You are considering engaging an IT intermediary, but is it worth it? What do you get in return, and what are the downsides nobody tells you? An intermediary is not the best choice for every situation.
In this article I give an honest review of working with an IT intermediary. You will read the pros, the cons, and when you are better off hiring directly or via another channel. No sales pitch, but an honest picture.
This blog is for clients: IT managers and hiring managers looking for capacity and considering engaging an intermediary.
Honest disclosure up front: Maedium is itself an IT intermediary. That colours my perspective, so I make an extra effort to honestly name the downsides and the cases where you do not need us. Judge for yourself whether it fits you.
What does an IT intermediary actually do?
An IT intermediary connects clients with freelance IT professionals. They find the right profile, make the match, and depending on the construction arrange the contracts, invoicing and compliance. You pay a fee for this, usually a percentage of the rate.
The role differs per intermediary. One is a large agency with a database and high volume, another a small specialist with a personal network. That distinction largely determines which pros and cons you get, as you will see below.
What are the advantages of an IT intermediary?
The biggest advantage is time and certainty. An intermediary searches and filters for you, knows the market, and can arrange Dutch DBA Act compliance. You do not have to sift through dozens of CVs yourself or carry the risk of a wrong construction.
The concrete advantages in a row:
- You save search time: the intermediary pre-filters on quality and match
- Access to a network you do not have yourself
- Knowledge of market rates, so you do not offer too much or too little
- Help with Dutch DBA Act compliance, and with the intermediary construction they take on the risk
- Replacement or mediation if problems arise during the assignment
- One point of contact instead of separate contacts
For clients seeking scarce profiles or without time to recruit, this weighs heavily. You are essentially buying in expertise and peace of mind.
What are the disadvantages of an IT intermediary?
The clearest downside is cost: you pay a fee on top of the freelancer's rate, usually 10 to 15 percent. You are also dependent on the quality of the intermediary's network, and you hand over a bit of direct control.
The downsides honestly in a row:
- You pay a fee, so hiring is more expensive than direct
- You depend on the size and quality of their network
- A large intermediary can be impersonal; you are one of many
- With a poor intermediary you get mediocre matches or slow service
- You have an extra link between you and the freelancer
That last point is nuanced. With intermediation, you still work directly with the freelancer and the link is small. With the intermediary construction, the contract runs through the intermediary, but the daily collaboration stays direct. The "extra link" is therefore mainly on paper, not in practice.
When is an IT intermediary worth it?
An intermediary pays off if you seek a scarce profile, have little time to recruit, or want certainty on the Dutch DBA Act. Also if you have no IT network yourself, an intermediary saves you a lot of searching and risk. You then earn the fee back in time and peace of mind.
Especially with long-running or embedded assignments, the compliance side is valuable. An intermediary offering the intermediary construction takes on the DBA Act risk. That is exactly the kind of risk you do not want to carry yourself since enforcement tightened in 2025.
When are you better off without an intermediary?
If you already have a fixed freelancer you know and trust, an intermediary adds little. Also for a simple, short, low-risk job you can hire directly just fine. And if you have a strong IT network yourself, you might find someone faster than via an intermediary.
Also honest: if you have a large, broad capacity need, say ten engineers at once, a small, personal intermediary like Maedium is not the best choice. Large agencies with volume are better equipped for that. Choose the party that fits your need.
What should you look for when choosing an intermediary?
Look at the size and quality of the network, transparency about the fee, and what the intermediary does when problems arise. Also ask how they arrange Dutch DBA Act compliance. A good intermediary is open about their method and honestly tells you when you are better off elsewhere.
A few questions you can always ask:
- How large and relevant is your network for my specialism?
- Is your fee transparent, and what do I get for it?
- Do you offer intermediation, the intermediary construction, or both, and who carries the risk?
- What do you do if the match disappoints or the freelancer drops out?
- Can you give references or examples of earlier placements?
The answers quickly tell you whether you are dealing with a transparent party or a sales machine. Trusting that transparency is at least as important as the price.
Frequently asked questions about IT intermediaries
What does an IT intermediary cost?
Usually a fee of 10 to 15 percent on the freelancer's rate. With intermediation it is around 10 percent, with the intermediary construction around 15 percent, because the intermediary then carries the risk. Always ask for transparency, so you know what you are paying for.
Do I still work directly with the freelancer?
Yes. With intermediation you even contract the freelancer directly. With the intermediary construction the contract runs through the intermediary, but the daily collaboration and substantive direction stay between you and the engineer. The intermediary does not sit between your work.
Does an intermediary take on the Dutch DBA Act risk?
That depends on the construction. With intermediation, the risk stays primarily with you as client. With the intermediary construction, the intermediary takes on the risk, safeguarded through their contracts. For risky or long-running assignments, that is an important advantage.
Is a large or small intermediary better?
That depends on your need. A large agency offers volume and is strong for broad capacity needs. A small, personal intermediary is stronger for targeted placement of scarce specialists, with more attention and shorter lines. Choose based on what you need.
Can an intermediary arrange a replacement?
A good one can. If a freelancer drops out, they search specifically for an alternative from their network. Ask about this up front, because it is an important difference between an engaged party and one that only makes the match and then disappears.
Conclusion: for whom is an IT intermediary the right choice?
An IT intermediary saves you time, gives access to a network, and can take on the Dutch DBA Act risk. Against that stands a fee, and you depend on the quality of the intermediary. It is a matter of weighing what your situation needs.
For whom is it worth it? For clients seeking scarce profiles, with little time, or wanting certainty on compliance. For whom not? For those who already know a fixed freelancer, have a simple job, or have a strong network themselves.
My honest advice: choose an intermediary who is transparent and dares to tell you when you do not need them. That is the kind of party you benefit from most in the long run.
Curious whether an intermediary fits your situation?
Want to spar freely about whether an intermediary makes sense for your assignment, and whether that would be intermediation or the intermediary construction? Plan a call with me. I give you honest advice, even if it means you do not need me.
Note: regulations around the Dutch DBA Act may change. For current information, consult rijksoverheid.nl or belastingdienst.nl. For complex situations, I advise consulting an employment lawyer or tax advisor.
