Hiring in the US? Choose the model before the state chooses the rules.

The US is the world’s largest market to hire into, but a fifty-state patchwork of employment law makes getting your model wrong genuinely costly in time, money, and compliance. We help you choose the right way to hire, place you with the right partner, and stay alongside you for the life of the relationship.

  • Independent advice
  • Vetted partners
  • On your side at renewal

Fifty states and no single rulebook.

The US is the world’s largest economy, with GDP over $27 trillion, the deepest capital markets, global leadership in technology and R&D, and a highly educated, English-speaking workforce of around 168 million.

01

The world’s largest talent market

Unmatched talent depth across every sector and the scale of the world’s largest consumer economy, with hiring rules that vary sharply by state.

02

Fifty-state patchwork

At-will employment in 49 states, no federal paid leave, state minimum wages above the federal floor, and taxes stacking at federal, state and local level mean your employment structure has to be chosen with care.

03

Independent expert advice

Not sure whether you need EOR, PEO, payroll, or your own entity? We map your headcount, timeline, and risk profile and give you a clear recommendation, not a product pitch.

Four ways to hire in the US. The right one depends on state and stakes.

Most businesses arrive having already decided, and often decided too quickly. Here is the honest version of each route. When one fits, the detailed guide is one click away.

Employer of Record

An EOR partner becomes the legal employer of your US staff, handling the contract, payroll, tax, and compliance, while you direct the work. Operational in days, no entity needed. Best for testing the market or hiring a small team.

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Global Payroll

For when you already have a US entity, or want to consolidate payroll across several states or countries under one process. You stay the legal employer; a specialist partner runs compliant US payroll.

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Entity Formation

Your own US company (typically a C-corporation or LLC). Full control and a local presence, with no per-employee fees, but setup takes time, you must register in each state you operate in, and the ongoing obligations are real. Right when the headcount and permanence justify it.

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PEO Services

A co-employment model where you and a PEO share the employer role alongside your own US entity. Common in the US for streamlining HR and benefits once you have an entity. We will tell you honestly if it fits, or if EOR is simpler.

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The USA at a glance

Currency

US Dollar (USD). Salaries and federal and state taxes all run in dollars; the variation is the state, not the currency.

Minimum wage (2026)

Federal $7.25 per hour, with many states higher (California $16.90, Washington $17.13). You pay the highest applicable rate.

Employer costs

Employer FICA is 7.65% of wages, plus federal and state unemployment and state-mandated workers’ compensation.

Leave & Notice

No federal paid-leave mandate; vacation and sick pay are set by employer policy and some state laws. Employment is at-will in 49 states, with no federal notice period.

Hiring in the US: first questions answered

The questions we are asked most about hiring in the US.

What is the fastest way to hire someone in the US?

An Employer of Record. Your hire can start in days, with a compliant contract from day one and no entity to set up. It is the lowest-risk way to test the market or place a small team. The detail is on our US EOR guide.

Do I need a US entity to hire?

No. With an EOR you can employ people in the US without your own company. You only need an entity when you are committing to a permanent, larger presence, and we will tell you honestly when that point arrives.

Employment is governed by federal law plus fifty separate state regimes, with at-will rules, no federal paid leave, and taxes at federal, state and local level. None of it is a problem when handled correctly, which is the point of getting the model right at the start.

We are independent: we assess what you actually need, place you with the right vetted partner, secure pricing you will not get going direct, and stay on your side to escalate or renegotiate. You get advice, not a product pitch.

Let’s map your US hire.

Tell us who you want to hire and where you are headed in the US. One conversation maps your options, flags the risks, and usually gets you to a better answer, and better pricing, than going direct. No pitch.

Tax and labor data verified June 2026 (IRS, DOL, OECD). Figures change; we confirm the current position when we scope your hire.