Which Employer of Record Should You Use, and When Should You Use One?

Last Updated: 

December 20, 2024

Employees that work remotely are becoming more common these days; their numbers are increasing by 1% to 3% annually. This is a trend that employers are using globally. Businesses are branching out abroad in an attempt to put together dream teams and locate the best personnel.

However, there are challenges when hiring overseas. Overcoming obstacles include overseas taxation, regulatory risks, efficient onboarding, and international payroll.

How therefore ought a hiring manager to proceed? When it comes to hiring, working with an employer of record, or EOR, is typically the simplest approach. An EOR handles the biggest problems.

This article defines an employer of record, discusses the benefits of utilising one, and walks you through the process of choosing the right one for your business.

Key Takeaways on Using EORs

  1. EOR simplifies global hiring: An Employer of Record allows companies to legally hire international employees without needing to establish a legal entity in each country.
  2. Ideal for market expansion: EORs enable businesses to enter new markets quickly by handling local employment laws, payroll, and compliance, making expansion more efficient.
  3. Supports temporary and project-based hiring: EORs are perfect for short-term or project-based hires, allowing businesses to onboard talent without long-term commitments.
  4. Navigates complex labour laws: EORs manage compliance with country-specific labour laws, avoiding legal issues, fines, or reputational damage for businesses.
  5. Test markets before full expansion: EORs allow businesses to experiment in new markets with minimal risk, hiring a small team to assess potential before scaling up.
  6. Streamlines payroll and benefits: A good EOR handles payroll, taxes, and benefits centrally, ensuring consistency and compliance across multiple countries.
  7. Multiplier offers secure, cost-effective EOR services: Multiplier’s EOR services provide compliance, cost savings, 24/5 support, and protection for businesses hiring globally.
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What is an Employer of Record?

With an employer of record (EOR), you can legally and productively hire your dream hires, wherever they may reside. The EOR is your employer instead of you. They often take care of hiring, payroll, benefits, compliance requirements, and more for your foreign employees. This reduces the cost and bother of hiring international talent.

When should you use an Employer of Record?

An Employer of Record acts as a third-party organisation that handles all legal employment responsibilities on behalf of your company in a specific country. They officially employ workers, but the day-to-day management of the employees remains with you. Here are a few key situations where using an EOR makes the most sense:

1. Expanding to new international markets

If you're looking to expand your business into a new country without setting up a physical or legal presence, an EOR is a great solution. Establishing a legal entity in a foreign market involves significant time and financial investments. You have to navigate local regulations, open bank accounts, and comply with tax laws. By using an EOR, you can skip all of these complexities and immediately start hiring top talent in your target market.

For example, if you're a tech company wanting to hire a software engineer in Brazil or a marketing specialist in Germany, an EOR takes on the responsibility of complying with local employment laws, so you can focus on running your business instead of worrying about legal compliance.

2. Temporary or project-based hiring

If your business is involved in short-term projects or needs temporary workers in different countries, using an EOR allows you to bring in talent for the duration of the project without establishing long-term commitments. Whether you're looking to hire experts for a six-month project in a foreign country or contract seasonal workers, an EOR helps streamline the process by quickly onboarding employees and handling all administrative tasks like payroll, benefits, and compliance.

An EOR becomes especially valuable for businesses that deal with fluctuating staffing needs and are unsure of how long their international presence will last in a particular country.

3. Navigating complex labour laws and compliance

Every country has unique labour laws and tax requirements. If you're hiring in multiple regions, keeping up with the various regulations can become overwhelming. For example, different countries have varying rules on minimum wage, overtime, and employee benefits. Failure to comply with local laws could result in hefty fines, legal issues, or reputational damage.

An EOR keeps you compliant with the latest country-specific laws and regulations. They handle everything from employee contracts, taxes, insurance, and benefits packages, so you don’t have to worry about compliance issues or run the risk of penalties.

4. Testing new markets before full expansion

If you want to explore a new market without committing to a full-fledged operation, using an EOR allows you to "test the waters" by hiring a small team or even a single employee in the region. This gives you the flexibility to assess the market’s potential, evaluate the talent pool, and make informed decisions about whether to scale further. If the market proves successful, you can transition to establishing a local entity later on, but using an EOR helps minimise upfront risk.

5. Streamlining global hiring

An EOR is ideal for businesses that want to build a globally distributed team without the administrative burden of dealing with multiple legal systems. By outsourcing employment responsibilities to an EOR, your business can focus on talent acquisition and operational growth without getting bogged down by the complexity of managing compliance in different countries.

For example, companies operating in the tech or digital sectors often hire employees from around the world to leverage global talent pools. Using an EOR enables these companies to build a diverse and skilled workforce quickly and efficiently, without worrying about setting up separate legal entities in every country where their employees are located.

Characteristics of a first-rate EOR

Centrally managed payroll approvals, benefits, onboarding, wage simulations, local taxes, payroll approvals, and much more are all given by the perfect employer of record.

But this is just the beginning of what a capable EOR can offer its clients. Security and IP protection are equally important, and this includes data protection and compliance.

It's critical that you understand how your EOR runs your company behind the scenes. Your employees need to like working for your company, no matter where they reside or are employed. In order to ensure that your staff members feel like whole, valuable team members, a good EOR will prioritise their experiences.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a reliable, cost-effective, and secure EOR provider, Multiplier stands out from the competition. Their EOR software services allow businesses to hire globally without the need to set up a legal entity. With Multiplier, your business can benefit from:

  • Compliant by design: Stay compliant across country-specific laws and regulations.
  • 35% lower total cost of ownership: Scale your business globally at an affordable price.
  • Dedicated 24/5 human-first support: Get expert assistance whenever you need it.
  • Local expertise: Ensure compliance and smooth operations across multiple countries.
  • Safe and protected: Protect sensitive employee and business information with secure data handling practices.

Using an Employer of Record is a strategic choice for businesses looking to expand internationally, streamline their hiring process, or comply with complex labour laws. When choosing the right EOR provider, Multiplier is a trusted partner that offers all the tools and support you need to succeed in today’s global business landscape.

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