Going global isn’t just for the big players anymore. In 2025, the walls between local and international markets have come crashing down, and the future belongs to those willing to build borderless teams. 

The pandemic-fuelled remote work revolution didn’t just change where we work; it fundamentally transformed how we think about talent acquisition. Today, startups don’t need to be within commuting distance of a city to get their pick of the best developers, salespeople, or marketers. Geographical proximity — once one of the key deciding factors when recruiting — has melted into insignificance.

By 2030, the WEF (World Economic Forum) predicts the number of remote, digital-first jobs will rise by 25%, to a staggering 92 million. 

But while the remote revolution has its advantages, it’s not all roses. Yes, businesses can hire talent from anywhere, but the legal and administrative hurdles are an unwelcome fly in the ointment. A patchwork quilt of labour laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements, it’s enough to put most companies off the idea altogether.

Fortunately, there’s a workaround — the Employer of Record Service (EOR) — and we’ll explain everything you need to know below.

Office desks in a city workspace.

What is an EOR?

Think of an Employer of Record as your business’s fast pass to global expansion. They handle all the messy, complicated parts of the hiring process, leaving you to focus on onboarding your new acquisition. 

They take care of:

  • Legal employment — Ensures your employees are hired in full compliance with local labor laws, avoiding costly fines or legal complications.
  • Payroll and taxes — Manages salary payments, tax withholdings, and social contributions accurately and on time, no matter the country.
  • HR administration — Handles day-to-day HR tasks like time-off tracking, benefits administration, and employee records management.
  • Employment contracts — Drafts and manages locally compliant contracts tailored to your business needs and the employee’s location.

Crucially, an EOR serves as the employing entity — they’re employing on your behalf, and by partnering with one, you don’t need to establish a legal entity in your new hire’s home country. 

5 Top-rated EOR Services

So, now we’re clear on what an EOR is and why they’re so useful, let’s look at five of the best EOR providers on the market. 

Remote

Remote (a leading Rippling alternative) covers more than 180 countries with its own infrastructure rather than using third-party partners. Their user-friendly platform handles everything from onboarding to payroll, with transparent pricing that makes budgeting straightforward. Remote stands out by having actual legal experts in each country they operate in, ensuring your contracts and practices stay compliant with local laws.

The platform includes easy-to-use tools for managing international teams, tracking time, and handling approvals. They offer competitive local benefits packages tailored to each country, plus optional global benefits you can provide to all team members. Remote maintains strong security certifications and adapts their pricing to fit businesses from small startups to large enterprises, with better rates for bigger teams.

Deel

Deel simplifies the process of hiring global talent for businesses looking to expand their workforce beyond domestic borders. The platform provides tools to hire contractors and full-time employees in over 150 countries.What sets Deel apart is its flexibility in managing different types of workers, whether you’re dealing with freelancers or permanent employees.

Deel handles local compliance, ensuring that your business adheres to the specific labor laws of each country. This includes managing contracts, payroll, and even benefits, all tailored to the regulations of the employee’s country. For companies venturing into new international markets, Deel’s platform also offers insights into global payroll costs, enabling better financial planning. This makes Deel a valuable partner for businesses aiming to scale their global operations with minimal hassle.

Papaya Global

Papaya Global offers a comprehensive EOR service designed to simplify the complexities of global hiring. This platform is particularly advantageous for businesses that need to manage a diverse workforce spread across multiple countries. Papaya Global’s all-in-one platform covers everything from onboarding to payroll processing, ensuring compliance with local employment laws in over 140 countries.

One of Papaya Global’s strengths lies in its ability to integrate with existing HR systems, making it easier for businesses to manage global payroll alongside their domestic operations. The platform also offers real-time analytics, giving business leaders insights into their global workforce and associated costs. For companies looking to maintain control while expanding internationally, Papaya Global provides the transparency and compliance needed to hire confidently across borders.

Velocity Global

Velocity Global is ideal for businesses looking to establish a strong international presence quickly. As an EOR service, Velocity Global offers end-to-end support for hiring employees in over 185 countries. This platform excels at providing tailored solutions that align with the specific needs of your business, whether you’re expanding into a single country or multiple markets simultaneously.

What makes Velocity Global particularly effective is its localized expertise. The company’s in-country specialists ensure that your business remains compliant with local employment laws, tax regulations, and benefits requirements. This is especially crucial for companies that are unfamiliar with the legal and cultural nuances of different regions. By managing these complexities, Velocity Global allows your business to focus on growth and innovation rather than administrative burdens.

Oyster

Oyster empowers businesses to hire talent anywhere in the world within days. Their platform is designed to simplify the process of international hiring by taking on the role of the legal employer, thus ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations in over 180 countries.

Oyster is known for its fast onboarding process, which is a significant advantage for companies looking to quickly establish a presence in new markets. The platform offers tools for managing payroll, benefits, and taxes, all while ensuring that your employees receive a consistent experience, regardless of their location. For companies eager to accelerate their global expansion, Oyster provides a streamlined and reliable solution that eliminates the complexity of international hiring while maintaining full compliance.

Selecting the right EOR service isn’t a simple task, particularly because the impact it can have on your global expansion strategy is so significant. Hopefully, though, we’ve made your job just a little easier — each of the providers listed above are strong, reliable options and come with our personal recommendations.

If you’re ready to keep exploring, head back to the index to dive into more articles — here at A Nation of Moms, we’ve got a little something for every reader, whether you’re looking for a guide to getting started with crochet, or tips to keep your pet comfortable on their travels! Thanks for reading.