Based on SHRM published benchmarks. Conservative estimates. Actual costs are typically higher.
Why Onboarding Costs More Than Companies Realize
Most business owners track the time-to-hire and the salary. They rarely track the productivity gap while the new hire ramps up, the manager hours spent on orientation and repetitive training, or the full replacement cost when someone leaves in the first 90 days. SHRM research puts the average cost of a new hire at $4,700 in direct onboarding expenses, not counting indirect costs, which typically run 3-5x higher.
Common questions about onboarding costs
How accurate is this calculator?
It uses the conservative end of SHRM published benchmarks. Replacement cost is set at 50% of annual salary, which is the low end of their 50-200% range. Your actual costs are likely higher if you have a specialized role, a long ramp period, or high-turnover history.
What is the biggest driver of onboarding cost?
For most companies, replacement hiring is the largest bucket because it compounds: every early-stage departure triggers another full recruitment and ramp cycle. The companies that cut this number fastest are the ones that improve the first 30 days of onboarding specifically.
How does a virtual assistant reduce onboarding costs?
A dedicated VSA can own the documentation, scheduling, and tracking systems that prevent new hires from getting lost in the first 30 days. That removes the manager from the day-to-day and creates a repeatable process that scales without proportional cost increases.
What is included in the Pro Sulum VSA comparison?
The comparison uses $1,150 per month as the midpoint of the Pro Sulum VSA range ($950-$1,900/mo). Annual cost is $13,800. The comparison shows how much of your onboarding cost that investment could offset.