The Employer of Record (EOR) industry is predicted to grow at a steady but impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% through 2028, according to projections from Valuates. At least some of this will come from startups looking to hire global talent remotely and expand in markets abroad.
Cross-border hiring can be a daunting task for early-stage startups. However, through EOR hiring, startups can streamline HR processes, maintain compliance, pilot innovative solutions and achieve their expansion targets.
In this blog post, we explore examples of how startups can turn their ambition of global expansion into reality.
Case Study 1: US-based Fintech Expands Horizons in Europe
- Situation: A US-based fintech startup aspired to test its financial technology platform in European markets.
- Use Case: Testing existing products in a new market.
- Advantages: Potential for new revenue streams and operational cost reductions.
- Pitfalls and Challenges: The fintech startup faced significant legal complexities, regulatory hurdles and long timelines in establishing legal entities. They realized these challenges hindered their ability to test the market efficiently and would incur unnecessary operational costs.
- EOR Solution: The startup swiftly engaged local talent in Europe through an EOR solution prior to setting up legal entities. This team conducted market tests and explored business development opportunities in various European markets.
Case Study 2: UK Healthtech Takes the Leap in South Africa
- Situation: A UK-based healthtech startup developed an innovative healthcare solution and aimed to pilot it in South Africa before launching it in Europe.
- Use Case: Piloting a new product in a market abroad.
- Advantages: Operational cost reductions and diversity in product development.
- Pitfalls and Challenges: The healthtech startup initially encountered challenges related to legal compliance, cultural nuances and establishing a temporary team efficiently. This delayed the pilot phase and increased the risk of regulatory issues.
- EOR Solution: Utilizing EOR services, the startup built an interim team in the target region, ensuring compliance with local regulations. This facilitated a successful pilot phase while minimizing risks associated with permanent establishment.
Case Study 3: German E-commerce Brand’s Seamless Carveout in North America
- Situation: A German e-commerce startup planned to expand into North America through an asset carve-out M&A deal.
- Use Case: Preparing for cross-border corporate transactions (e.g., M&A).
- Advantages: New revenue streams and business diversification.
- Pitfalls and Challenges: Lack of local HR knowledge led to complexities rehiring employees during the carveout, resulting in operational disruptions and potential legal issues. The startup ran into challenges associated with orphaned employees and regulatory compliance.
- EOR Solution: Engaging EOR services proved pivotal for the startup in navigating the intricacies of a carveout M&A deal. This approach addressed challenges associated with permanent establishment risks and the unique situation of orphaned employees resulting from the carveout.
Case Study 4: Swedish Clean Energy Startup Lights the Way in Latin America
- Situation: A Swedish clean energy startup aimed to tap into emerging markets in Latin America (LATAM).
- Use Case: Building an interim team in an international market.
- Advantages: Sustainable growth opportunities and talent acquisition.
- Potential Pitfalls and Challenges: The startup’s internal HR team found it difficult to fully understand local employment laws, tax regulations and talent acquisition processes. They realized this lack of local expertise would lead to compliance issues and inefficiencies.
- EOR Solution: Opting to engage an EOR partner with recruiting capabilities, the startup quickly assembled a team with members in Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. This arrangement helped them overcome local legal and compliance challenges while preparing for future entity establishment.
Case Study 5: Canadian EdTech Pioneer Taps Specialized Talent in Asia Pacific
- Situation: A Canadian EdTech startup sought to access specialized talent in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
- Use Case: Tapping into new talent pools for specialized skills.
- Advantages: Talent development and diversity in the workforce.
- Potential Pitfalls and Challenges: From the start, EdTech startup realized its internal HR team was not equipped to confront language barriers, cultural nuances and the intricacies of hiring in diverse regions across APAC. They knew this could limit their access to specialized talent and hinder the effectiveness of their expansion campaign.
- EOR Solution: Utilizing EOR, the startup hired skilled professionals in the target region, addressing language and cultural differences while expanding the talent pool and enhancing overall capabilities.
Case Study 6: French Machine Learning Innovator Cuts Costs by Expanding to Eastern Europe
- Situation: A French machine learning startup aimed to diversify its operations and reduce costs by setting up a development team in Eastern Europe.
- Use Case: Tapping into new talent pools for a cost-effective workforce.
- Advantages: Cost-effective workforce and operational cost reductions.
- Potential Pitfalls and Challenges: As the startup mapped out its expansion, the internal HR team identified hurdles related to local labor laws, compliance with regulations and establishing a temporary team swiftly. This would have resulted in delays and increased costs associated with expansion
- EOR Solution: Engaging an EOR with recruiting capabilities, the startup set up a temporary team in Eastern Europe. This route mitigated legal and regulatory challenges and allowed for an efficient and cost-effective expansion.
Will your startup be the next success story?
These examples underscore the pivotal role an effective EOR partner can play in facilitating seamless global expansion.
Beyond standard services, some EOR providers offer a broader spectrum of solutions, including end-to-end recruitment, M&A solutions, supplemental benefits, equity compensation, Agent of Record (AOR) services and more.
The comprehensive and flexible nature of EOR services empowers startups to confidently navigate the complexities of global expansion, ensuring sustainable growth and success on the global stage.
Join us for our webinar It’s a Small World: International Expansion for Startups on May 14 or download our comprehensive guide Roadmap to Global Growth for Startups. Reach out today if your startup is ready to expand into new markets around the world.