent: Make Every Hire Count

Choosing between contract and permanent talent isn’t just an HR call, it’s a commercial decision. The right model shapes your delivery speed, project success, and long-term ROI.

Start With the Big Picture

If yes, contract may be the smarter option. If not, permanent could be the better long-term investment.

The Hiring Model Decision Flow

What’s driving the hire?

Urgent delivery
Contract
Long-term capability building
Permanent

How long is the need?

Up to 24 months
Contract
Indefinite or ongoing
Permanent

How specialised is the skillset?

Niche expertise (integrations, migrations, architecture)
Contract
Broad, cross-functional skills
Permanent

How quickly must they deliver?

Productive within days
Contract
Willing to invest in ramp-up
Permanent

What’s your internal resourcing picture?

Facing gaps, demand peaks, or hiring freezes?
Contract
Need embedded leadership or ownership?
Permanent

What’s the funding model?

Opex-backed projects with flexible budgets
Contract
Capex-driven initiatives with long-term planning
Permanent

Rate Benchmarking, Not Guesswork

Contractor rates vary by skillset, location, and urgency. With Tenth Revolution Group, you get:
Live benchmarking across cloud, CRM, ERP, and data markets
Rate comparisons by geography and model (remote, hybrid, onsite)
Guidance on competitive positioning to secure the right specialist fast

Side-by-Side: Contract vs Permanent

Factor Contract Permanent
Time to hire Fast (days–weeks) Slower (weeks–months)
Time to productivity Immediate Variable
Flexibility High (scale up/down) Lower
Retention Extensions possible Stronger long-term potential
Total cost Higher day rate, no overhead Lower salary, higher overhead
Compliance risk Manageable with right setup Low
Funding model Typically Opex Typically Capex
Time to hire Fast (Days-weeks)
Time to productivity Immediate
Flexibility High (scale up/down)
Retention Extensions possbile
Total cost Higher day rate, no overhead
Compliance risk Managable with right setup
Funding model Typically Opex
Time to hire Slower (weeks-months)
Time to productivity Variable
Flexibility Lower
Retention Stronger long-term potential
Total cost Lower salary, higher overhead
Compliance risk Low
Funding model Typically Capex

When to Choose Contract

When to Choose Permanent

Contractor Costs: Understanding True Value

Contractors don’t need culture decks or six-week induction plans. They need clarity, access, and accountability. Done right, onboarding accelerates delivery. Done wrong, it wastes time, money, and trust.
A contractor’s day rate reflects:

Example:

A permanent software engineer on $80K may take 3 months to ramp. A contractor at $600/day could deliver the same feature set in 5 weeks, supporting a faster release cycle and earlier revenue recognition.
Permanent staff carry far more than salary:
Add these up, and a “cheaper” permanent hire can easily cost more than a well-scoped contractor.
In fast-moving markets, every week saved protects revenue, delivery, and client confidence.
Contractors give you flexibility when permanent headcount is capped but project budgets can flex. Use them to:
Contractor rates vary by skillset, location, and urgency. With Tenth Revolution Group, you get:
Pro tip: use shared project boards or messenger channels when managing multiple contractors.
A contractor isn’t just a line item. They often prevent:
When scoped well, contractors reduce risk and increase ROI.

Cost-to-Impact: Side-by-Side

Factor Permanent Hire Contractor
Time to productivity 3–6 months 1–2 weeks
Attrition risk Medium–High Low
Overhead costs High (benefits, PTO, pensions) None (rolled into rate)
Recruitment costs Job ads, recruiter fees, HR time Minimal (via partner)
Compliance costs Low Managed by TRG
Knowledge retention Variable Mitigated via handover
Flexibility Low – redundancy risk High – clean exit at project end
Total annual cost Often higher with overheads Often lower over project lifespan
Time to productivity 1–2 weeks
Attrition risk Low
Overhead costs None (rolled into rate)
Recruitment costs Minimal (via partner)
Compliance costs Managed by TRG/td>
Knowledge retention Mitigated via handover
Flexibility High – clean exit at project end
Total annual cost Often lower over project lifespan
Time to productivity 3–6 months
Attrition risk Medium–High
Overhead costs High (benefits, PTO, pensions)
Recruitment costs Job ads, recruiter fees, HR time
Compliance costs Low/td>
Knowledge retention Variable
Flexibility Low – redundancy risk
Total annual cost Often higher with overheads

Why Tenth Revolution Group Makes It Easy

We give you commercial clarity at every step:
Market-informed rate benchmarking to justify spend

Time-to-productivity forecasting based on real project data

Fully managed compliance (IR35, 1099, A1, and more)

Side-by-side cost modelling tailored to your business context

The Bottom Line

Contractors

speed, flexibility, and specialist skills when delivery is on the line

Permanent hires

stability, loyalty, and leadership when you’re building for the long term
The smartest hiring strategies use both — at the right time, in the right way.

Ready to Make the Right Call?

We’ve helped thousands of hiring managers weigh contract vs permanent and land the talent they need, fast.

Find Talent
Step 1 of 5
What skill sets are you looking for?

What skill sets are you looking for?

Developers

Designers

Marketing Experts

Project Managers

Product Managers

CRM/ERP Specialists

Data & AI

Cloud Development

Data Security

Get in touch
Email: info@tenthrevolution.com

Get in touch

Email: info@tenthrevolution.com
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