What is a global contractor?

Global contractors are self-employed individuals or businesses that provide services to clients across multiple countries. They operate internationally and are generally responsible for managing their own taxes, compliance, and business operations according to the local laws in the country where they’re based.

Global contractors vs. employees

Global contractors and employees differ significantly in terms of their relationship with the hiring company, benefits, and legal obligations. In a nutshell, here’s how the two types of workers are defined:

• Contractor: A self-employed individual or business who operates independently and provides services to another entity under terms specified in a contract.
• Employee: An individual hired by a company to work under their direct supervision while receiving a regular salary and employee benefits.

Why hire a global contractor?

Global contractors play an essential role in our modern, interconnected business world. They provide flexibility and specialized skills across borders, helping companies achieve their goals without the need for permanent employees. But while they can offer businesses many advantages, hiring foreign independent contractors isn’t without risks.

How to mitigate the risks of hiring global contractors?

To help reduce some of the risks associated with hiring contractors, employers should:

• Conduct thorough due diligence by verifying the contractor's credentials, references, and past work to make sure they’re the right fit for their business needs.
• Communicate clearly and set expectations regarding deliverables, deadlines, and feedback.
• Use comprehensive contracts to outline the scope of work, payment terms, confidentiality agreements, termination clauses, and any other details relevant to the project or work agreement.
• Leverage technology like project management tools and communication platforms to streamline team collaboration and keep track of progress.

How to hire a contractor internationally?

Looking to hire an international contractor? Follow these steps:

Step 1: Define the scope of work

Clearly outline the details of what you need a contractor to do, including specific deliverables, timelines, and any required skills or expertise. This is so both parties have a mutual understanding of what’s required and expected from the working relationship.

Step 2: Find the right contractor and verify their credentials

The next step is to find the right contractor for the work you need. There are plenty of online platforms and professional networks for connecting providers looking for global contracting work with businesses in need of top talent. You can also ask for referrals from other businesses and colleagues—odds are, someone you know has worked with a high-quality contractor they’d be happy to recommend.

Once you find a few candidates, evaluate their portfolios, references, and professional background to choose the best fit for the job.

Step 3: Draft a contractor agreement

Once you’ve chosen the contractor you want to work with, you’ll need to draft a contractor agreement that not only clearly outlines the terms of your arrangement, but also complies with any relevant local regulations—both where you’re based and in the contractor’s home country.

This should include:

• The scope of work, including a detailed description of the contractor’s expected tasks and deliverables.
• Payment terms, including the payment structure, rates, schedules, and payment methods.
• Any relevant confidentiality agreements to ensure sensitive information is protected. 
• Intellectual property rights to clarify ownership of the work produced.
• Termination clause that outlines conditions for early termination by either party.

Step 4: Onboard your contractor and ensure they’re classified correctly

With a signed contract, you can onboard your global contractor. Onboarding should include having them fill out the right paperwork, like tax forms, which will vary depending on their home country. For example, if you’re a US company hiring a contractor in another country, you should collect a completed IRS Form W-8BEN, which helps your business determine the contractor’s status and claim any applicable tax treaty benefits.

Another important part of onboarding is making sure any contractors you work with are classified correctly. Misclassification carries serious risks, including back taxes, fines, penalties, reputational damage, legal disputes, and other potential consequences.

How to pay global contractors?

It’s crucial to have a plan for how you’ll pay contractors when you set out to work with them. In the digital age, there are many options for paying international contractors, but some are more streamlined than others. Follow the steps below to make sure contractors get paid for their work without any headaches.

Step 1: Establish the payment terms

Agree on a payment structure (hourly pricing, fixed fee, milestone payments, etc.) and include it in the contractor agreement. Clearly define the payment schedule and any invoicing requirements.

Step 2: Choose a payment method

There are several different ways you can pay contractors across borders. Here are some of the most common:

• International wire transfers: Direct bank-to-bank transfers. This is a secure, widely accepted method, but it may come with high fees and unfavorable exchange rates.
• International money orders: Money orders purchased from your bank and mailed to the contractor. This method is secure and traceable, but slow and inconvenient.
• Digital payment platforms: Platforms like PayPal and Wise are fast, convenient, and offer low fees. However, some platforms aren’t available in certain countries or can have limitations on transfer amounts.
• Global contractor management platforms: Global payroll software like Rippling can onboard employees and contractors around the world in just 90 seconds and pay everyone in their local currency in minutes—without waiting on transfers or conversion.

Step 3: Comply with local tax laws

Make sure you comply with legal requirements in both your company's and the contractor's countries. This may involve withholding taxes, reporting payments to tax authorities, and ensuring contractors manage their own tax obligations. Consulting with a tax professional can help you navigate this.

Should you use an EOR to hire international contractors?

You can’t use an Employer of Record (EOR) service to hire international contractors. But if you hire employees in other countries, an EOR (a service that hires foreign workers on your company's behalf) can streamline parts of the global hiring process, like payroll, taxes, contracts, and global benefits.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.