Market Entry · Global EOR

Enter new markets without entity drag

Test a market, make the first hires or launch in several countries without committing to local entities before the business case is proven. Acumen becomes the legal employer and provides the employment, payroll and compliance infrastructure in-country.

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Why Entities Slow You Down

Entities cost before they earn

When the market is still being tested, local incorporation can front-load time, cost and infrastructure before the business knows how large the opportunity will become.

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Entry time

Registrations, corporate documents, tax setup and local appointments delay the point at which the first employee can start.

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Local setup

Payroll, banking and statutory registrations must be in place before the entity can employ anyone..

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Fixed cost

Accounting, tax filings and governance run whether the market has one employee or a full team.

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Exit cost

If the market does not develop as expected, closing an entity creates a separate legal, tax and administrative process.

Hire without a local entity

People first, entity later

The choice between setting up a local entity and using a Global Employer of Record decides the speed, risk and cost of market entry. Acumen becomes the local legal employer and provides the employment, payroll and compliance infrastructure needed to start operating, while the client leads the employee’s day-to-day work.

Setup Costs

Low commitment

Start with the people the business needs rather than waiting six to twelve months for a corporate setup to finish.

We offer

local legal employment

compliant emplopyment contracts

payroll and statutory registrations

Tax exposure

Parallel launch

Test more than one market at the same time instead of sequencing expansion around separate entity projects.

We offer

multi-country hiring

one global employment relationship

Consistent onboarding across markets

Market entry

Risk visibility

Employment, payroll, benefits and mobility obligations are handled in-country, with permanent establishment exposure managed, while the client tests the commercial market.

We offer

local compliance oversight

employment and payroll administration

in-country expert support

Flexibility

Flexible exit

If the plan changes, the employment arrangement can be closed or moved without a corporate wind-down or liquidation costs.

We offer

compliant terminations

transition support

Low-risk withdrawal without liquidation costs

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Vincent Hennequin

Senior Enterprise & Partnerships Manager

Executive Perspective

Prove the market before you incorporate

“An entity makes sense when the business is ready for one. The mistake I see most often is treating incorporation as the price of finding out whether the market works.

A Global Employer of Record changes that arithmetic. You do not need ten entities in ten countries to deploy fifty people — you need one partner with the infrastructure and expertise to employ them wherever they are.

That lets a company put the right people on the ground first, learn faster and make the entity decision with evidence.

We support the first hire, a small market-entry team or several countries at once — and when a client’s own entity becomes the better long-term route, we move the employees across.”

GLOBAL EMPLOYER OF RECORD

From major economies
to the world’s hardest markets

We operate across 190+ countries and deliver to the same standard everywhere, whether the market is a major economy or one of the world’s most challenging.

ESTABLISHED

MOST CHALLENGING

Major economies

Major economies

USAGermanyUKJapan+26

Confident, compliant hiring across the world’s largest and most influential markets.

Developed countries

Developed countries

SwitzerlandNetherlandsSwedenAustralia+41

Compliant hiring and payroll tailored to local regulations and standards.

Emerging markets

Emerging markets

IndiaBrazilMexicoVietnam+65

Expert tax advisory across jurisdictions for global compliance.

Risky & remote

Risky & remote

KazakhstanAngolaIraqPapua New Guinea+41

Seamless operations even in challenging, sensitive, or remote locations.

25+

Years of Industry Leadership

95%

Client Retention Rate

190+

Countries Covered

5,000+

In-country Experts

3-Step market Entry Model

Evaluate. Hire. Scale

Start with the commercial plan, put the right employment route underneath it, and adjust once the market has proved itself.

Direct access to experts

Evaluate the market

Acumen reviews the destination, hiring plan, roles, salaries, mobility needs and local employment requirements.

Know what is feasible before setting the start date.

Tailored, not templated

Hire through EOR

Acumen becomes the local legal employer, issues the employment contract and runs payroll, statutory contributions and local employment administration.

The client manages the work; we run the employment.

Compliant in tough markets

Scale on evidence

Add hires, open another market, continue through EOR or transition to your own entity, whichever the business case supports.

The hiring route can change as the market grows.

GLOBAL HIRING SUPPORT

Tell us where you want to hire

Hire before entity setup

190+ countries

Flexible exit

Country-specific insights

Country-specific insights

Cross-country comparisons

Cross-country comparisons

Detailed breakdowns

Detailed breakdowns

Net-to-gross. Gross-to-net

Net-to-gross. Gross-to-net

Global Payroll Calculator

Estimate total employment cost in 190+ countries

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PLAN SMARTER, HIRE GLOBALLY

Discover the
true cost of hire

Get a clear view of the true cost of hiring across 190+ countries with real-time, expert-validated employment data.

Compare salaries, taxes, and statutory benefits

Identify the most cost-effective markets

Plan and compare global hires with confidence

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Got questions?
We’ve got answers

Have questions about hiring globally? You’re not alone. Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions from teams expanding into new markets — from compliance and onboarding timelines to payroll and local benefits.

If you don’t see what you’re looking for, our team of in-country experts is always ready to help you navigate the details.

When does an entity become the better route?

Usually when the market has proved itself: headcount is growing, the business is generating local revenue, or activities require a local licence or registration that an EOR cannot hold. Acumen International flags that point and helps transition employees when it arrives.

Can senior, revenue-generating or executive roles be employed through an EOR?

Yes, with care. Role design, contract terms and activities are reviewed for PE and licensing implications before the hire starts, rather than discovered afterwards.

We provide complete compliance risk assessments, local contract adaptation, tax filing, and continuous legal updates to safeguard your operations in every high-risk market we cover.

What happens to employees when we transition to our own entity?

They move across with continuity of employment where local law allows it. Acumen coordinates the transfer — contracts, benefits, statutory registrations, so the change is administrative for the business and invisible for the employee.

We process unified multi-country payroll in local currencies, calculate mandatory social contributions, and administer compliant statutory and supplementary benefit packages for your global workforce.

LET’S TALK

How Can We Help You Succeed?

Tell us about your hiring, payroll, compliance, or global expansion needs, and our team will get back to you with the right support.

Whether you’re scaling into new markets, navigating complex labor regulations, or looking for a streamlined solution to manage your international workforce, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

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