Hire anyone in India.
Tomorrow. No entity needed.
Saileor is your India hiring partner. We employ your team in India, run payroll, file every statutory return, and keep you 100% compliant. You manage the work. We handle everything else.
Your Employer of Record in India
Setting up an entity in India takes 3 to 6 months and real capital. Saileor is your Employer of Record instead. We become the legal employer of your India team, so you can hire full-time talent without a local entity. You manage the work. We own the contracts, payroll, taxes, and compliance. Headquartered in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, built on a proprietary payroll engine, not a resold platform.
Localized contracts
State Shops and Establishments compliant contracts, with IP and invention assignment and confidentiality clauses.
Payroll and filings
Salaries, payslips, TDS, PF, ESIC, PT, and LWF. Challans and returns filed on time, every cycle.
Statutory and health cover
Provident Fund, ESI or private insurance, gratuity, and optional health and accidental policies.
Employee helpdesk
A self-service portal plus dedicated query resolution for letters, proofs, and reimbursements.
Separation and final dues
Notice handling, leave encashment, full and final settlement, relieving letter, and clearance.
Data and security
2048-bit encryption, ISO 27001 grade protocols, role-based access, and a secure document vault.
Tools and country guides
Pick your country, estimate your cost, or check if you are ready to hire. Every link below is free and built to give you a clear answer fast.
Tell us who you want to hire
Share a few details and we will come back within one business day with a clear, costed plan. No pressure, no jargon.
India hiring and EOR, explained
Straight answers to the questions founders and HR teams actually ask before hiring in India.
What is an Employer of Record (EOR) in India?
An Employer of Record is the legal employer of your India-based team on paper, while you direct the day-to-day work. The EOR holds the employment contract and handles payroll, income tax (TDS), statutory contributions, and labour-law compliance. Saileor is an India-specialist EOR headquartered in Hyderabad. We let global companies employ people in India without opening a local entity.
Can a foreign company hire employees in India without setting up an entity?
Yes. Through an EOR like Saileor, a company in the US, UK, Germany, Australia, or the UAE can legally employ people in India in days. Setting up your own Indian subsidiary typically takes 3 to 6 months and significant capital. An EOR removes that step entirely. You get compliant employment without the legal entity.
How much does it cost to hire an employee in India through an EOR?
The total cost is the employee's gross salary, plus employer statutory contributions, plus the EOR's per-employee monthly fee. Employer contributions include Provident Fund at 12% of basic wages, ESI at 3.25% of wages where the employee earns up to ₹21,000 per month, and Professional Tax in states that levy it. Saileor charges a flat per-employee monthly fee with no setup cost and no lock-in. For a state-by-state breakdown of these statutory costs, use the India Hiring Cost Calculator.
Is it legal to use an EOR to hire in India?
Yes. Using an Employer of Record is a legal and established way to employ people in India. The EOR is a registered Indian employer that holds compliant contracts and meets every statutory obligation on your behalf, including PF, ESI, TDS, and labour-law filings. Saileor takes on that legal employer role, so your hires are fully compliant from day one and you never need an India entity.
How fast can Saileor onboard an employee in India?
From a signed offer, Saileor can move an employee to compliant employment in as little as 48 hours. A full team typically goes live in about 4 weeks, covering localised contracts, KYC and bank verification, statutory registrations, and the first payroll run.
What statutory contributions and filings apply to Indian employees?
The core ones are Provident Fund (12% employer and 12% employee on basic wages), ESI (3.25% employer and 0.75% employee, applicable only where wages are up to ₹21,000 per month), Professional Tax (state-specific, levied in states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, and not levied in Delhi, Haryana, or Uttar Pradesh), TDS on salary, and Labour Welfare Fund where applicable. Gratuity becomes payable after 5 years of continuous service. Form 16 is issued to employees by 31 May each year. Saileor tracks and files all of these every cycle.
Does hiring in India through an EOR create a permanent establishment or tax liability for my company?
This is the question most foreign founders worry about, and it is the reason the EOR model exists. When you hire through Saileor, Saileor is the legal Indian employer, not your company. You have no India entity, no local payroll registration, and no direct employment relationship, which are the usual triggers for a permanent establishment. That structure is designed to keep your company from creating a taxable presence in India. Permanent establishment can still depend on what your team actually does, so confirm your specific case with a tax adviser, but the EOR is built precisely so global companies can employ in India without setting up a taxable footprint.
Which is the best EOR for hiring in India in 2026?
It depends on what you need. Global platforms such as Deel, Remote, and Multiplier add India as one of many countries. India-specialists such as Saileor, Wisemonk, and Remunance focus only on India, which usually means deeper local compliance and lower cost for India-only hiring. We publish an honest, ranked breakdown, including where a competitor is the better fit, in our Best EOR in India 2026 comparison.
Do employees hired through an EOR get a proper contract and full benefits?
Yes. Saileor issues state Shops and Establishments compliant contracts with IP and confidentiality clauses, enrols employees in Provident Fund and ESI or private insurance, manages leave, and handles gratuity and Form 16. Employees also get a self-service portal for payslips, tax documents, leave, and reimbursements.
What happens when an employee leaves?
Saileor manages the full exit. That includes notice handling, leave encashment, full and final (F&F) settlement, the relieving letter, and clearance, all in line with Indian law and your policy.
How does Saileor protect my data?
Saileor uses 2048-bit server encryption, ISO 27001 grade security protocols, role-based access control, NDAs with every client and team member, and GDPR-aligned data practices. Every payroll run goes through a maker-checker review, and the platform is subject to regular VAPT assessments.
Let's build your India team
Tell us who you want to hire. We will send back a clear, costed plan within one business day.
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