Germany, one of Europe’s powerhouses, boasts a robust economy thanks to its strong focus on innovation and highly skilled labor force. While the country offers immense potential for employers, it also has strict labor and compliance laws, which can make setting up a legal entity quite arduous.
Fortunately, Employer of Record (EOR) services have emerged as a convenient alternative. These EORs act as your proxy employer, simplifying the complexities of hiring and managing employees according to German law. Read on to learn about the leading employer of record services in Germany so you can make an informed decision.
RemoFirst
RemoFirst works with a local German partner that understands the nuances of the German labor market. By leveraging our partner’s expert knowledge of local laws and labor regulations, we provide comprehensive employment solutions that enable global employers to hire and manage German employees and independent contractors while staying fully compliant.
Beyond compliance, our easy-to-use platform with an intuitive design allows employers to monitor expenses, handle payroll, and administer benefits effortlessly. Employers can:
- Consolidate all invoices and salary disbursements into a single, easily manageable payment.
- Fund their accounts in any one of five available currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, or SGD).
- Ensure that employees and independent contractors receive their earnings in euros (EUR).
The best part? We offer these services at highly competitive rates, starting at just $199/month/person for employees and $25/month/person for contractors with no minimum or fixed contract terms.
RemoFirst also offers:
- Benefits administration, handling all the sourcing and paperwork for various benefits, including personalized global health insurance through RemoHealth, stock options, bonuses, commissions, paid time off, and equipment provisioning per German labor law. When it comes to equipment, RemoFirst handles all the shipping logistics at no extra cost.
- Formal HR procedures and employment contracts that are localized for German hires.
- Streamlined same-day onboarding, background checks, and work permit and visa support.
- Prompt support that includes a dedicated account manager in an employer’s time zone and 24/5 chat support.
Horizons
Horizons offers EOR/PEO services through its fully AÜG licensed owned-entity in Germany. With a team of local HR experts who ensure ongoing compliance with German labor regulations, Horizons offers a full suite of business services encompassing everything from drafting locally compliant labor contracts to hiring, onboarding, and managing German hires.
Prices begin at $299/month/person for employees and $49/month/person for contractors. Additional services offered by Horizons include:
- Localized benefits administration, covering health insurance, pension contributions, as well as leave and tax management
- Onboarding in as little as 24 hours and offboarding support.
- Assistance with visas and work permits.
- In-house support for local recruitment needs.
Rippling
Rippling provides workforce management and payroll processing services tailored to employers handling teams of all sizes, ranging “from 2 to 2000+ employees.” Examples of services and features the EOR provides include automatic compliance and tax filing, a library of payroll data report templates, and onboarding that can be completed within 90 seconds. In addition, Rippling offers customized workflows to suit each employer’s unique needs.
That said, Rippling has a somewhat complex pricing model, which requires employers to opt-in to different services (benefits administration, for example), each with additional costs that can add up fast. Pricing for payroll, tax reporting, and time tracking starts at $35, plus $8/month/person for employees.
Rippling also offers:
- Benefits administration, including health insurance and 401(k) plans.
- Customer support, which includes live chat, email support, an online help center, and how-to guides.
Universal Hires
Universal Hires has an AÜG-licensed German entity that helps global employers hire team members in Germany. The EOR offers numerous hiring and workforce management services that comply with German HR legislation, including:
- Comprehensive benefits administration, encompassing health and social insurance, pension contributions, and paid time off.
- Monthly payroll services supported by a dedicated payroll officer.
- Customized local employment contracts for employees.
- Access to a dedicated HR advisor.
- Streamlined onboarding, often completed in a matter of days.
Universal Hires does not disclose pricing details on its site, and employers must reach out directly to the EOR for this information.
Seamless Hiring in Germany with RemoFirst
Finding the right EOR service can simplify your international hiring and workforce management efforts. Choose wisely, and your business will thrive in the German market.
While all the platforms highlighted in the guide offer reputable EOR services, RemoFirst stands out. With its cost-effective pricing, intuitive platform, and exceptional customer support, it proves to be a top choice for managing your workforce in Germany while complying with German employment laws. To learn more about the benefits of choosing RemoFirst as your Global EOR partner, check out Global EOR: The Benefits of Using RemoFirst as Your EOR Platform.
