Playbook
The Global Expansion Playbook
How growth companies hire, employ, and scale teams across borders, without the compliance surprises, hidden costs, or vendor chaos.
- Recruit & employ anywhere
- Set up & manage entities
Trusted by forward leaning growth companies in Europe and the U.S.
Why global expansion breaks
You hired internationally. Then the complexity hit.
Most companies underestimate what global expansion actually involves. It starts with one hire and quickly becomes a system problem.
- The wrong employment model creates misclassification risk
- Employer costs come in 20–40% higher than budgeted
- Too many vendors with no single point of accountability
- Entity setup takes months when you needed to move in weeks
The problem isn't global hiring. It's trying to do it without the right infrastructure.
Companies that scale internationally successfully don't wing it. They build a system.
What the playbook covers
A practical guide to every stage of going global. This guide is a decision framework built for founders, HR leaders, and operators who are hiring internationally for the first time, or trying to do it better the second time around.
Chapter 1
EOR vs. COR vs. Entity Setup
Cut through the alphabet soup. Understand which model fits your stage, your headcount, and your market commitment.
Chapter 2
How to Choose an EOR Provider
A practical evaluation framework. What the sales demo won't show you, and the questions that reveal the difference between a good provider and a costly one.
Chapter 3
EOR Costs Explained
The full picture, including the parts providers don't lead with. Employer contributions, platform fees, and how to model the real number before you make an offer.
Chapter 4
EOR Compliance
What EOR covers, what you still own, and the three compliance areas that catch companies off guard.
Chapter 5
How Long Does EOR Onboarding Take
The honest version. What drives delays, what you can control, and a pre-start checklist to compress the timeline.
Chapter 6
EOR vs. Contractor of Record
When COR makes sense, when it becomes a liability, and how to manage the conversion to employment before it becomes a legal problem.
The three models, simplified
Not every global hire needs the same solution. The right employment model depends on where you're going, how fast you need to get there, and how long you plan to stay.
EOR
Employer of Record
Hire in any country without setting up a local entity. Your team member is employed locally and compliantly - you stay in full operational control. Best for first 1–15 hires in a new market.
COR
Contractor of Record
Engage global contractors the compliant way. Every engagement is properly structured, documented, and protected. Best for genuine project-based, arms-length relationships.
Entity as a Service
When you're ready to plant a permanent flag, we set up and run your local entity - payroll, accounting, and admin included. Best for 15+ stable hires in a market you're committed to long-term.
Fronted will tell you honestly which model fits your situation, including when a more affordable option is the right one.
Testimonials
How teams grow with Fronted
Testimonial 1 of 4
“We made our first hire with Fronted and have since scaled to 60 people in just 18 months. They listen, they find the right people, and they're fast and flexible.”
“Fronted enables us to think globally when hiring. Their flexible Growth Plan helps us move fast and build the team we need for the future.”
“As a startup founder, my time is limited. Fronted has helped us by sourcing the right talent at the right time. We see them as a powerful partner to our business as we scale.”
“With Fronted, we've built a strong international sales team at a competitive price — without compromising on performance.”
Testimonial 1 of 4
One partner. Every stage of going global
Why growth companies choose Fronted
Fronted covers more of the global growth journey than a traditional EOR. From your first hire abroad to a full international team to your own local entity — we handle every step so you never have to stitch together a patchwork of providers.
When you're ready to move from EOR to entity, we transfer every employee seamlessly - no disruption, no re-onboarding.
Real Human Support
A dedicated partner you can call by name. Not a ticket queue.
True Flexibility
Contracts and ways of working that bend to your needs, not industry defaults.
Radical Simplicity
Onboard new hires in days, not weeks. No legacy complexity.
Cost-Efficient Growth
Around 30% more cost-effective than market leaders. More budget for your team, less for admin.
Download
Get the full Global Expansion Playbook
A practical guide to:
- Choosing the right hiring model for your stage
- Avoiding compliance surprises by country
- Modelling the real cost before you make an offer
- Scaling from first hire to local entity
Free download · 32 pages · 2026 edition