SaaS Agency · Comparison
Saiyō vs Bluebird Recruitment: Transactional agency vs embedded partner.
The short answer
Bluebird is a SaaS-focused contingency recruitment agency placing candidates on a per-hire fee basis. Saiyō replaces that transactional model with an embedded headhunting partner on a flat monthly subscription, same SaaS focus, very different commercials.
The problems we solve
Cost-per-hire keeps climbing
Fixed monthly subscription with credits that flex across roles. Cost-per-hire down more than 60% on the roles we own.
Agency fatigue and bidding wars
One embedded partner. No per-hire fees, no multi-agency briefs, no junior coordinators swapping in and out. Your brand, your process, your team.
How does Saiyō compare to Bluebird Recruitment?
| Dimension | Saiyō | Bluebird Recruitment |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Embedded headhunting subscription | SaaS recruitment agency (contingency) |
| Sourcing approach | Proactive outbound to passive candidates | Outbound + database, role by role |
| Commercials | Flat monthly fee, predictable, unlimited hires | % of salary per placement (typically 20–30%) |
| Speed to first shortlist | Typically 5–10 working days | Reactive, driven by live briefs |
| Best fit for | SaaS scale-ups hiring 5–150 roles per year | Companies making 1–3 SaaS hires occasionally |
| Cost per hire (typical) | Up to 59% lower than agency fees | Variable, often a % of salary or large retained fee |
How Bluebird Recruitment works
Bluebird is a SaaS-specialist recruitment agency operating a traditional contingency / retained model, charging a percentage of first-year salary per placement.
How Saiyō works differently
Saiyō is an embedded talent acquisition partner powered by proactive headhunting. We work as part of your team on a flat monthly subscription, sourcing passive candidates your competitors can't reach, without per-hire fees.
When Bluebird Recruitment is the right choice
- You only hire occasionally and want zero monthly commitment
- You're happy paying per-hire fees
- You don't need a long-term embedded partner
When Saiyō is the better fit
- You're hiring 5+ SaaS roles a year and per-hire fees are spiralling
- You want one partner who knows your business deeply
- You want predictable monthly cost and unlimited hires within scope
Considering Bluebird Recruitment?
See how Saiyō compares in a 30-minute call.
We'll walk you through how our embedded headhunting subscription stacks up against Bluebird Recruitment for your specific roles, no hard sell.