Best Recruiting Alternatives for Small Business

Small businesses don't need enterprise recruiting software — they need something that works without a recruiter.

Try Shortlist Free — 5 Candidates in 48 Hours →
Option Monthly Cost Best For
Shortlist Free pilot / from $49/mo Best for small business — no recruiter needed, pre-screened SDR candidates delivered to you
Indeed Free + pay-per-click Free job posting but requires hours of manual screening — expensive in recruiter time
ZipRecruiter From $249/mo Wide distribution across job boards but high volume of unqualified applications
Workable From $149/mo Good ATS for managing applicants but no proactive sourcing or pre-screening
Recruiting Agency 15–25% of salary Most small businesses can't afford $15K-$25K per SDR hire; no pipeline built
Our Verdict Shortlist is the best recruiting solution for small businesses that need to hire SDRs without dedicating internal time to sourcing and screening. You get agency-quality results at SaaS pricing.

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