Hiring employees from other countries can be really hard for small businesses. You have to deal with different laws, payroll systems, and benefits in each country. Employer of Record (EOR) services can help. They let you hire people anywhere without needing to set up your own office in each place. This guide will help you choose the best EOR services for small businesses.
Key Takeaways
- Remote is a top choice for overall EOR services, offering a complete package for global employment needs.
- Deel stands out for its easy-to-use platform and flexible pricing options, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes.
- Rippling combines HR management with EOR services, providing a seamless experience for managing employees.
- Papaya Global is known for its user-friendly interface and continuous product updates, making it a popular choice.
- Multiplier offers strong expertise in the APAC region, making it a great option for companies looking to expand there.
1. Remote
Remote is a top choice for businesses that want to hire employees and contractors globally. Remote offers a full suite of services including payroll, compliance, benefits, and taxes, all for a flat rate. This makes it easier for companies to manage their international workforce without the need for multiple vendors.
Remote’s platform is user-friendly, making it simple to onboard new employees and manage their personal and employment details. Employees and contractors can access their portal anytime to view their personal details and pay stubs. Payroll is processed bi-weekly or semi-monthly, depending on local laws, and is managed entirely by Remote.
Key Features
- Flat-rate pricing: No hidden fees or deposits, making budgeting straightforward.
- Global coverage: Active in over 80 countries, though some competitors cover more.
- Comprehensive benefits: Offers health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as mental health support.
- Ironclad IP protection: Ensures your intellectual property is secure.
- Responsive customer support: Available via email and live chat.
Pros
- Easy onboarding process
- Timely payroll with no issues
- Monthly calls with an account representative for support
- No markup on benefits premiums
Cons
- Can be expensive for smaller businesses
- Limited local benefits compared to some competitors
- No phone support available
Remote helps companies become global powerhouses by expanding their access to talent beyond their borders. They own local legal entities in all their covered countries to avoid third-party handoffs and ensure your protection.
If you’re considering switching payroll companies to Remote HR, their straightforward playbook ensures a smooth and efficient transition. This makes Remote a reliable choice for businesses looking to manage their global workforce effectively.
2. Deel
Deel operates in over 150 countries, offering one of the widest coverages in the industry. Their platform is known for its user-friendly interface and automation capabilities.
Key Features
- Self-Service Employee Portal: Deel’s platform offers employees self-service features to access their salary and benefits information. Employees can view pay stubs and tax documents, update personal information, choose preferred payment methods, and access health insurance and other benefits.
- Competitive Benefits Packages: Deel enables companies to provide attractive benefits to their global employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, life insurance, disability coverage, paid time off, parental leave, and additional perks like gym memberships.
- Compliance Management: Deel ensures compliance with local labor laws and regulations in each country where you have employees. This includes registering with government agencies, obtaining necessary licenses, withholding and remitting taxes and social contributions, and providing legally-compliant employment contracts.
- Multi-currency support: This feature enables businesses to easily manage international payroll, offering flexibility for both employers and employees in choosing preferred payment currencies. Deel handles currency conversion and ensures compliance with local regulations, simplifying cross-border transactions for global teams.
Pricing
Deel offers EOR services in over 150 countries, starting at $599 per month. They handle local payroll, taxes, and benefits, ensuring compliance with local regulations. Deel provides competitive benefits packages tailored to each country and offers centralized reporting, numerous integrations, and 24/7 support with dedicated customer success managers.
Best For
Businesses who are considering an EOR service provider with great tech to go along with it, and the option to have some contractors within the same tool.
Deel is a great choice for companies looking to legally hire employees in countries where they don’t have an entity, providing a significant advantage in global expansion.
3. Rippling
Rippling is a standout choice for small businesses looking for a comprehensive HR solution. Rippling’s approach is unique because they manage local EOR entities themselves, avoiding the need for intermediaries. This allows them to offer benefits management, stock options, and global support with greater flexibility.
Rippling is best for small to medium-sized businesses that want a seamless user experience and a wide range of HR tools in one platform. The platform is designed to be accessible across the entire organization, making it easy to navigate and use.
Key Features
- Unified HR, IT, and Finance: Rippling consolidates employee data, allowing for speedy automation and eliminating duplicate systems.
- Fastest Global Payroll: Rippling auto-calculates payroll inputs like hours worked, expense reimbursements, and time off, speeding up pay runs. It takes just 5 days to payday in popular markets and 12 days in less common markets.
- Compliance Automation: Rippling continuously monitors for compliance risks, automatically flagging potential issues to protect employers from legal and reputational risks.
Pricing
Rippling starts at $8 per user per month, but the final cost depends on the specific modules you choose. For EOR services, the cost generally ranges from $500 to $600 per employee per month. You can customize your plan by adding or removing features based on your needs.
Customer Reviews
Rippling has a 4.8 out of 5 rating on G2. Customers appreciate the well-organized and easy-to-navigate platform, especially the integrated features. However, some users find it too expensive for the functionality it provides and report difficulties in getting support.
4. Papaya Global
Papaya Global is a top choice for enterprises aiming to expand globally. Their platform supports all employee types, including payroll, EOR, and contractors. With Papaya Global, you get expert payroll, regulated cross-border payments, comprehensive contractor management, and global and in-country experts, all from one place.
Key Features
- Tax Document Management: Papaya Global handles all tax document management for your employees. This includes generating the necessary tax forms, filing taxes, and providing guidance to ensure full compliance.
- Local Guidance: It has dedicated local teams with industry-leading expertise in each country where they provide EOR services. These local experts ensure full compliance with labor laws and regulations in the countries where your employees are based.
- Global Payments: Papaya Global’s platform includes a global wallet with bank-level security that enables paying employees anywhere in the world in any currency. Payments are secure, efficient, and always come through on time.
- Equity Incentive Planning: The platform offers support for setting up and administering equity incentive plans for your global workforce. Their team can help design and implement stock options, RSUs, and other equity compensation.
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.
Pricing
Papaya Global’s EOR service starts at $650 per employee per month. This flat fee pricing model provides transparency compared to percentage-based models that can get expensive for higher salaries. However, it is less accessible for startups and small businesses with limited budgets.
5. Multiplier
Multiplier is a versatile employer of record (EOR) service that helps businesses hire and manage employees globally without needing to set up local entities. This platform handles payroll, taxes, and other essential HR tasks, making it easier for companies to expand their workforce internationally.
Key Features
- Global Reach: Multiplier supports hiring in over 150 countries and can pay employees in 120 different currencies, including cryptocurrency.
- Quick Onboarding: The platform allows you to generate locally-compliant, multilingual contracts in under five minutes and can onboard new hires in less than a week.
- Comprehensive HR Services: From payroll and benefits to tax contributions and compliance, Multiplier covers all aspects of HR management.
- 24/7 Support: Access to local HR and legal experts around the clock.
Pricing
Multiplier offers two main pricing plans:
| Plan | Price per Month | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hire Employees | $400 | Contracts, multi-country payroll, benefits, insurance, expense management |
| Pay Freelancers | $40 | Instant contracts, multi-currency payments, benefits, insurance |
Additional costs may apply for employee insurance packages, starting at $20 per month.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- All-in-one platform for compliance, payroll, onboarding, and timesheets.
- Multi-currency payments and multilingual contracts.
- No setup fees or refundable deposits.
Cons:
- Limited integration options with other HR tools.
- Fixed payroll cut-off date.
- Pricing may not be cost-effective for hiring in low-income countries.
Multiplier is an excellent choice for startups and mid-sized businesses looking to expand their global workforce, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. However, it may not be the best fit for large corporations with existing local entities.
6. Oyster HR
Oyster HR is a global employer of record (EOR) service that helps businesses hire, onboard, and pay employees in over 130 countries. It’s a cost-effective solution for managing a global workforce without sacrificing quality.
Pros
- Free sign-up
- Custom pricing for large-scale hiring
- Automations to speed up hiring
- Bulk-hiring support
- IP protection
- Local and global benefits packages
Cons
- Potential delays in payment processing
- Some buggy features
- No mobile app
Pricing
| Service | Monthly Cost (per employee) |
|---|---|
| Employer of Record | $699 ($599 if billed annually) |
| Global Payroll | $50 |
| Contractor | $29 |
Key Features
- Quick generation of compliant employment agreements
- Payroll management in 140+ currencies
- Comprehensive benefits administration
Oyster HR is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking to expand internationally without setting up local offices. It offers special discounts for nonprofits and supports hiring vetted refugees.
7. Remofirst
Remofirst is an Employer of Record (EOR) service that helps companies hire and manage employees in different countries without setting up local entities. This platform is ideal for businesses looking to onboard remote global workers while ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Remofirst offers a range of services, including international payroll, invoice management, global benefits management, visa support, and employee assistance with immigration documentation. Their team of legal experts and HR professionals ensures that your business operations remain compliant with changing global regulations.
Key Features
- Employers can pay Remofirst in USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, and SGD.
- Remofirst pays each global employee in their local currency.
- Coverage in over 150 countries.
- Modern and sleek user interface.
- 24/7 customer support with a dedicated account manager.
Pricing
Remofirst’s pricing for EOR services starts at $199 per employee per month. For contract workers, the platform can be used for $19 per month. While there is no free trial, Remofirst offers a cost-effective solution with no monthly charges for hiring global contractors.
Pros
- Transparent operations and exceptional customer service.
- Extensive country coverage.
- Reasonably priced offering.
Cons
- As a newer player, Remofirst is still rolling out new integrations and features, which are somewhat limited for now.
Remofirst effectively combines a software platform with EOR services, making it easier for companies to hire and manage global teams without setting up local entities.
8. Globalization Partners
Globalization Partners is a top choice for businesses looking to expand globally without the hassle of dealing with legal, tax, or HR complexities. Their platform extends its capabilities beyond payroll, offering support for onboarding, management, benefits administration, and compliance. This makes it a comprehensive solution for companies of all sizes.
One of the standout features of Globalization Partners is their extensive presence, with business entities in nearly every country. This allows for quick and efficient global talent acquisition, often within days. They handle all the intricate details, so you don’t have to worry about compliance or legal issues.
Key Features
- Onboarding and management support
- Benefits administration
- Compliance management
- Extensive global presence
Customer Base
Globalization Partners serves a wide range of companies, including well-known names like Distek, Udemo, Zoom, and Neurala. Their platform is particularly well-suited for medium to large enterprises looking to expand globally with a reliable, legally sound EOR solution.
Pricing
While specific pricing details are not disclosed, Globalization Partners offers tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each business. The best way to get an accurate quote is to engage in a demo.
Globalization Partners is ideal for enterprises seeking a comprehensive platform that excels in managing the entire spectrum of HR operations.
9. GoGlobal
GoGlobal is a rapidly growing EOR provider, especially known for its expertise in the Asia Pacific region. They operate in over 100 countries, making them a strong choice for businesses looking to expand internationally without setting up a legal entity in each country.
GoGlobal’s pricing is custom-based, varying depending on the number of hires and their locations. They are transparent about their pricing, providing clear breakdowns and open communication about charges.
Pros
- Expertise in the Asia Pacific region
- Operates in over 100 countries
- Transparent and custom-based pricing
- Responsive and adaptable to client needs
Cons
- Limited integration options with existing HR software
- Not ideal for companies with revenues below 100,000 EUR
- Lacks phone support for immediate communication
GoGlobal is best suited for small to mid-sized companies looking to expand their global workforce efficiently. They offer a robust support system, making it easier to hire talent in another country without the hassle of setting up a legal entity there.
10. Atlas
Atlas is a comprehensive Employer of Record (EOR) and international payroll platform. It allows companies to hire and pay employees globally while ensuring compliance with local labor laws. Atlas is powered by a global team of local HR experts that help you to hire and onboard talent in more than 160 countries, quickly and compliantly.
Pricing Plans
Atlas offers three main pricing plans:
- Essential: $99 per month. This plan includes features to navigate labor laws in over 160 countries, manage employee lifecycle, and access HR templates.
- Premium: $149 per month. This plan includes everything in the Essential plan plus compliance audit checks, people analytics, and dedicated account management.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing based on the number of licenses and specific customer needs.
Add-ons:
- Contractor Pay: Starting at $49 per contractor per month
- Employer of Record: $595 per employee per month
- Visa & Mobility Sponsorship: Starting at $2,500 per visa
Pros
- Legal entities in over 160 countries
- Simplifies hiring, managing, and paying employees abroad
- Ensures compliance with local labor laws
Cons
- Does not offer global managed payroll for non-EOR clients
- Limited prebuilt integration modules
Atlas is ideal for companies of all sizes looking to compliantly hire and pay employees globally. It simplifies the process and ensures compliance, making it a valuable tool for businesses expanding internationally.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Employer of Record (EOR) service can make a big difference for your small business. With the right EOR, you can hire people from all over the world without worrying about different laws and rules in each country. This guide has looked at some of the best EOR services out there, helping you find the one that fits your needs and budget. Remember, the best EOR service will save you time, reduce headaches, and let you focus on growing your business. So take your time, do your research, and pick the EOR that will help your business succeed globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kuldeep Nirgude is a computer science student with a strong interest in finance and marketing. With a focus on analyzing industry trends, he writes articles that simplify complex concepts and empower readers to make informed decisions. Kuldeep is dedicated to bridging the gap between technology and business, and is committed to staying updated on the latest innovations shaping the economy.