Many companies use global hiring to scale up quickly and efficiently as a critical strategy for accelerating expansion.
However, it can be challenging for businesses to grow a global workforce in different countries where they don’t have a physical presence. An Employer of Record (EOR) can help with hiring international employees and workforce management.
Below, I'll compare the five leading EOR providers to help you find the best Employer of Record services for your company’s international hiring needs.
Before we dive into all the details, here’s a brief overview of the EOR platforms we’re highlighting, their primary value prop, and pricing for EOR services for global compliance and HR management.
P.S. these are in no specific order either.
What is an Employer of Record (EOR)?
EORs help companies employ staff in countries where their business doesn’t have a legal entity by managing the human resources and other administrative tasks associated with employing global talent.
The EOR acts as the legal employer, handling HR tasks such as payroll services, tax filings, employee onboarding, legal compliance with local regulations, and benefits administration. At the same time, the hiring company maintains control over the employee’s day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.
By partnering with an EOR, businesses can hire employees to build remote teams, including full-time employees and independent contractors, without the hassle of opening their own entity or needing to learn local employment laws in multiple new markets.
EORs can also:
- Ship equipment to new hires
- Manage onboarding and offboarding
- Administer employee benefits
- Assist with visa applications
- Perform background checks
What Questions Should I Ask When Choosing an Employer of Record Service Provider?
This will somewhat depend on your company’s needs, but here are some basic questions to ask every EOR you’re considering.
What countries are covered by your EOR services?
Before you choose an EOR, it’s essential to confirm they can help your business hire in the countries where you want to employ staff — or already do.
In addition, you should also ask what their level of expertise is in these countries and if they partner with local experts or have their own entities.
The bottom line is that you want to confirm that the EOR can ensure your company’s compliance with local employment laws.
How much customer support do you offer?
Many questions can crop up when you’re employing a global team. You’ll probably want to go with an EOR you can count on to quickly respond to questions and concerns.
Do you offer additional services beyond EOR?
If you need more robust support or think you might need it in the future, now is the time to find out about additional products. This might include services such as:
- Background checks
- Contract generation
- Visa and work permit applications
- Onboarding and offboarding
- Employee benefits
How Much Does Your Service Cost?
This may seem easy to answer, but in many cases, the answer is, “It depends.”
Some EORs require minimums, charge different prices depending on which country a new hire resides in, or have hidden fees that may not be apparent upfront.
Before you commit to an EOR, you should clearly understand how much it will cost you. This includes pricing for employees as well as contractors.
Top 5 Employer of Record Providers
Oyster
Oyster partners with local entities in over 180 countries to manage EOR functions such as onboarding, international payroll, benefits management, and terminations.
It features a user-friendly interface, and there are no additional fees for setup or cancellation. Businesses hiring refugees receive special discounts.
Pricing starts at $599 per person/month billed annually or $699 per person/month billed monthly for employees.
Contractor pricing is $29 per person per month.
Remote
Remote operates entities in the countries where it offers EOR services. The company’s AI tools make it a good choice for automation-centered businesses.
Notable features include a freelancer hub and API integrations that help directly add EOR and payroll technology into a company’s platform.
Remote’s Help Center Library provides account holders with comprehensive content to help employers understand more about their products.
EOR services for employees start at $599 per person per month for annual plans. Contractor services are $29 per person/month.
Papaya Global
Papaya Global’s comprehensive services support international hiring and payroll needs, which is critical for companies expanding their workforce globally.
The company can integrate multiple payroll systems into a single platform, supporting compliance with local labor laws while helping companies pay global employees in 100+ currencies, with the ability to deposit funds directly to the employee’s bank account for 80 of them. Papaya Global guarantees end-to-end payroll payouts in 72 hours.
EOR services for employees start at $599 per person per month.
Contractor services start at $30 per person per month.
Multiplier
Multiplier stands out for compliant employment contract generation support. Like other EORs, they help track and manage employees, pay them in local currencies, and streamline onboarding.
Multiplier can make payments and manage tax contributions in over 150 countries.
EOR services for employees start at $400 per person per month.
Contractor services start at $40 per person per month.
Remofirst
Remofirst offers EOR services in 180+ countries, including shipping employer-provided equipment, with same-day onboarding available in many cases.
The company prides itself on providing outstanding customer service, with each client assigned a dedicated account manager and customer support available 24/5.
Other services include background checks and assistance with visa and work permit applications.
Remofirst’s affordability makes hiring globally easy for companies of all sizes. There are no minimums, and pricing starts at $199 per person per month, making it easier for startups and small businesses to scale as needed.
Which EOR is Right for Your Business?
The answer depends on what you’re looking for to grow your global team, what countries your company is looking to expand into, and overall budget — as each EOR has areas where they shine.
- Oyster offers unique benefits for nonprofits.
- Remote boasts a full-stack infrastructure.
- Papaya Global has unique time-off management tools.
- Multiplier can help with benefits management for contractors.
- Remofirst offers the lowest pricing, plus EOR services in 180+ countries.
