United States EOR Providers Reviewed in Detail
Each card covers one provider’s US delivery: who issues the W-2, the fee and deposit you pay, any published US start time, and a US score built from five parameters. Two obligations decide most of the comparison. Every US hire needs income tax withholding and state unemployment insurance (SUI) accounts in the state where they live, and a foreign national needs an employer willing to file the H-1B petition.
Onboarding reads Confirm on 8 of 10 cards because only Deel and Oyster HR publish a US start time, and that gap is a finding in itself. An Owned pill means we found the provider’s US company on a state register, or the provider says in writing that it employs through a US entity it owns. Where a card says vendor-stated, the provider has said so but doesn’t name the company, so ask for its name and EIN before you sign.
Deel
Best overallUS entity: owned, vendor-statedBest for foreign companies that need a US hire on payroll this week
Price$599/moMonth to month
Onboarding1 dayDeel’s published US figure
Entity in the USOwnedVendor-stated, entity not named
DepositNoneNone published
Plans
EOR$599/mo
US PEO$125/mo
Contractor$49/mo
Why Deel works in the United States
Deel is the only provider here that says in writing it can act as the employer to sponsor an H-1B, and it quotes a US start in as little as 1 day. It runs US hires through a wholly owned US subsidiary and says it handles payroll tax filings across all 50 states, which removes the state-by-state registration work a foreign company would otherwise face.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
Publishes a 1-day US start, the fastest figure here
Written H-1B sponsorship offer, the only one of 20
26,891 public reviews, the largest base on this page
Confirm before you sign
The name of the US entity that will issue the W-2
Whether $599 covers H-1B filing and legal fees
Founded 2019HQ San Francisco, CACoverage 130+ EOR countriesContractor plan $49/moISO 27001 ConfirmMin. commitment None
Pebl
Best for widest country reachUS entity: ownedBest for a US hire that sits inside a wider global roadmap
Price$399/moNo promo label on pricing page
OnboardingConfirmNo US figure published
Entity in the USOwnedRegistry: CA, EOR use unstated
DepositConfirmNot on the pricing page
Plans
EOR$399/mo
Contractor conversionCustom
Why Pebl works in the United States
Pebl, the renamed Velocity Global, publishes $399 a month with no promo label, $200 under Deel and Remote, and the same contract covers 185+ countries. The US company we found is Velocity Global USA LLC, formed in California, though Pebl never says it employs EOR staff through it. Despite older claims elsewhere, Pebl’s own H-1B page pitches it as an alternative to the visa, hiring the person abroad instead.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
$399 a month with no published setup fee
185+ countries, joint widest with RemoFirst
612 public reviews averaging 4.6
Confirm before you sign
Which company employs your US hire
Whether $399 holds after the first year
Founded 2014HQ Denver, COCoverage 185+ countriesContractor plan Conversion onlyISO 27001 ConfirmMin. commitment Confirm
RemoFirst
Best valueUS entity: confirmBest for startups that need a compliant US hire on a tight budget
Price$199/moMonthly, no annual plan
OnboardingConfirmNo US figure published
Entity in the USConfirmOwn entity or partner, unstated
DepositConfirmNot listed
Plans
EOR$199/mo
ContractorFree
Contractor Premium$25/mo
Why RemoFirst works in the United States
RemoFirst charges $199 a month, the lowest published fee among the ten providers reviewed here, with no setup, onboarding or termination fees.
That price buys a named account manager from the first hire, and RemoFirst says it can employ in all 50 states. Its US country guide adds a caveat: the US rate is set by your account manager, so treat $199 as a starting figure.
The open question is structural. RemoFirst hires through its own entities or exclusive partners and doesn’t say which applies in the US, and its benefits offer is RemoHealth cover from $55 a month rather than a published 401(k).
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
$199 a month, $400 under Deel
No setup or termination fees on its pricing page
Hiring stated in all 50 states
Confirm before you sign
Own entity or partner for your US hire
Whether a 401(k) comes on top of RemoHealth
Founded 2021HQ San Francisco, CACoverage 185+ countriesContractor plan Free, or $25/moISO 27001 CertifiedMin. commitment None
Multiplier
US entity: partnerBest for teams that want a mid-price flat fee across many countries
Price$459/moAnnual, $499 monthly
OnboardingConfirm“A few days”, no figure
Entity in the USPartnerTriNet, named by Multiplier
DepositConfirmImplementation fee varies
Plans
EOR Core$459/mo
EOR Growth$519/mo
Contractor$40/mo
Why Multiplier works in the United States
Multiplier’s Core EOR plan costs $459 a month on annual billing or $499 month to month, which puts it between RemoFirst and the $599 group. For the US it names a partner: its own site describes TriNet covering the US while Multiplier covers 150+ other countries.
That matters for liability. A US hire placed through TriNet‘s certified PEO is a different legal setup from an EOR employing directly, so ask whose name goes on the W-2 and who holds the state unemployment account.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
$459 on annual billing, $140 a month under Deel
ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II held
4.7 average across 1,516 reviews
Confirm before you sign
Whether TriNet or Multiplier issues the W-2
The implementation fee charged “as applicable”
Founded 2020HQ SingaporeCoverage 150+ countriesContractor plan $40/moISO 27001 CertifiedMin. commitment None
Justworks
US entity: owned, PEOBest for companies that already run a US entity and want a certified PEO
Price$79/moUS PEO Basic, Plus $124
OnboardingConfirmNeeds your EIN first
Entity in the USOwnedCertified PEO entities
DepositConfirmNo implementation fee
Plans
PEO Basic$79/mo
PEO Plus$124/mo
EOR outside the US$599/mo
Why Justworks works in the United States
Justworks is on this list for US companies that already have a US entity, not as an EOR for a foreign parent. In the US it runs a PEO, and its own setup guide asks for a US address, an EIN and state formation documents, while its EOR covers 37 countries outside the US.
For that buyer, it is the most transparent PEO we found: Basic at $79 and Plus at $124 per employee per month, a master workers’ comp policy, and four entities on the IRS certified PEO list. Its help centre says the customer, not Justworks, files any H-1B petition.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
Four entities on the IRS certified PEO list
PEO Basic at $79, no implementation fee
4.6 average across 1,889 reviews
Confirm before you sign
Your own US entity and EIN, needed before signing
E-Verify, which Justworks says it doesn’t integrate
Founded 2012HQ New York, NYCoverage US PEO + 37 countriesContractor plan $8 US, $39 abroadISO 27001 ConfirmMin. commitment Confirm
Rippling
US entity: ownedBest for US-first companies running HR, IT and payroll in one system
PriceCustomPlus $8 per user platform
OnboardingConfirmNo US start time published
Entity in the USOwnedRippling EOR, Inc., Delaware
DepositConfirmNot on the pricing page
Plans
Platform$8/mo
EORCustom
PEOCustom
Why Rippling works in the United States
Rippling has the clearest US entity trail of the ten. It states that Rippling EOR is registered in all 50 states, and we found Rippling EOR, Inc. on the register as a Delaware company formed in August 2024.
Pricing is the weak point. The platform starts at $8 per user plus a base fee that isn’t published, and the EOR itself is quote only, so you can’t compare it with Remote‘s $599 until you hold a written figure.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
Rippling EOR, Inc. found on a state register
Registered in all 50 states, by its own statement
20,317 public reviews averaging 4.8
Confirm before you sign
Total of base fee, $8 platform and EOR module
A US start time, which Rippling doesn’t publish
Founded 2016HQ San Francisco, CACoverage 80+ EOR countriesContractor plan CustomISO 27001 CertifiedMin. commitment Confirm
Remote
US entity: owned, vendor-statedBest for cash-conscious teams that won’t park a deposit per hire
Price$599/moStarting price
OnboardingConfirmNo US start time published
Entity in the USOwnedVendor-stated, entity not named
DepositNoneNo deposit, no setup fee
Plans
EOR$599/mo
US PEO$99/mo
Contractor$29/mo
Why Remote works in the United States
Remote says it owns its US entity and charges $599 a month with no deposit and no setup fee, the only top-ten provider stating both in writing. Its US benefits are specific: seven health plan tiers and a 401(k) matching 100% of the first 3% of pay.
Remote doesn’t name the US entity, though Remote Technology Services, Inc., a Delaware company, is on the register. It also publishes no US start time, and its all-50-states statement sits on its PEO page rather than the EOR page.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
No deposit and no setup fee, stated in writing
401(k) match of 100% on the first 3%
Seven US health plan tiers to choose from
Confirm before you sign
Which Remote company issues the W-2
Whether the EOR, not just the PEO, covers all 50 states
Founded 2019HQ San Francisco, CACoverage 90+ countriesContractor plan $29/moISO 27001 ConfirmMin. commitment None
G-P
US entity: ownedBest for enterprise procurement teams running a formal vendor review
PriceCustomQuote only, no minimum term
OnboardingConfirmNo day count published
Entity in the USOwnedRegistry: DE, EOR use unstated
DepositConfirmNot published
Plans
EORCustom
Contractor$39/mo
Why G-P works in the United States
G-P, the former Globalization Partners, sells to enterprise procurement teams: no minimum contract length, ACA-compliant health plans with 401(k) access, workers’ comp managed by G-P, and onboarding across all 50 states. It doesn’t publish an EOR price, so every comparison with Deel or Remote starts with a quote. We found Globalization Partners U.S., Inc. registered as a Delaware corporation, but G-P doesn’t say that company employs EOR staff.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
No minimum contract length on EOR hires
ACA-compliant health plans with 401(k) access
Workers’ comp managed for US hires
Confirm before you sign
A written US fee before you shortlist
Deposit terms, which G-P doesn’t publish
Founded 2012HQ Boston, MACoverage 180+ countriesContractor plan $39/moISO 27001 CertifiedMin. commitment None
Papaya Global
US entity: ownedBest for finance teams that plan to open their own US entity later
Price$650/moSetup fee per location
OnboardingConfirmNo US figure published
Entity in the USOwnedRegistry: DE, EOR use unstated
DepositRefundableAmount not published
Plans
EOR$650/mo
Contractor$2/mo
Why Papaya Global works in the United States
Papaya Global’s own pricing page now starts EOR at $650 a month, above the $499 figure still circulating elsewhere, and adds a setup fee per location plus a refundable deposit.
It earns its place on payroll depth. Payments move on Papaya’s own licensed rails, and the same platform runs EOR hires and payroll on entities you own, which suits a company that expects to open a US entity once headcount grows.
What it doesn’t publish is anything US-specific: no US start time, no US benefits detail, no all-50-states statement. Papaya Global, Inc. is registered as a Delaware corporation, but Papaya doesn’t say it employs US EOR staff through it.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
EOR and own-entity payroll on one platform
SOC 1, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 held
No minimum term, with a 60-day opt-out
Confirm before you sign
Deposit amount and refund timing, in writing
The US benefits and 401(k) offer
Founded 2016HQ New York, NYCoverage 160+ countriesContractor plan From $2/moISO 27001 CertifiedMin. commitment None
Oyster HR
US entity: owned, vendor-statedBest for offers where the benefits package wins the candidate
Price$699/moAnnual discount, unpublished
Onboarding48 hoursOyster’s published US figure
Entity in the USOwnedVendor-stated, entity not named
DepositRefundableAmount not published
Plans
EOR$699/mo
Contractor$29/mo
Why Oyster HR works in the United States
Oyster HR publishes a US start in as little as 48 hours and the most specific US benefits package here: four health plan tiers, disability cover and a 401(k) with a 3% employer contribution from day one.
At $699 it carries the highest published fee on this page, and every EOR hire needs a refundable deposit Oyster doesn’t size. It says Oyster is the legal employer in the US without naming the entity, and Oyster HR, Inc. sits on the Delaware register.
Ratings: global vs the United States
What it does well here
US start in as little as 48 hours
401(k) with a 3% fixed employer contribution
SOC 2 Type II report confirmed
Confirm before you sign
The deposit amount per US hire
Which Oyster entity issues the W-2
Founded 2020HQ Remote-firstCoverage 120+ EOR countriesContractor plan $29/moISO 27001 Confirm, SOC 2 heldMin. commitment None
More EOR providers in the United States
These ten are listed rather than carded because each sells a PEO that needs your own US entity, publishes little US-specific detail, or rests on a small or unsourced review base. They fit narrower cases, and each card says which.
11
Borderless AIAI-led hiring at $579
Borderless AI publishes $579 a month and says it employs US hires through its own legal entity, without naming it. Its US guide offers benefits and workers’ comp only in supported states, so check yours is one before you sign.
$579/mo
12
TCWGlobalContingent payrolling
TCWGlobal, formerly TargetCW, payrolls pre-identified contingent workers on W-2s in all 50 states for enterprises that want to avoid misclassification. We found WMBE Payrolling Inc., trading as TargetCW, on the California register, but TCWGlobal doesn’t say it employs EOR staff through it.
Custom
13
FoxhireStaffing agency W-2s
Foxhire employs contract workers as W-2 employees under its own EIN in all 50 states, mostly for staffing agencies and recruiters. It is US-only, and it lists I-9 and E-Verify processing, a 401(k) and workers’ comp documentation.
Custom
14
Atlas HXMOwned-entity network
Atlas HXM, the former Elements Global Services, publishes $599 a month and claims fully owned entities in 160+ countries. It says it hires across all 50 states, and Atlas Technology Solutions, Inc. is a Delaware company, though it doesn’t name the entity employing US staff.
$599/mo
15
Safeguard GlobalRegulated enterprises
Safeguard Global quotes US onboarding in as little as two weeks and says plainly that foreign companies use its US EOR without forming a US entity. It pitches EOR as an alternative to the H-1B rather than offering to sponsor, and its EOR price is quote only.
Custom
16
Playroll$399 with a deposit
Playroll publishes $399 a month with no minimum commitment, a refundable deposit of one month’s salary and a US start of 1 to 5 working days. Playroll USA Inc. is registered in Virginia, but Playroll doesn’t say it employs US EOR staff through that company.
$399/mo
17
Payoneer WFMLow fee, all 50 states
Skuad now trades as Payoneer Workforce Management after Payoneer bought it in 2024, and it covers payroll, compliance and workers’ comp across all 50 states. Its US page shows $249 and $199 with contradictory billing labels, so get the US rate in writing.
$199/mo
18
RivermateLow fee in US dollars
Rivermate now prices EOR from $319 to $639 a month in US dollars, after merging with Hightekers, Eos and Serviap in April 2026. It publishes nothing on a US entity, US benefits or state coverage, so every US field reads Confirm.
$319/mo
19
TriNetCertified PEO
TriNet is a PEO, not an EOR: it co-employs staff for companies with their own US entity, backed by TriNet HR III-B, Inc. on the IRS certified PEO list. Its global hiring add-on runs through Multiplier and is sold only alongside the PEO.
Custom
20
ADP TotalSourcePEO at scale
ADP TotalSource is a PEO with 18 entities on the IRS certified PEO list, running payroll across all 50 states with a 401(k) and workers’ comp. For hires outside the US, ADP’s own article says it uses an EOR partner, which is G-P.
Custom
Listed, not reviewed, means we checked the fee, entity and coverage claims but haven’t scored the provider’s US delivery. Confirm marks a field the provider hasn’t published for the US, not a red flag.
US entity and state registration position, all 20 providers
The company that employs your hire decides whose state unemployment account their wages run through, who can file an H-1B petition and who carries certified PEO liability for federal payroll tax. We checked every provider against state business registers, the IRS certified PEO list and its own written statements.
ProviderUS employing entityAll 50 states statedH-1B petitionerIRS certified PEO
1Deel
US employing entityVendor-statedWholly owned US subsidiary, not namedParent: Deel, Inc., DE file 6465099
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerStated
IRS certified PEONo
2Pebl
US employing entityOwnedVelocity Global USA LLC, CA, EOR use unstatedNC SOSID 1527970
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityConfirmOwn entities or partners, US not specified
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityPartnerTriNet, named by Multiplier for the US
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityOwnedJustworks Employment Group LLC, DE (PEO)IRS certified PEO since 1/1/2017
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerNo
IRS certified PEOYes
US employing entityOwnedRippling EOR, Inc., DE, formed 2024NC SOSID 2897858
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityVendor-statedOwn US entity stated, not namedRegistry: Remote Technology Services, Inc., DE
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
8G-P
US employing entityOwnedGlobalization Partners U.S., Inc., DE, EOR use unstatedNC SOSID 2363986
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityOwnedPapaya Global, Inc., DE, EOR use unstatedNC SOSID 2450361
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityVendor-statedOyster stated as legal employer, entity not namedRegistry: Oyster HR, Inc., DE 7655857
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityVendor-statedOwn legal entity stated, not named
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityOwnedWMBE Payrolling Inc. (TargetCW), CA, EOR use unstatedCA corp no. 3214098
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
13Foxhire
US employing entityOwnedFoxHire, LLC, DE, W-2s under its own EINDE no. 5923339
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityVendor-statedOwned entities stated, US entity not namedRegistry: Atlas Technology Solutions, Inc., DE
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityOwnedSafeguard World International LLC, DE, EOR use unstated
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
16Playroll
US employing entityOwnedPlayroll USA Inc., VA, EOR use unstatedVA corp no. 11336384
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityVendor-statedLegal employer stated, Skuad, Inc.Listed in Payoneer’s 10-K
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
US employing entityConfirmNothing published for the US
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEONo
19TriNet
US employing entityOwnedTriNet HR III-B, Inc. (PEO)IRS certified PEO since 7/1/2018
All 50 states statedConfirm
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEOYes
US employing entityOwnedADP TotalSource entities (PEO)18 entities on the IRS certified PEO list
All 50 states statedStated
H-1B petitionerConfirm
IRS certified PEOYes
Owned means we found the company on a state register or the IRS list, either tied to US employment or marked EOR use unstated where the provider doesn’t say it employs through it. Vendor-stated means the provider says in writing it employs through its own US entity but doesn’t name it. Registry details come from state Secretary of State records, SEC filings and the IRS list, and the H-1B column reads Confirm for 18 of 20 providers.
Hiring in the United States at a glance
Where the employer tax on a US hire goes, what federal law and the largest states guarantee the employee, and the dated changes that should shape your provider questions.
United States EOR dashboardReviewed quarterly
Country basics
Reference figures, statutory minimumsCapitalWashington, D.C.
LanguageEnglish
CurrencyUSD, pay frequency set by state
Working week40 hours, the FLSA overtime line
Public holidays11 federal, none required in private jobs
Paid annual leaveNone required federally
EOR fee range$199 to $699 a month
Time to hire via EOR1 to 5 days, published US figures
Where the employer cost goes
California, $120,000 salary, before workers’ comp0%7.95% of a $120,000 salary
Social Security, 6.2% to $184,500$7,440
Medicare, 1.45%, no cap$1,740
FUTA, California 1.8% on $7,000$126
California SUI, 3.4% on $7,000$238
New Jersey SUI, 2.8% on $44,800, lifts the load to8.73%
Gross salary$120,000
Federal taxes: FICA and FUTA$9,306
California SUI$238
Employer cost before EOR fee$129,544
What the employee is owed by law
Federal minimums, states add more$7.25Federal minimum wage per hour
1.5xOvertime pay after 40 hours, non-exempt
$684Weekly salary floor for exempt staff
12 weeksUnpaid FMLA leave, employers of 50+
40 hoursPaid sick leave a year in California
13State-run paid family leave programs, with DC
60 daysWARN notice for mass layoffs
18 monthsCOBRA health cover after leaving
What changes next
Next 18 months1 Jan 2027State minimum wages riseCalifornia goes to $17.40, Washington to $17.73 and New Jersey to $16.48.
1 Jan 2027Maryland paid leave contributions startAsk nowAsk whether your provider has registered with the FAMLI Division.
1 Jan 2027New Social Security wage baseProjected at $190,200, up from $184,500, raising the cap on the 6.2% tax.
21 Sep 2027H-1B $100,000 fee proclamation expiresAsk nowCourts have blocked the fee, but appeals are live, so ask who pays if it returns.
26 Sep 2027Delaware pay transparency startsEmployers with more than 25 staff must post pay ranges and benefits.
Rates are 2026 figures, except California FUTA, where 1.8% is the 2025 final rate until the 2026 rate is set in November. Full workings in the United States employer cost calculator.Reviewed quarterly · © EmployerRecords
How to choose an EOR in the United States
The factors are in the order we tested them, which is the order the ranking was built on. Price comes third, after the two checks that rule providers out.
1
EOR or PEO for your setup
3 of 20on the IRS certified PEO list
A PEO co-employs staff for a company that already has a US entity and EIN, while an EOR employs them for you with no entity at all. Justworks, TriNet and ADP TotalSource sit on the IRS certified PEO list, so they suit a US subsidiary, not a foreign parent.
Who clears itEOR route: every main-tier provider except Justworks. PEO route: Justworks, TriNet, ADP TotalSource.
2
Which company issues the W-2
11 of 20have a US entity on a register
The W-2 issuer holds the state withholding and unemployment accounts your hire’s wages run through. Only two top-ten providers tie a named US company to that job in writing or on a register.
Who clears itRippling (Rippling EOR, Inc.), Justworks (PEO entities).
3
Fees and deposits on top of tax
7.9% to 8.7%employer tax on $120,000
Federal and state employer taxes are the same whichever provider you pick, so compare the fee, deposit and setup charges. Papaya Global and Oyster HR take refundable deposits they don’t size, and Papaya adds a setup fee per location.
4
H-1B petitioner
1 of 20states it can sponsor
An H-1B ties the worker to the employer that petitions, so a provider that won’t file leaves a foreign national with no route. Justworks says the customer files, and Pebl and Safeguard Global pitch hiring abroad as the alternative.
Who clears itDeel only, by written statement.
5
Terminations and state rules
60 daysWARN notice, mass layoffs
US employment is at will, but final pay deadlines, leave payout and WARN notice vary by state and headcount. Ask who runs a termination in your hire’s state and who pays a missed-deadline penalty.
Who clears itNobody yet. No provider here publishes US termination handling.
Five questions to put to every EOR on your United States shortlist
Each one can be answered with a yes, a number or a document, and each matches a step above.
1
EOR or PEO
“Will your company be the employer, or will we need our own US entity and EIN?”
Why it matters3 of 20 providers here are certified PEOs, and a PEO needs your own entity before it can co-employ anyone.
Good answerA named employing company and a plain no to needing your EIN.
Watch for“Co-employment” or “worksite employer” in the service agreement.
2
Employing entity
“Which company will issue the W-2, and in which states does it hold withholding and unemployment accounts?”
Why it mattersOnly 2 of the top 10 tie a named US company to employing your hire, and the rest leave you to ask.
Good answerThe company name, its EIN and a state list, or a written all-50-states statement.
Watch for“We use the best structure for each market.”
3
Fees and deposit
“What will the first invoice show for fee, deposit, setup and workers’ comp?”
Why it mattersTaxes add 7.9% to 8.7% on $120,000 whoever you pick, so the difference sits in fees and deposits.
Good answerOne figure per line, with the deposit refund timing in writing.
Watch for“The deposit depends on our risk review.”
4
H-1B
“Will you act as the H-1B petitioner, and who pays the filing and legal costs?”
Why it mattersOnly Deel states it can sponsor, and the $100,000 fee proclamation runs to September 21, 2027 despite being blocked in court. See the USCIS H-1B rules.
Good answerYes, as petitioner, with a fee schedule for the filing.
Watch for“We can help you hire them abroad instead.”
5
Terminations
“Who runs a termination in my hire’s state, and who pays if a final pay deadline is missed?”
Why it mattersCalifornia requires final wages on the last day for an involuntary termination, and penalties accrue daily after that.
Good answerA named HR contact and indemnity that covers state wage penalties.
Watch for“Termination is the client’s decision and responsibility.”
Hiring timeline: a United States EOR hire from offer to first payslip
Day ranges are the providers’ own claims. Only Deel (1 day), Oyster HR (48 hours) and Playroll (1 to 5 working days) publish a US figure, so treat the rest as estimates to confirm.
1 to 5 daysThrough an EORPublished US figures from Deel, Oyster HR and Playroll.
Varies by stateThrough your own US entityIncorporation, an EIN from the IRS, then withholding and unemployment accounts in each state where staff live.
1
Day 0
Offer and contract
You agree salary and start date, and the EOR issues an at-will offer letter in its own name. California offers need the Labor Code 2870 carve-out in any IP assignment.
Owner: You and the provider
2
Day 0 to 1
State accounts confirmed
The provider confirms it holds withholding and unemployment accounts in the hire’s state. A state it hasn’t registered in yet can add days.
Owner: Provider
3
Day 1 to 3
Form I-9 and tax forms
The employee completes Form I-9 by their third day of work, plus a W-4 and any state withholding form. E-Verify applies where state law or a federal contract requires it.
Owner: Employee and provider
4
Day 1 to 5
Benefits enrolment
The employee picks health cover and any 401(k) within the plan’s enrolment window. Coverage start dates vary by provider plan.
Owner: Employee
5
Before day 1
H-1B petition, if needed
Only for a hire who needs a visa: the petitioner files with USCIS, and cap cases run on the annual lottery. Deel is the only provider here stating it can sponsor.
Owner: Provider
6
First payday
First payslip
The provider runs payroll on the state’s pay frequency and withholds federal and state income tax. Employer FICA and unemployment tax appear on your invoice.
Owner: Provider
What United States employment rules mean for your EOR choice
The US has no single national employment code for private employers. Federal law sets payroll tax, wage floors and immigration, and each state adds its own tax accounts, leave programs and termination rules. So the provider you pick has to be set up in your hire’s state, not just in the country.
The United States obligations your EOR provider takes on
Four obligations follow every US hire. The employer pays FICA at 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500 and 1.45% Medicare in 2026, registers for state income tax withholding where it applies and state unemployment insurance where the employee lives, carries workers’ compensation, and completes Form I-9.
Rippling says its EOR is registered in all 50 states, and Deel, G-P and RemoFirst make the same claim in writing. Multiplier names TriNet for the US, so its hires run through a partner’s PEO rather than Multiplier’s own employing company. Justworks runs a certified PEO, which needs your own US entity before it can take any of this on.
What an EOR actually adds on top of salary in the United States
Federal and state employer taxes on a $120,000 salary come to $9,544 in California, or 7.95%, and $10,476 in New Jersey, or 8.73%. The gap comes from unemployment tax: New Jersey taxes the first $44,800 of wages at a 2.8% new-employer rate, against California’s 3.4% on $7,000. Workers’ comp and health cover sit on top and vary by role and plan.
Add the EOR fee and a California hire at $120,000 costs about $11,244 a month at $449, the midpoint of published fees on this page. The same hire runs $10,994 a month with RemoFirst at $199 and $11,494 with Oyster HR at $699, before workers’ comp and benefits. Run your own salary and state to see the full breakdown.
The United States rule that most often breaks an EOR arrangement
State registration is the rule that trips most foreign employers. A remote employee creates withholding and unemployment obligations in the state they work from, from their first day, wherever the client company is based. An EOR without accounts in that state has to open them before first payroll, which is where a 1-day start turns into weeks.
Rippling, Deel, G-P and RemoFirst state all-50-state coverage in writing. Pebl, Papaya Global, Oyster HR and Multiplier return Confirm, and Remote states it only for its PEO, so ask for the state list before you sign.
If your hire might move states, ask how the provider handles a move mid-year. The new state’s withholding and unemployment accounts apply from the move date, and the old state’s final returns still have to be filed.
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Best EOR in the United States: FAQs
Straight answers to what buyers ask before hiring their first US employee through an EOR.
How much does it cost to hire an employee in the United States through an EOR?
About $11,244 a month all in for a $120,000 California hire at a $449 EOR fee. Federal and state employer taxes add 7.9% to 8.7% on that salary, and published fees run from $199 with RemoFirst to $699 with Oyster HR.
Workers’ comp and health cover come on top. Price your own hire by salary and state.
Is using an EOR legal in the United States?
Yes, and no federal licence is needed to act as an employer of record. The IRS runs a voluntary certification for PEOs, and only Justworks, TriNet and ADP TotalSource hold it on this page, according to the IRS certified PEO list. Some states register or license PEOs separately, so ask which state registrations a provider holds.
Which EOR is cheapest for hiring in the United States?
RemoFirst at $199 a month is the cheapest provider we reviewed in full. Payoneer Workforce Management, formerly Skuad, also publishes $199 but is listed, not reviewed, and its US page shows $249 too.
Pebl follows at $399, and it covers 185+ countries on the same contract.
How long does it take to hire someone in the United States through an EOR?
Deel quotes as little as 1 day and Oyster HR 48 hours. No other main-tier provider publishes a US start time, so ask for one in writing, and allow months if the hire needs an H-1B. The hiring timeline shows each step and its owner.
Can an EOR sponsor an H-1B for a US hire?
Only Deel says in writing that it can sponsor an H-1B. Justworks says its customer must be the petitioner, and Pebl and Safeguard Global pitch hiring abroad as the alternative.
The $100,000 fee proclamation runs to September 21, 2027, but two court orders currently block its collection.
What notice and severance apply when ending a US employee’s job?
There is no federal notice period or severance for an individual termination. US employment is at will, though the WARN Act requires 60 days’ notice for mass layoffs at employers with 100 or more staff. Severance, where offered, is contractual, and final pay deadlines are set by each state.
Is a PEO the same as an EOR in the United States?
No. A PEO co-employs staff for a company that already has its own US entity. Justworks, for example, asks for an EIN, a US address and state formation documents.
A foreign parent with no US company needs an EOR instead. These five questions tell the two apart on a sales call.
When should I set up my own US entity instead of using an EOR?
Set one up once you need a PEO, direct H-1B petitions or W-2s in your own company’s name. At $449 a month, ten EOR hires cost $53,880 a year in fees alone, which is the budget an entity plus a payroll provider has to beat.
