Compare
Four ways to get a job run.
Hire, freelance, do it yourself, or put an Onyx Project Partners PM on it. Here is how they actually compare, including where we are not the cheapest option.
| Onyx PM | Salaried PM you hire | 1099 freelance PM | Do it yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who carries workers’ comp and payroll tax | We do, as employer of record | You do | No one, until a claim or an audit lands on you | No added payroll |
| Misclassification risk | None for you: the PM is our W-2 employee | None: a proper W-2 hire | High in California. A PM running your jobs is doing your core business, which the ABC test (AB 5) generally treats as employment. | None |
| Cost model | 6% of each managed job’s gross, billed with your draws | Salary plus burden and recruiting, every month, busy or slow | Hourly or per job | Your own hours |
| Ramp time | Trained and proven on real jobs before placement | Recruiting, then onboarding on your jobs | Learns your way of working on your job | None, but your capacity is the ceiling |
| If it’s not a fit | We replace the PM, no extra fee | A new search, and possibly severance | A new search | Not applicable |
| Training and standard | One playbook, every PM | Whatever you build in-house | Their own way | Yours |
| Flexibility | Add a PM or let jobs close out; the fee follows the work | Fixed cost between jobs | Flexible, with the risk above | Limited by your time |
On cost: for large jobs, a salaried PM can come out cheaper on paper than 6% of gross. Run your own numbers in the fee calculator. The misclassification row is general information, not legal advice; talk to your employment counsel about your situation.
The PM, without the hire.
If the Onyx column fits how you want to grow, tell us about your jobs.
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