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With many different Employer of Record (EOR) services out there, figuring out which one is best for your organization is challenging. You know you want to tap into international talent, but you also want to get the hassles of international legal compliance, payroll, benefits, and other challenges off of your desk. But which EOR service is best? In this article, I'll help you make this choice easy by sharing my insights on the top EOR services to help you select the right one for you.

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Best Employer of Record Services: Price Comparison Chart

This comparison chart summarizes basic details about each of my top EOR service provider selections side-by-side to help you find the best EOR service for your budget and business needs.

Tools Price
Deel Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people
Papaya Global EOR from $650/employee/month or $2/contractor/month; Global payroll from $3 to $12/employee/month
Remofirst From $199/employee/month for EOR and $25/mo for contractors
Multiplier EOR from $400/employee/month or $40/contractor/month; Global payroll from $20/employee/month
Rippling From $8/user/month (EOR pricing upon request)
Remote EOR from $599/employee/month or $29/contractor/month
Foxhire Pricing upon request
Talent500 From $199/employee/month
Agile Hero From $499 to $599/employee/month (15% discount for annual)
Worksuite Pricing upon request
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How to Choose an EOR Service

An EOR service can solve many different challenges and simplify the process of hiring and managing international staff. To help you figure out which EOR service best fits your needs, you need to document your specific challenges first.

As you work through your own unique selection process, keep the following points in mind:

  • What problem are you trying to solve - Start by identifying the challenges you're trying to overcome, whether that's sourcing international talent, managing compliance, paying employees in multiple currencies, or offering international benefit plans.
  • Who will benefit from the service - Consider who will manage the EOR relationship (i.e., who will your main contact people be in-house?) and how having an employer of record will improve their day-to-day work tasks.
  • What is your budget - To evaluate cost, estimate how many foreign employees you anticipate hiring. Since EOR providers typically charge a monthly fee for each new hire, this will allow you to estimate your monthly costs.
  • What outcomes are important - Review the capabilities you want to gain or improve, and how you will be measuring success. For example, you may want to hire employees within a specific country or offer more competitive international benefits to future new hires. You could compare service providers until you’re blue in the face but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you want to achieve, you'll waste a lot of valuable time.
  • How it would work within your organization - Consider how the service provider's software ecosystem would work alongside your existing workflows and systems. Would their software framework integrate with your existing HR software, or would you face data management roadblocks?

Remember every business is different — don’t assume that an employer of record service will work for your organization just because it's popular.

Reviews of the Best Employer of Record Services

To help you find the best EOR service for you, I’ve described my top 10 selections in detail, including the specific services each provider offers, and how HR teams can use them. In addition, I’ve included 16 more EOR service providers below if you’d like even more options to choose from.

Best EOR service for managing global hiring, payroll taxes, and compliance risks

  • Free demo available
  • Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

Deel is a well-established employer of record platform that enables companies to rapidly employ people in 150+ countries. Employers can expand internationally without ever needing to establish a new entity, allowing them to leverage the skills and knowledge of a global workforce.

Why I picked Deel: Deel offers free calculator tools to help you estimate the cost of an international worker. You can compare different country costs and see what benefits and withholdings are required. Deel uses local legal experts to generate compliant contracts and keep track of regulatory changes, and will ensure all legal obligations are met on your behalf.

The well-established business has launched several new offerings over the past year, including global payroll, global mobility support, integrated Slack tools, and advanced integrations. Their global payroll offering brings in-house expertise, which can greatly help companies with existing payroll setups to streamline their accounting and reporting procedures.

Deel Key Services:

Deel offers end-to-end management for your international team covering everything from onboarding to termination. Their web app is user-friendly and provides a range of features to help businesses manage their workers effectively. These include international benefits, contract management, and expense tracking. Their integrated contract management function supports advanced customizations such as stipends, signing bonuses, and stock options.

In addition, Deel is known for its fast support. They offer 24/7 customer support and live chat.

Best EOR for enterprise, with global workforce payroll & payment solutions

  • Free trial available
  • EOR from $650/employee/month or $2/contractor/month; Global payroll from $3 to $12/employee/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

Papaya Global is an automated, SaaS platform that provides an end-to-end global workforce management solution, which helps recruiters remove barriers to global hiring. Their software includes features for everything from onboarding to making cross-border payments in 160+ countries.

Why I picked Papaya Global: Their platform supports all employee types (payroll, EOR, and contractors), integrates with all management tools, and uses smart technology to eliminate errors and ensure compliance. It also creates a highly visible system for tracking payroll spending and real-time business intelligence (BI).

Papaya Global can help your company simplify global people management. Enterprises can access Papaya’s state-of-the-art automation, security, and BI without replacing their existing payroll system. Their self-guided tour also walks you through how payroll professionals can use their technology to automate and manage their global payroll quickly and compliantly.

Papaya Global Key Services:

Papaya Global's services include advanced compliance, liability coverage, employee contract lifecycle management, immigration and visa assistance, data security monitoring, and enterprise-grade global payroll processing using an AI-based payroll engine.

Best EOR & global payroll for cost-conscious startups, with 24/7 customer support

  • Free demo available
  • From $199/employee/month for EOR and $25/mo for contractors
Visit Website
Rating: 4.3/5

Remofirst is a global EOR service provider on a mission to free employers from geographical boundaries so they can access global talent with ease. Their EOR platform is set up to help you hire and manage full-time employees or global contractors in 170+ countries, eliminating the need to set up a local entity in every country you want to source talent from.

Why I picked Remofirst: On top of their EOR services, Remofirst also provides international payroll and invoice management, global benefits management (including insurance and equity plans, plus time-off management), visa support, and employee assistance with other immigration documentation. They can even help you with provisioning equipment to your distributed employees around the world.

Their team of legal experts and HR professionals will ensure your business operations are always compliant with changing global regulations, with compliance documentation accessible at all times through your secure dashboard. Their customer support team is also available 24/7 in case you need additional help. All clients also receive a dedicated account manager as their main point of contact too.

Remofirst Key Services:

Their services simplify the entire international payroll process for you. You'll have the option to summarize and aggregate your invoices into one payment (rather than making multiple individual payments), and they'll automatically calculate your team’s hours, time off, holidays, bonuses, and commissions so you don’t have to worry about it. Instead, you only need to review their monthly invoice and approve it for payment. Your employees will also appreciate being paid in their local currency.

Best EOR service for quick hiring and effortless onboarding across 150 countries

  • Free demo available
  • EOR from $400/employee/month or $40/contractor/month; Global payroll from $20/employee/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

Multiplier is an employer of record company that provides HR and global payroll services to businesses, allowing them to outsource these responsibilities to a single provider. They're known for their technology-driven approach to HR and payroll services, offering a user-friendly platform for businesses to manage their workforce.

Why I picked Multiplier: They have local entities in over 150 countries, enabling them to offer locally compliant HR and payroll services to businesses that want to expand to new geographic locations or employ more workers abroad. By outsourcing your core HR responsibilities to Multiplier, you can reduce your exposure to the legal and financial risks associated with employing workers in different jurisdictions.

Additionally, Multiplier can help businesses quickly and easily onboard new employees, manage their payroll and benefits, and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. Their EOR services are very fast, with the ability to employ new talent in less than 24 hours once you've decided which international candidate you'd like to extend an offer to. Their 4-step onboarding process is also intuitive and easy to follow, providing a good experience for your new employees.

Multiplier Key Services:

Their EOR services include payroll processing, tax compliance, benefits administration, and worker's compensation. Their team of experts provides ongoing support and guidance, ensuring local compliance with employment laws and regulations and helping businesses navigate any challenges they may face.

They also have several helpful resources on their website — including their international TalentWiki and their Work Permit database — which compile all the details you need to know when considering hiring in another country in one place.

Best EOR and workforce management platform with global support for compliance risks

  • Free demo available
  • From $8/user/month (EOR pricing upon request)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

Rippling is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and IT platform for businesses and organizations with a global workforce. It allows you to run payroll easily, with each distributed team or employee paid in their local currency. In addition to their software, they also offer EOR and PEO services as well.

Why I picked Rippling: Rippling offers enterprise-grade security, scalability, and operational efficiency with its unified platform, allowing you to manage payroll and benefits, time-tracking, and reporting for your entire workforce from a single user interface.

Additionally, Rippling’s payroll processing doesn’t require you to feed the system with employee data manually and doesn't require manual calculations. Everything is done automatically, as the system syncs all HR data with the payroll system. All you need to do is set the right pay periods for your employees, review the payroll, and approve it.

Rippling Key Services:

Their combined services and software include compliance monitoring, automated tax filings, accurate time tracking, and reporting. The platform also automatically assigns required country-specific compliance training for EOR employees. This means you don’t have to figure out if a country requires employee compliance training. You don’t even have to find a separate system to enable that kind of training, since everything is handled by Rippling.

Best EOR service provider for competitive and cost-effective benefits packages

  • 30-day free trial + free plan available
  • EOR from $599/employee/month or $29/contractor/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

Remote is a global HR solution for distributed teams that simplifies how companies employ global talent. They offer international employment of record services and are used by companies like DoorDash, HelloFresh, GitLab, Paystack, and others. They can help you hire contractors or employees, run payroll, offer benefits, and expand your business globally.

Why I picked Remote: Remote helps companies become global powerhouses by expanding their access to talent beyond their borders, allowing them to hire anyone from anywhere. Their EOR service helps companies remain competitive in the international talent market by lending access to competitive benefits packages.

They can help you offer health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life and disability coverage, and mental health support services for your EOR employees. Also worth noting, Remote does not add any markup to their benefits premiums or administration costs, making them a cost-effective choice.

Remote Key Services:

Services include global payroll processing, intellectual property and invention rights protection, and country-specific benefit packages that are local and competitive. Their software platform also covers experience reimbursement and time-off requests, which are quick and easy to approve through their online portal. 

Best EOR service for technical, healthcare, and higher education workers

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.9/5

Foxhire offers a comprehensive range of Employer of Record services in over 100 countries. Their core services include financial, administrative, insurance, and legal matters. All employee personnel and administrative functions can be handled, including payroll, timesheets, and benefits administration.

Why I picked Foxhire: They've specialized their EOR services around supporting organizations looking to hire for technical, healthcare, or higher education roles. They will go the extra mile to ensure the credibility of the workers they employ for you, including detailed license and certification verification for healthcare professionals and nurses, or educational credential verification for college and university hires.

Foxhire Key Services:

Services include employee onboarding, background checks, drug screening, and fingerprinting. Foxhire will also manage workers’ compensation, deal with unemployment claims, and handle employee terminations. Other areas covered include health benefits administration, employment contracts, immigration matters, tax compliance, immigration authorizations, and IRS compliance.

Best EOR with a talent network to help you source candidates

  • From $199/employee/month
Visit Website
Rating: 5/5

Talent500 is a global workforce management software that provides employer of record services to help businesses outsource their employment responsibilities, including hiring and maintaining employee records. It can help you manage your entire employment process, including recruitment and hiring, payroll processing, tax filing, access to operation support experts, and ensuring compliance with local government regulations.

Why I picked Talent500: The company has a talent network that can be used to source candidates, design a candidate engagement program, screen applicants, and conduct interviews. It can also handle administrative tasks associated with onboarding like background checks and completing new-hire paperwork. The platform provides a single point of contact for employers and employees.

Comprehensive payroll processing is one of the software's main features. Automated payments in multiple currencies can be set up, and applicable tax deductions can be managed. It also provides benefits administration, such as managing healthcare plans, retirement plans, and other employee benefits.

Talent500 Key Services:

Compliance with various legal regulations like employment, defining operating zones and labor laws, tax regulations, and insurance requirements is built into the software. It can help you stay up to date with changes in regulations and adjusts its functionality accordingly to mitigate the risks associated with non-compliance.

Best EOR service offering additional global mobility support

  • Free trial available
  • From $499 to $599/employee/month (15% discount for annual)

Agile Hero is a global team management platform that provides services such as Global Employer of Record (EOR), Global Payroll, and Global Mobility support. It stands out for its commitment to social progress, partnering with a non-profit to support education for underprivileged children, positioning it as a socially responsible option for managing international teams.

Why I picked Agile Hero: I included Agile Hero in this list due to its global-first approach to employee management and mobility. Agile Hero offers a comprehensive solution that supports all aspects of managing a global workforce in a compliant manner.

Another reason I chose Agile Hero is that they offer services for managing expatriate employees, such as private health insurance plans and IT assets arrangements. These are ideal for organizations with employees who live a 'remote nomad' lifestyle, making supporting anyone based in one country but frequently working abroad easier.

Agile Hero Key Services:

Agile Hero provides a platform with a range of HR solutions, such as global employer of record services, payroll management, and support for global mobility. I especially like that they emphasize employee engagement through self-onboarding features and collaborations with non-profit organizations. The platform also ensures privacy and legal compliance at the global and local levels, with tools for handling leave and expense requests and an employee portal for resource access.

Best for avoiding employee vs contractor misclassification errors

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Worksuite offers employer of record (EOR) and agent of record (AOR) services in the US and Canada, allowing organizations to hire employees or contractors easily, while remaining compliant.

Why I picked Worksuite: Worksuite stands out thanks to their risk management tools aimed at avoiding misclassification errors. This includes their IC Risk Analysis and IC Classification tools that vet every new hire to determine whether they should be classified as an employee or a contractor. For a new hire deemed to be an employee, you can hire them using Worksuite’s EOR service. For those deemed to be independent contractors, you can hire them using Worksuite’s AOR service.

Worksuite's contractor management system also helps teams handle sourcing, onboarding, management, and payment processes for contractors across 190 countries, ensuring compliance with local laws and offering insights into workforce metrics. The platform also boasts a user-friendly interface, app integrations, 24-hour live support, and tailored demos to demonstrate its capabilities in meeting specific contractor management needs.

Worksuite Key Services:

Worksuite's services include IC classification to mitigate the risks of employment misclassification, talent onboarding through tailored workflows according to residency, and invoicing through Worksuite Pay. Worksuite also handles talent sourcing, onboarding, management, and payment processes (including taxes and benefits), ensuring ongoing compliance.

Other Employer of Record Services

Here are some other EOR service providers that didn't make the top list, in case you'd like a few more suggestions:

  1. Globalization Partners

    Best EOR service provider offering an AI-driven global employment platform

  2. Safeguard Global

    Best EOR service provider for centralizing multi-country payrolls covering 170 countries

  3. Airswift

    Best EOR services for the energy, infrastructure, mining, and technology industries

  4. Headway Workforce Solutions

    Best EOR for staffing research, hospitality and event-focused roles

  5. Omnipresent

    Best Employer of Record service for simplifying health insurance for remote teams

  6. Shield GEO

    Best EOR provider for simplifying international hiring

  7. Oyster HR

    Best Employer of Record service for managing HR processes in 180+ countries

  8. Atlas HXM

    Best EOR provider for supporting global teams with international expansion initiatives

  9. Skuad

    Best employer of record for IP protection (intellectual property protection)

  10. Innovative Employee Solutions (IES) 

    Best EOR provider with tools to help you decide on hiring an independent contractor or a full-time employee

  11. Pilot

    Best employer of record solution for hiring and onboarding staff in 100+ countries, including North America

  12. TCP Solutions

    Best EOR for borderless and limitless employment arrangements

  13. Velocity Global

    Best EOR service provider for building global, distributed teams

  14. New Horizons

    Best Employer of Record services for quick employee onboarding

  15. GoGlobal

    Best EOR provider for 24-hour quotes and deep experience in the Asia-Pacific and EU regions

  16. Mercans

    Best EOR and PEO for accessing industry-leading global payroll outsourcing specialists

If you're looking for better HR tools in addition to services, check out these other core HR offerings, that we've tested and evaluated:

Selection Criteria for Employer of Record Services

Selecting the right EOR service is crucial for businesses wanting to expand their operations internationally without the burden of establishing a local legal entity. Uncovering the best EOR services for this list requires a deep understanding of how these services can alleviate common challenges, such as legally hiring employees abroad, managing international payments, ensuring compliance with local labor laws, providing competitive benefits, and facilitating smooth onboarding.

My approach to choosing the best EOR services is grounded in thorough research into recent Employer of Record market data and an understanding of which partnerships would add the most value for organizations hoping to access the global talent market. Here are the specific criteria I used to carefully compare the service offerings for each provider in this list:

Core Employer of Record Services (25% of total score): To be considered for inclusion in my list of the best Employer of Record services, the provider had to offer the following basic services first:

  • The corporate structure to legally and compliantly hire employees in multiple countries without a local entity
  • The ability to manage global payroll and taxes in compliance with local regulations
  • Assistance with offering competitive and locally compliant benefits packages
  • Assistance with navigating visa and work permit processes for expatriate employees
  • Robust procedures to ensure data privacy and security in accordance with international standards, including GDPR and other requirements

Additional Standout Services (25% of total score): To help me narrow in on the best EOR services out of the numerous options available, I also took note of any unique or less common services, including:

  • Advanced technology platforms that streamlined payroll and HR processes while still offering ease of use
  • Specialized experience in hiring employees within specific new countries or key industries
  • Services that enhance remote work compliance and global mobility needs
  • Specialized customer support for complex immigration cases
  • Assistance with international IT requirements, including managing computer equipment, software licenses, and other asset-tracking requirements
  • A focus on eco-friendly and sustainable employment practices

Industry Experience (10% of total score): To evaluate the industry experience of each EOR service provider, I considered the following:

  • How many years their business has operated in the EOR space
  • Any industry recognitions or certifications the provider may hold in international HR and payroll
  • Their depth of knowledge in local labor laws across multiple jurisdictions
  • Their expertise in new markets, including how many different countries they offer local expertise in
  • Evidence of a strong track record managing global expansion processes
  • The combined experience and credentials of their team members, if available

Customer Onboarding (10% of total score): To get a sense of each provider's customer onboarding process, I considered the following factors:

  • The availability of comprehensive onboarding materials, such as fact sheets, guides, FAQ repositories, or other training resources
  • Support for integrating the EOR provider's software with existing HR systems
  • Direct access to onboarding specialists, customer support, or a dedicated account manager during the setup phase

Customer Support (10% of total score): Since the EOR provider will act as your remote workers' legal employer, it's important to ensure you'll receive timely communications and top-level support. To evaluate the level of customer support each company offered, I considered the following:

  • The availability of a multilingual support team that covers different time zones
  • Multiple support channels, including phone, email, and live chat
  • Evidence of responsiveness and effectiveness in resolving issues, as inferred from customer reviews

Value for Price (10% of final score): To gauge the overall value of each service, I considered the following factors:

  • Transparent pricing models without hidden fees
  • Comparative analysis of service offerings versus cost
  • Flexibility in service packages to suit different business sizes and needs

Keep in mind that EOR services are complicated, and because of that the price tag can sometimes be high. However, the prices for their services still offer a good ROI considering the complexity of the premium-grade services you're gaining.

Customer Reviews (10% of final score): Evaluating customer reviews is the final element of my selection process, which helps me understand how happy real users are with a service. Here are the factors I considered:

  • Consistently high ratings across various consumer review platforms
  • Specific feedback on the ease of use of the EOR services
  • Testimonials highlighting exceptional customer support and problem resolution

By using this assessment framework, I was able to identify the employer of record services that go beyond basic requirements to offer additional value through unique services, deep industry experience, smooth onboarding, effective support, and overall value for price.

As businesses continue to expand across borders, the need for efficient, compliant, and user-friendly solutions for hiring employees abroad, managing international payments, compliance, benefits, and onboarding has never been more critical. As a result, Employer of Record services have continued to evolve, with an emphasis on technology-driven solutions that offer flexibility, comprehensive support, and innovative features to facilitate global operations.

Here are the most recent trends affecting EOR services and the HR software systems that are used to offer them:

  • Immigration Support: There is a growing demand for assistance with immigration services like visa and work permit sponsorships, simplifying global talent acquisition processes for client companies immensely.
  • Specialized Services for Diverse Needs: Several EOR providers have begun to offer IP and invention rights protection and equity incentive planning services, to cater to the specific needs of their client companies.
  • Enhanced Employee Benefits Packages: There's a growing trend in EOR providers going beyond standard healthcare coverage to offer a full spread of enterprise-level medical and health benefits, stock options, and even one-time benefits like moving bonuses. This trend demonstrates an understanding of the importance of attracting and retaining top talent globally​.

As the market continues to evolve, these trends are likely to shape the future of international employment, making it easier for businesses to navigate the challenges of global expansion. For a closer look at specific EOR providers that are capitalizing on these trends, I recommend reading our in-depth reviews of Atlas HXM, Deel, Remofirst, and Insperity.

What is an Employer of Record Service?

An Employer of Record (EOR) service is a third-party service provider that acts as the legal employer for your staff in a specific country abroad while your parent company maintains day-to-day control of your employee's tasks and workload. As the legal employer, the EOR assumes full legal responsibility for any new hires, including payroll, tax deductions, compliance management, benefits administration, and any other local employee perks.

Using an EOR service is beneficial for companies looking to tap into the global talent market or expand their operations internationally since it simplifies this process considerably. Instead of burdening your existing HR professionals with the complexity of operating within international laws and regulations, you can outsource these requirements to an EOR service and gain peace of mind that your operations are compliant in any jurisdiction where you're employing staff abroad.

Key Employer of Record Services

By leveraging an EOR service, companies can manage international payments, ensure compliance with local labor laws, provide competitive benefits, and streamline the onboarding process. Here are the most important services to look for in an EOR service provider:

  • Global Payroll Management: Arguably one of their most important tasks, an EOR service will ensure your employees are paid accurately and on time in their local currency. This service is essential for maintaining employee satisfaction and financial stability in diverse geographic locations.
  • Tax Compliance and Withholding: An EOR service will also manage employee income tax withholdings and employer tax obligations per local laws, preventing legal issues and ensuring smooth operations across different tax jurisdictions.
  • Local Labor Law Compliance: EOR service providers offer country-specific knowledge of employment laws and regulations. This knowledge protects businesses from legal disputes and fines, ensuring a respectful and lawful work environment for all employees. Knowledge of these laws also applies to monitoring employee work hours, including timesheets and time-off requests.
  • International Talent Acquisition & Background Checks: An EOR service will work with their client company to source additional talent from the global market as needed. As part of this process, many EOR services include background checks for potential new hires to confirm their credentials and ensure they're suitable for their role. Once approved, an EOR will also manage your country-specific employment contracts as well.
  • Visa and Work Permit Sponsorship: Many EOR providers offer assistance with obtaining necessary visas and work permits for expatriate employees. This service is critical for facilitating the legal employment of foreign nationals and ensuring a seamless relocation process.
  • Onboarding and Offboarding: An EOR will also manage the processes of integrating new hires into their client's company or managing their departure. This ensures a smooth transition for both employees and the organization and gives peace of mind that employee terminations are handled as per the labor laws of each jurisdiction.
  • Benefits Administration: By leveraging economies of scale, EOR service providers can access competitive, region-specific health insurance benefits packages to cover your international employees. Tailored employee benefits are crucial for attracting and retaining top talent, enhancing job satisfaction, and meeting legal requirements for employee welfare.
  • HR Support and Consultation: EOR specialists are a valuable resource as they can provide ongoing human resources support and expertise on international employment practices. This support ensures that businesses can navigate complex HR issues, deal with grievances effectively, and maintain positive employee relations without affecting their employer brand.
  • Risk Management and Insurance: Since EOR providers assume legal responsibility for your foreign staff, this also includes managing employment-related risks, handling workers' compensation matters, and maintaining certificates of insurance, including both professional indemnity and public liability. This coverage is vital for protecting businesses and employees against unforeseen circumstances.
  • Multi-Language Support: EOR providers offer services in multiple languages to help organizations operate efficiently in a global marketplace and serve the needs of a diverse workforce. This can include translation services for your corporate policy documents, as well as localized assistance in your international employees' native language, to prevent possible miscommunications.

As you can see, EOR service providers offer a full set of comprehensive services to help businesses expand their operations globally without the burden of navigating international employment laws and practices on their own. By securing an EOR partner to cover these critical services, you'll gain peace of mind, and more time to concentrate on your core business objectives.

Benefits of an Employer of Record Service

EOR services are a savvy option for organizations looking to expand their global footprint without the complexities and liabilities associated with international employment laws and practices. For companies contemplating global expansion, understanding the benefits of partnering with an EOR can provide the clarity and confidence you need to move forward. Here are five primary benefits of using an EOR service:

  • Quick Market Entry: For organizations aiming to test new markets or hire talent in new countries where they have no legal presence, an EOR offers a swift and efficient solution to initiate operations, saving time and resources.
  • Simplified Global Payroll: Using an EOR service simplifies the complex process of managing international payroll, including tax deductions, withholdings, and currency conversions for your employees worldwide.
  • Global Compliance & Risk Mitigation: By managing compliance, an EOR service provides expertise in navigating the intricacies of employment laws, tax regulations, and insurance requirements in multiple jurisdictions, helping businesses safeguard their operations against compliance-related risks.
  • Enhanced Benefits Negotiation: By leveraging their extensive networks and purchasing power, EORs can negotiate better international insurance rates and secure competitive benefit packages on your behalf, enhancing your ability to attract and retain top talent worldwide.
  • Improved Cost Effectiveness: Using an EOR service is a cost-effective way for businesses to enter new markets, compared to the significant costs of establishing a new foreign entity. The latter option involves significant upfront legal fees, plus other costs related to office infrastructure, staffing, and local benefits and insurance coverage. 

Understanding the benefits of an EOR service is crucial for strategic planning and operational efficiency. As businesses look towards international markets for growth opportunities, partnering with an EOR provider offers a streamlined, cost-effective, and compliant pathway to global expansion.

Costs & Pricing for Employer of Record Services

EOR services typically operate on a pricing model that is based on a per-employee, per-month fee, which can vary widely depending on a range of factors related to the specific needs and operations of the hiring company. This model allows for scalability and predictability in budgeting for international expansion efforts.

In general, EOR services cost between $199 to $650/employee/month. However, key factors that can influence the pricing of an employer of record service include:

  • Geographic Location: Costs can vary significantly based on the country or countries you're hiring in. This is due to local economic conditions, labor laws, and the complexity of compliance requirements.
  • Employee Seniority and Role Complexity: The level and nature of the positions being filled can also impact the monthly cost. Senior positions or roles requiring special qualifications may increase the price due to higher benefits and compensation management costs.
  • Number of Employees: The total number of employees being managed can also impact the cost. In some cases, higher volumes may lead to volume discounts, making per-employee costs more economical.
  • Custom Requirements: Any specific needs beyond the standard service offering may also contribute to the monthly cost. This may include customized solutions for recruitment, specialized employee onboarding, or unique compliance requirements, all of which can affect pricing.

When considering an EOR service, it is crucial to understand how these factors impact the overall cost to ensure that the service aligns with your business's needs and budgetary constraints. Anticipating the specific requirements of your international expansion strategy will help you choose the most cost-effective and efficient EOR solution for your needs.

FAQ: Employer of Record Services

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions people often have about EOR services and how they work:

What does an Employer of Record do?

An Employer of Record (EOR) service provider is a third-party entity that can help an organization hire a new employee in a country where it has no physical presence. It’s a useful service for businesses that are expanding internationally but don’t have physical offices established yet, or don’t ever plan to establish them. In these situations, the EOR provider becomes the legal employer of your remote staff on your behalf.

In this type of partnership, the EOR service provider deals with local employee-related matters such as managing payroll, deducting taxes, and administering the onboarding process for new employees. This allows organizations to access global talent while reducing their legal liabilities and compliance risks. This is because the EOR company assumes the legal responsibility for your international new hires on your behalf.

For a more detailed breakdown of EOR services, I recommend our article explaining how an EOR service works too.

Can EOR services help with employee relocation?

Yes, EOR services can assist with employee relocation, especially when it involves international moves. EORs are adept at managing the complexities of hiring across borders, including immigration and visa processes, ensuring compliance with local employment laws, and facilitating the smooth transition of employees.

By leveraging their global expertise and infrastructure, EORs can help businesses expand their operations into new markets without needing to establish local entities. This support extends to handling all the administrative and legal aspects of employment, making it easier for companies to relocate employees globally​.

For more insights on using EOR services for global talent management, refer to our complete guide of EOR services.

Does an EOR service include access to software?

Most EOR service providers do include access to their software systems as part of the service they offer, through a client self-service portal. After all, the EOR provider itself needs to use software for payroll management, time-tracking, and other workforce management features. Lending access to this employee data through a user-friendly portal gives their clients peace of mind, ensures full data transparency, and streamlines communication between the EOR provider and your business.

Depending on the terms of your service agreement, you may be able to access their payroll software or other features without any roadblocks, or for an additional fee. Keep this in mind as you’re going through the selection process to find the best EOR partner for you. Depending on the system you choose, you may also be able to use automation to create integrated workflows between their software solutions and the ones you’re already using too.

Another aspect worth considering when evaluating EOR platforms is their native software integrations. Integrations with your existing HR software are important, especially if you need to track your EOR employees’ time in detail in order to invoice their hours to your clients. Before you commit to an EOR solution, ask what native integrations are available, or if any can be created using an API or other means. It’s always better if changes in their system update your own HR platforms in real-time, to eliminate any data gaps.

What's the process of terminating an employment contract through an EOR?

Terminating an employment contract through an EOR involves the EOR managing all legal and procedural aspects in compliance with local labor laws. This includes handling severance, notice periods, and any required legal documentation. The EOR’s expertise ensures that the termination process is conducted fairly and in line with the specific regulations of the country where the employee is based. Businesses benefit from this arrangement by minimizing their legal risks and administrative burden during the termination process​.

Do EOR providers offer other types of global HR services?

Yes, most of the time they do. Many service providers in this space also offer professional employer organization services (also known as PEO services), as well as global payroll services.

PEO services are a way of outsourcing portions of your HR function to support your international teams. They can help you with international compliance issues, benefits administration, workers’ compensation, and other HR administrative tasks.

Global payroll services allow you to easily pay remote employees or independent contractors within a unified payroll run. They manage in-country compliance requirements and juggle payments in multiple local currencies on your behalf.

To dive even deeper into this topic, read How Global HR Services Can Support International Teams too.

How big is the EOR services market and which regions are experiencing the most growth?

With organizations across many sectors looking to capture top talent from new markets, the EOR service market has risen in size. As of 2022, EOR market data was valued at $4450.5 million USD, with an expected value of $6604.4 million USD by the end of 2029! This represents a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% during that seven-year period.

Other EOR research pinpointed the growth of EOR services for both small-to-medium enterprises and large enterprises throughout 2023. The key geographical areas seeing the most growth are:

  • North America (the USA, Canada, and Mexico)
  • Europe (the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey)
  • Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Australia)
  • South America (Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia)
  • The Middle East (Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates)
  • Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt)

Interested in hiring within a specific country? We’ve created specialty lists covering the best EOR services in Canada and the best UK EOR services as well.

Is a global employer of record the same as an EOR company?

A global employer of record (also known as a GEOR) offers the same services as an EOR company but on a wider, global scale. Both EORs and GEOs offer assistance with payroll processing, tax withholding, international benefits management, and monitoring compliance with local laws and regulations across the different countries they operate in. The difference lies in their country-specific service offerings.

While some service providers may use the terms EOR and GEOR synonymously, here are some ways you can differentiate them when doing your own research:

  • Review their service offerings. Do they offer coverage in specific countries or regions, or do they use specific terms like global workforce management support or global benefits support instead?
  • Examine their geographic coverage. Many EOR/GEORs have country-specific directories listed on their websites that demonstrate their in-house expertise for specific countries.
  • Examine their client base. Lots of EOR service providers list key companies they work with on their website for marketing purposes. If you notice there are many multinational corporations in the list, that’s a good sign that they have global employer of record capabilities. If the companies listed all seem foreign or are unknown to you, they likely are focused on markets you’re not as interested in.
  • When in doubt, book a consultation. Sometimes it’s hard to find the details above on your own, or you may have limited time to conduct your own research. If it’s essential for you to determine whether a provider is an EOR or GEOR, talk to them directly. I’ve included links to all of the top EOR companies that made it into this article. If you click through to their website, you’ll be able to request more information from them directly to verify if they’ll satisfy your business needs or not.

How do EOR services handle data privacy and security?

EOR services prioritize data privacy and security by adhering to global and local data protection regulations, such as the GDPR in the European Union. They implement robust security measures, including data encryption and secure storage, to protect sensitive employee information. Compliance with data security standards is critical for EORs, as they handle personal and financial information for employees across different jurisdictions. Regular audits and updates to their security practices ensure they meet the latest data protection requirements​.

Understanding the risks and ensuring compliance is a significant part of choosing the right EOR partner. For more details on data privacy and security considerations when working with EORs, I recommend reading our comprehensive guide on EOR risks for decision-makers.

What are some of the consequences of non-compliance?

As an organization, you never want to be deemed as non-compliant in the eyes of any government body. The exact rules and regulations will vary according to the jurisdiction you’re operating in, which is one of the main benefits of using and EOR service provider.

If you don’t use an EOR and you do hire international workers, you may quickly find yourself in non-compliance. The consequences of doing so will depend on the severity of the violation, but they could include all of the following:

  • Fines and penalties
  • Legal actions such as lawsuits or other litigation proceedings
  • Corrective measures and compliance orders
  • Revocation of business licenses or operating permits
  • Reputational damage if the news becomes public (loss of public trust and loss of internal employee respect)
  • Increased monitoring and additional government scrutiny

Companies who fail to follow international labor laws cannot simply say they were unaware of the legalities, and hence, didn’t follow them. That’s where an EOR service can really remove a lot of potential risk and liability from the international hiring process.

To brush up on your compliance best practices, have a quick read through our 2023 HR Compliance Guide.

Are there any risks to using an Employer of Record service?

In the world of business, nothing is ever 100% risk free, and that is true for Employer of Record services as well. While EOR services to offer substantial advantages, here are some of the risks you should also be mindful of as you choose the right partner for you:

Financial risks:

  • Hidden costs and service fees: Some EOR providers may charge additional service fees for specific tasks, such as processing documents, onboarding or offboarding employees, or providing additional HR advise.
  • Mandatory benefits: Some countries require mandatory benefits for employees. In that case, the EOR will charge you for those benefits in addition to the employee salary and their service percentage, which can add up.
  • Currency fluctuations: Exchange fluctuations can impact the cost of payroll and other financial transactions as the strength of a currency you’re using goes up or down.

Operational risks:

  • Data security: Since you’re entrusting sensitive employee data to your EOR, you’ll want to consider the strength of their data protection practices and policies, including their incident response plans, IT penetration testing, and data management certifications, such as ISO 27001.

Strategic risks: 

  • Loss of control: You will need to relinquish some degree of control over the workforce management processes of your EOR employees, which may impact your organization’s strategic decision-making capabilities.
  • Brand reputation: Any negative actions, incidents, or practices of your chosen EOR can directly impact your organization’s brand reputation and create a negative employee experience if not handled properly.

For a deeper dive on this topic, read our comprehensive guide of EOR risks, including ways you can mitigate each potential issue upfront.

EOR vs. PEO Services

The main difference between EOR and PEO services is the legal status of the parent company. If you're interested in hiring remote employees in a country where you don't have a legal entity established, then an Employer of Record service is what you need.

On the flip side, if your organization already has a legal entity established in a foreign country and your in-house HR staff just need additional help with hiring and managing international talent, you can opt to outsource specific parts of your HR services through a PEO agreement.

Under a PEO agreement, your organization and the PEO company enter a co-employment situation where each party has distinct legal responsibilities.

To help you make that choice, take a closer look at our detailed comparison of PEO vs EOR services to figure out which service is the right one for you.

Tips for Selecting the Best EOR Service Provider for You

To help you select the best EOR service provider to work with, you need to have a clear idea of your specific needs so you can be sure the EOR provider addresses them. To help you hone in on that quickly, try answering the following questions:

  • Are you interested in hiring new employees within a specific country? If so, how much experience does the EOR have in that country?
  • Does the EOR have a proven track record in the region you're interested in, such as North America or Asia?
  • How long has the EOR been in business for?
  • Does the EOR have a permanent local entity in the country you're interested in hiring in, or are they using a local partnership instead?
  • Does the EOR handle all the areas you need support with, including sourcing top talent, international payroll & taxes, work permits, health benefits, background checks, and more?
  • Will the EOR provider assist you if you do decide to open up a foreign entity of your own? Could you retain their services under a PEO agreement instead?
  • How do their services and fees compare to other EOR providers you're considering?

Use these questions to vet your top three choices for EOR providers and the best choice for you should become clearer. And if you'll mostly be working with contractor or freelance workers, a contractor management software might also be something to consider using.

Other Resources & Services

With international employment on your mind, I recommend checking out these other helpful articles too:

Simplify Your International Operations with EOR Services

Now, you should have a better sense of how EOR services can alleviate the typical hassles of hiring international employees. They're truly a valuable resource, whether you're an enterprise organization striving for the best global talent, or a small business or startup trying to compete in the global talent marketplace.

If you found this article helpful, I recommend signing up for our weekly People Managing People newsletter too. You'll get access to the latest insights from thought leaders, as well as our latest podcasts, and more software and service recommendations. 

By Kim Behnke

Kim Behnke is an HR Tool Expert & Writer for People Managing People. She draws on her 9 years of human resources experience and her keen eye for systematic processes to support her analyses of the top HR tools on the market. She is passionate about maximizing efficiencies and streamlining workflows to ensure internal systems run smoothly. Kim's HR experience includes recruitment, onboarding, performance management, training and development, policy development and enforcement, and HR analytics. She also has degrees in psychology, writing, publishing, and technical communication, and recently completed a Certified Digital HR Specialist program through the Academy to Innovate HR. When away from her desk, she can usually be found outside tending to her ever-expanding garden.