https://freshstaff.net/blog Perspectives on staffing operations: onboarding, automation, compliance, and modernizing off legacy ATS platforms with AI. en-us https://freshstaff.net/blog/true-cost-of-an-employee-labor-burden https://freshstaff.net/blog/true-cost-of-an-employee-labor-burden Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle The wage on the check is only part of what a worker costs. Here's what payroll burden includes, how to calculate the fully-burdened cost, and a free calculator to run your own numbers. https://freshstaff.net/blog/temp-to-hire-conversion-fees-explained https://freshstaff.net/blog/temp-to-hire-conversion-fees-explained Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle When a client hires your temp, the conversion fee compensates you for the placement. Here's how buyout fees are structured, why they decline with hours worked, and a free calculator. https://freshstaff.net/blog/markup-vs-margin-staffing https://freshstaff.net/blog/markup-vs-margin-staffing Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Markup and gross margin use the same dollar spread but a different denominator, and confusing them leads agencies to under-price. Here's the difference, a conversion table, and a free calculator. https://freshstaff.net/blog/how-to-set-staffing-bill-rates https://freshstaff.net/blog/how-to-set-staffing-bill-rates Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle The bill rate is the most consequential number your agency sets. Here's the formula, a worked example, the mistakes that quietly erode margin, and a free calculator to do the math. https://freshstaff.net/blog/how-to-calculate-blended-rate-overtime https://freshstaff.net/blog/how-to-calculate-blended-rate-overtime Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle When a worker earns two pay rates in one week, overtime isn't owed at the higher rate, it's owed at the weighted average. Here's the FLSA rule, the formula, a worked example, and a free calculator. https://freshstaff.net/blog/direct-hire-placement-fees-explained https://freshstaff.net/blog/direct-hire-placement-fees-explained Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Direct-hire fees run 15-25% of first-year salary. Here's how they're calculated, how guarantee periods work, how to set your percentage, and a free calculator. https://freshstaff.net/blog/ats-cost-per-recruiter-per-seat-vs-freshstaff https://freshstaff.net/blog/ats-cost-per-recruiter-per-seat-vs-freshstaff Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Per-seat ATS pricing charges you for every login, not every placement. Here's the real math, a worked ROI example, and a free calculator to see your own annual savings. https://freshstaff.net/blog/staffing-agency-kpis-to-track https://freshstaff.net/blog/staffing-agency-kpis-to-track Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Placements and revenue booked tell you what already happened. The operational metrics that tell you what's about to happen, before most agencies notice. https://freshstaff.net/blog/switching-ats-platforms-migration-checklist https://freshstaff.net/blog/switching-ats-platforms-migration-checklist Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Migration risk is the top reason agencies stay on software they've outgrown. What actually goes wrong in an ATS migration, and the checklist that prevents it. https://freshstaff.net/blog/multi-state-payroll-tax-staffing-agencies https://freshstaff.net/blog/multi-state-payroll-tax-staffing-agencies Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Placing workers across state lines turns payroll into a jurisdiction problem. How withholding, SUTA, and reciprocity interact, and where tracking breaks. https://freshstaff.net/blog/temp-to-hire-vs-direct-placement https://freshstaff.net/blog/temp-to-hire-vs-direct-placement Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle The same open req can be filled two different ways. How temp-to-hire and direct placement differ for your client and cash flow, and running both on one system. https://freshstaff.net/blog/ai-candidate-matching-time-to-fill https://freshstaff.net/blog/ai-candidate-matching-time-to-fill Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Time-to-fill determines whether a staffing agency wins or loses a client. How AI candidate matching shrinks it, and what to look for before trusting a tool. https://freshstaff.net/blog/how-much-does-staffing-software-cost https://freshstaff.net/blog/how-much-does-staffing-software-cost Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Per-seat pricing, custom quotes, and add-ons make staffing software hard to compare. How to figure out what you'd actually pay before talking to a salesperson. https://freshstaff.net/blog/bullhorn-alternatives-2026 https://freshstaff.net/blog/bullhorn-alternatives-2026 Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Thinking about leaving Bullhorn? What actually differs between staffing platforms, pricing, native payroll, and contract terms, so you can compare on substance. https://freshstaff.net/blog/aca-compliance-guide-staffing-agencies https://freshstaff.net/blog/aca-compliance-guide-staffing-agencies Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle How to manage ACA compliance for staffing agencies: full-time status for variable-hour and seasonal temps, look-back measurement periods, affordable offers of coverage, and where spreadsheet tracking breaks down. https://freshstaff.net/blog/why-modern-staffing-needs-automation https://freshstaff.net/blog/why-modern-staffing-needs-automation Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ed Burtle Manual, spreadsheet-driven staffing can't keep pace with hiring volume. Why letting AI handle onboarding, compliance, and scheduling is now table stakes.