A staffing agency alternative, without the agency markup
Hire vetted professionals directly. Agree the rate up front, pay a flat 5% processing fee, and let escrow hold the money until the work is delivered.
Traditional staffing agencies solve a real problem: you need someone capable, quickly, and you do not want to sift through a hundred applications. What they charge for it is the part nobody enjoys. A markup of 25 to 50 percent on top of the worker’s rate is standard, it is usually invisible on the invoice, and the person doing the work never sees a penny of it.
StayGowe21 takes the same job off your desk without sitting in the middle of the money. You post the role, qualified professionals send proposals with their own rates, and you pick. The rate you agree is the rate they are paid, in full. Our only charge is a flat 5% processing fee added at checkout, so the total is visible before you commit to anything.
Every payment is held in escrow. The freelancer can see the money is committed, which is why good ones take the work seriously, and it is not released until you accept what was delivered. If something goes wrong, the funds have not left your side.
Traditional agency vs StayGowe21
| What you need | Traditional agency | StayGowe21 |
|---|---|---|
| What it costs you | 25–50% markup on the worker’s rate, often not itemised | Flat 5% processing fee, shown at checkout |
| What the worker gets | The rate left after the agency takes its cut | 100% of the agreed rate |
| Who you talk to | An account manager relaying messages | The person doing the work, directly |
| Time to start | Days to weeks, plus a contract negotiation | Post free, receive proposals, start when you accept one |
| If the work is wrong | Raise it with the agency and wait | Money stays in escrow until you accept the delivery |
| Commitment | Minimum placements or retainers are common | One task or ongoing, no minimum |
Vetted professionals
Profiles carry verified credentials, ratings and real delivery history, so you are not judging a CV alone.
Escrow on every job
Funds are committed up front and released only when you accept the work. Nobody chases anybody.
No commission on their side
Freelancers keep 100% of their rate, which is why they quote you their real price rather than an inflated one.
Remote and nationwide
Not limited to who happens to be within driving distance of a branch office.
Common questions
No. We are a marketplace, not an agency. We do not employ anyone, run payroll, or place temps. You hire the professional directly and manage the relationship yourself. The platform handles discovery, contracts, messaging and payment protection.
Posting a role is free. You pay the rate you agree with the professional, plus a flat 5% processing fee added at checkout. There is no commission taken from the freelancer, so the rate they quote is the rate they receive. An optional Pro subscription at $39.99/month adds unlimited posting, AI tools and analytics, but it is not required to hire.
A staffing agency adds a markup of roughly 25 to 50 percent on top of the worker’s rate. Our processing fee is a flat 5%. On a $2,000 project that is the difference between roughly $500 to $1,000 in agency margin and $100 in processing.
No. Professionals on StayGowe21 are independent contractors running their own businesses, responsible for their own taxes. If you need someone on your payroll as an employee, a staffing agency or an employer-of-record service is the right tool, not us.
Payment sits in escrow until you accept the delivery. You can request revisions before accepting. If it cannot be resolved, you can open a dispute and our team reviews it while the funds remain held.
Yes. Many clients start with a single task and move to ongoing work with the same person. There is no minimum commitment and no placement fee either way.