The verdict in three sentences
A specialist recruitment agency spending 6,000 to 30,000 EUR a year on job boards should make its own website its first source of candidates. A brochure site at 5,000 to 9,000 EUR with manually posted jobs quickly goes stale, while an ATS-connected site at 15,000 to 40,000 USD in London or New York publishes every job automatically, with the JobPosting markup that makes it visible in Google for Jobs. GDPR or privacy compliance for CVs is the legal point to lock down from the brief.
Manual brochure site or ATS-synced site
A consultant posting the same job in the ATS, on LinkedIn, on three job boards and on the website loses 15 to 25 minutes per assignment. Worse, filled jobs stay online and damage the agency's image with candidates.
| Criterion | Brochure site, manual jobs | ATS-connected site |
|---|---|---|
| Budget 2026 | 5,000 to 9,000 EUR | 15,000 to 40,000 USD (12,000 to 22,000 EUR in France) |
| Job publishing | Copy-paste into the CMS | Automatic from Bullhorn, Recruitee, Teamtailor or Flatchr |
| Filled jobs | Manual removal, often forgotten | Automatic unpublishing |
| Google for Jobs | Missing or incomplete | Full JobPosting markup, salary, location, remote |
| Application | Email with CV attached | One click: CV, LinkedIn, automatic parsing |
| Candidate alerts | None | Email alerts by role and city |
| Maintenance | 100 to 150 EUR per month | 150 to 300 EUR per month |
The JobPosting markup is often the fastest win. Google for Jobs shows correctly structured jobs for free at the top of results for queries like « financial controller permanent London ». An agency with 40 live jobs can capture several hundred applications a year without paying for distribution.
Job board costs versus the website
| Sourcing channel | Indicative cost 2026 | Typical applications | Cost per application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generalist job board (10-ad pack) | 2,500 to 5,000 EUR per year | 300 to 600 | 6 to 12 EUR |
| Specialist finance or tech board | 4,000 to 12,000 EUR per year | 150 to 400 | 20 to 40 EUR |
| LinkedIn Recruiter Lite or sponsored jobs | 1,800 to 10,000 EUR per year | Variable | 15 to 60 EUR |
| Sponsored Indeed | 2,000 to 8,000 EUR per year | 200 to 800 | 8 to 15 EUR |
| Site with Google for Jobs | 0 EUR per job | 200 to 700 | Under 3 EUR in year one |
| Proprietary candidate database | Included in the ATS | Growing | Near zero after 2 years |
The site does not eliminate job boards, it lets you reserve them for hard-to-find profiles. Agencies investing in their website typically cut distribution spend by 30 to 50 % within 18 months.
Privacy: what the site must handle for CVs
A CV holds personal and sometimes sensitive data. The site must show clear information on purpose and retention period (2 years maximum after last contact under French CNIL guidance, similar practice under UK GDPR), collect consent for talent pool use, encrypt files and pass them directly to the ATS with no intermediate storage. In New York, add EEO statements and pay transparency on every job ad, which is now mandatory. Budget 800 to 1,500 EUR for compliance and the candidate privacy notice.
Mini case study
Julien, founder of an 8-consultant finance recruitment agency in London, spends 26,000 USD a year on job boards and LinkedIn. He invests 24,000 USD in a Bullhorn-synced site and 300 USD a month of maintenance. In one year, Google for Jobs and the site generate 450 applications. He cuts job boards by 40 %, saving 10,400 USD. His consultants save 20 minutes per assignment on 180 assignments, 60 hours valued at 70 USD: 4,200 USD. Total: 14,600 USD a year, so the investment pays back in under two years and the candidate database keeps compounding.
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FAQ
Which ATS can be connected to the site?
The most common are Bullhorn, Recruitee, Teamtailor, Greenhouse and Flatchr, all with an API or XML feed. The connector represents 2,000 to 5,000 EUR depending on the ATS.
How long to appear in Google for Jobs?
A correctly marked-up job usually appears within 24 to 72 hours. A precise salary and location clearly improve visibility.
How long can we keep CVs?
European regulators recommend 2 years maximum after last contact with the candidate. The site and the ATS must provide a purge or a consent renewal request.
What timeline for an ATS-connected site?
Allow 6 to 9 weeks, including 1 to 2 weeks of sync testing. A simple brochure site ships in 3 to 5 weeks.
Can the site also win client companies?
Yes, with a page per specialism, downloadable salary guides and a hiring needs form. Those pages often generate 3 to 10 qualified client enquiries per quarter.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your ATS, specialism and current job board budget, and we will price a connected site between 15,000 and 40,000 USD, delivered in 6 to 9 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
