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India EOR for B2B SaaS Startups (2026)

Your SaaS startup is ready to hire engineers and expand your product team in India, but you do not want to spend six months opening a subsidiary. Full-time developers start in five business days on our Bengaluru entity, sprint in your timezone with code ownership and IP assigned to you, statutory compliance handled monthly, and one USD invoice at the RBI rate.

Build your engineering team in India without the six-month subsidiary delay. Full-time developers, full-time employed, working in your sprint cadence with code ownership clear from day one.

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G2 4.8 / 5 on G2, from companies employing teams in India through us.

Teams building in India. First hire to full team.

Scaling your engineering team without opening an office.

The choice is six months in-house or five days through an EOR. Here is what you trade by hiring through us.

Open a subsidiary in India

Hire engineers through us

First engineer starts working
After six months, once subsidiary paperwork is done.
In five business days, live on payroll.
Setup before hiring
Subsidiary incorporation, PAN, TAN, PF and ESI codes, bank account, payroll platform.
A brief and a signature.
Monthly compliance filing
Payroll, PF, ESIC and professional tax filings land on your desk each month.
On ours. Monthly receipts shared.
Late payment penalties
12% yearly PF interest plus up to 25% damages on overdue statutory amounts.
Your liability ends at the MSA.
Monthly cost per engineer
Incorporation setup in the thousands, then CA costs and software subscriptions.
$149 per head. $129 past twenty.
Unwinding when the project ends
Formal dissolution of your subsidiary, taking months and regulatory approvals.
Thirty days written notice. No exit fee.

Open a subsidiary in India
First engineer starts working After six months, once subsidiary paperwork is done.
Setup before hiring Subsidiary incorporation, PAN, TAN, PF and ESI codes, bank account, payroll platform.
Monthly compliance filing Payroll, PF, ESIC and professional tax filings land on your desk each month.
Late payment penalties 12% yearly PF interest plus up to 25% damages on overdue statutory amounts.
Monthly cost per engineer Incorporation setup in the thousands, then CA costs and software subscriptions.
Unwinding when the project ends Formal dissolution of your subsidiary, taking months and regulatory approvals.

Hire engineers through us
First engineer starts working In five business days, live on payroll.
Setup before hiring A brief and a signature.
Monthly compliance filing On ours. Monthly receipts shared.
Late payment penalties Your liability ends at the MSA.
Monthly cost per engineer $149 per head. $129 past twenty.
Unwinding when the project ends Thirty days written notice. No exit fee.
Month 1
Director identities confirmed, company name reserved
Month 2
Subsidiary incorporation filed and approved
Month 3
PAN, TAN and GSTIN issued
Month 4
PF and ESI registration completed
Month 5
Indian bank account opened, payroll software active
Month 6
First engineer offer goes out

Overdue PF filings compound quickly.

Each day past the 15th of the month adds 12% annual interest to the overdue amount, and damages can climb another 25%.

Through our entity the statutory obligation sits on our registration, and any demand from authorities addresses us, not you.

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Cost of one late PF challan over time Interest at 12% yearly, damages up to 25%
₹6,200 Day 1
₹41,500 Day 30
₹1,84,000 Day 90
₹3,12,000 Day 180
Calculated for a small payroll and single missed filing. Actual numbers scale with salary levels and the duration of delay.
Demand letter recipient
Your Indian subsidiary pays You
Through Versatile's entity Versatile

Above a certain engineering headcount your subsidiary makes financial sense. The final FAQ answer tells you the threshold. Compare both paths in the EOR versus entity calculator with your team projections.

Your engineers code in your timezone, on your terms.

You own the roadmap, sprints and IP. Contracts and payroll operate under our registration with monthly evidence of filings and compliance.

You run

  • Sprint planning and code reviews
  • Technical interviews and hiring decisions
  • Compensation for performance and roles

We handle

  • Employment contracts under our entity
  • Monthly payroll processing and payslips
  • PF, ESIC, professional tax and TDS filings
  • Insurance, device management and HR

You run
  • Lead sprints and code direction
  • Interview and evaluate candidates
  • Set salary and promotion decisions
  • Manage like you always have

We handle
  • Draft contracts under our registration
  • Process monthly payroll and pay slips
  • File all statutory returns with proof
  • Maintain India-side HR records
  • Manage benefits and final settlements
  • Answer all payroll admin from staff

When something happens in India, it is ours.
A government notice arrives We handle it
A payslip error is found We correct it
New compliance rules drop We translate for you

A named compliance manager owns your account. Not a queue, not a chatbot, one person who already knows your headcount and your last filing.

Account managerMedian first reply 4 to 6 hours
Recruitment coordinatorBrief to shortlist 9 days
Finance associateFilings on time 8 / 8

Engineers vetted for timezone overlap.

We screen for reliable communication, working hours that cover your day, and genuine availability before anyone reaches your interview. Shortlist in nine days.

Attrition shows up before resignations do.

Pay drift against market rates, scope creep complaints and disengagement patterns get flagged early while you still have time to retain.

Payroll questions route straight to us.

Engineers ask us about Form 16, PF balances, leave rules and tax implications. Your team stays focused on code.

Engineering history carries forward.

When your company incorporates in India later, each engineer's UAN, tenure and gratuity accrual move intact to your entity.

Engineers vetted for timezone overlap.

We screen for reliable communication, working hours that cover your day, and genuine availability before anyone reaches your interview. Shortlist in nine days.

Most EORs do not vet for timezone fit.

Attrition shows up before resignations do.

Pay drift against market rates, scope creep complaints and disengagement patterns get flagged early while you still have time to retain.

Keeping an engineer is cheaper than replacing one.

Payroll questions route straight to us.

Engineers ask us about Form 16, PF balances, leave rules and tax implications. Your team stays focused on code.

Admin goes to our support desk, not yours.

Moving someone across

Transfer existing India engineers to your entity.

If engineers are already in India under contract or another employer, moving them to our payroll preserves their PF continuity, tenure and start date without payroll interruption.

Tenure Kept
Gratuity clock Kept
PF and UAN Continuous
Payroll gap 0 days

We have moved full engineering teams of 200 people in one payroll cycle.

Supporting evidence

Check our entity registration before any call.

Your engineers work under Foo Falcon Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, registered in 2022.

  • Incorporation
  • GST
  • EPFO code
  • ESIC
  • Shops and Establishments
  • PAN and TAN
  • Udyam MSME
What we verify
  • Incorporation Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • GST Goods and Services Tax
  • EPFO code Employees Provident Fund Organisation
  • ESIC Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • Shops and Establishments Government of Karnataka
  • PAN and TAN Income Tax Department
  • Udyam MSME Government of India

We send the registration PDF and ask nothing else.

200

engineering team members migrated to our payroll in one cycle, UAN records unbroken

33

invoices for one SaaS client over 26 months, all on schedule, none missing

5 days

from offer acceptance to first engineer coding on your payroll

G2 4.8 / 5 on G2, from companies employing teams in India through us.

G2 4.8 / 5 on G2, from companies employing through us.

SaaS founders on building engineering teams through EOR.

Early-stage SaaS teams that scaled their India engineering on our entity describe the experience.

Video
Bharath Rasoi KS Rajeshwari Founder, Bharath Rasoi
Video
Open Theatre Anand Raj Founder, Open Theatre
Abid Hassan Verified client
Sensibull
“They moved fast and took the whole compliance side off my plate. For a founder making an early India hire, that is exactly what you want.”
Abid Hassan Founder and CEO, Sensibull
Via G2
Moonshot
“Every option was either 'set up your own entity' or a platform that quotes a great price then hits you with add-ons. Versatile was the one that actually made it simple. First payroll ran on time. No scramble.”
Angad S. Co-Founder, Moonshot
Via G2
Digital Marketing Agency
“Contracts, PF, ESI, TDS and payroll all in one place. Invoicing in USD meant zero exchange rate surprises. The compliance rigour is genuinely reassuring.”
Vedant T. Founder, Digital Marketing Agency
Via G2
Design Studio
“Setting up in a new country can get messy fast, but their India EOR made onboarding feel easy. The team is responsive, clear, and great to work with.”
Setu C. Studio Owner, Design Studio
Via G2
US Startup
“We used Versatile to hire our first employee in India after months of putting it off because the compliance side seemed like a mess. They walked us through it and now we don't think about it.”
Verified US Founder First-time Founder, US Startup
Via G2
Mid-Market Tech Co.
“Versatile consistently delivered work that was both strategically sharp and execution-ready. Their turnaround times are impressive, and they think about problems the way an in-house team would.”
Shivani K. Senior Manager, Tech TA
Via G2
Growth-stage Startup
“Their team was highly responsive, professional, and easy to work with. They made a complex process feel simple.”
Mukul S. Core Team, Growth-stage Startup

Case studies.

Largest food delivery app in India, decacorn View case study The world's largest professional network, part of Microsoft View case study Legacy US software company, publishing platforms View case study

Engineering headcount pricing that scales with you.

One flat monthly fee per engineer covers employment, all statutory filings and support. Add recruitment when you need sourcing. No setup, no lock-in, cancel anytime.

Employer of Record

No India subsidiary needed
$149 /engineer/mo

Drops to $129 per engineer for the whole team above twenty. Monthly invoicing, your home currency, exit anytime.

Start hiring
  • Full-time employment on our Bengaluru entity
  • PF, ESIC, professional tax and TDS monthly
  • Invoiced in your currency, single bill
  • Five business days to first working day
  • Your dedicated compliance manager
  • A payroll lead assigned to your account
  • Employee portal with monthly payslips
  • Migrate to your subsidiary when ready
  • Full-time employment on our Bengaluru entity
  • PF, ESIC, professional tax and TDS monthly
  • Invoiced in your currency, single bill
  • Five business days to first working day
Four more features included
  • Your dedicated compliance manager
  • A payroll lead assigned to your account
  • Employee portal with monthly payslips
  • Migrate to your subsidiary when ready

Twenty-plus engineers planned or an existing team to move? Reach out to sales.

Recruitment

We source the engineers
12% of annual CTC

Covers junior and mid-level engineering hires. 15% for senior engineers, leadership searched on scope. Your own referrals are free.

Send us a role
  • Vetted engineer shortlist in nine days
  • India pay benchmarks for each level
  • Interview scheduling handled by us
  • Invoice sent on day ninety
  • Senior engineer searches at 15%
  • Leadership roles quoted per scope
  • Zero fee for your own engineer referrals
  • Onboarding to our entity or yours
  • Vetted engineer shortlist in nine days
  • India pay benchmarks for each level
  • Interview scheduling handled by us
  • Invoice sent on day ninety
Four additional details
  • Senior engineer searches at 15%
  • Leadership roles quoted per scope
  • Zero fee for your own engineer referrals
  • Onboarding to our entity or yours

Building out a senior engineering team or need rapid scaling? Talk to sales.

Engineers twenty-one and above

$149 $129 /engineer/mo

Every engineer reprices to $129, with no renegotiation and no commitment required.

What your monthly fee includes

  • Employment contract drawn by our entity
  • Monthly payroll run with itemised slips
  • PF, ESIC, professional tax and TDS filing
  • Gratuity accrual starting day one
  • Group health cover through our partner
  • One USD invoice at the RBI reference rate
  • Background checks, onboarding and Form 16
  • Exit processing and final settlement

The twenty-first engineer triggers the discount

$149 $129 /engineer/mo

The whole team shifts to $129 per head automatically, no contract change needed, same entity beneath.

What your fee includes

  • Employment contract drawn by our entity
  • Monthly payroll run with itemised slips
  • PF, ESIC, professional tax and TDS filing
  • Gratuity accrual starting day one
  • Group health cover through our partner
  • One USD invoice at the RBI reference rate
  • Background checks, onboarding and Form 16
  • Exit processing and final settlement

Recruitment bills at 12% of annual CTC on the ninetieth day for junior and mid-senior hires. Salary and employer statutory costs pass through at cost. Devices, desks and insurance bill through partners based on consumption. Run your exact scenario in the EOR versus entity calculator to compare totals.

Questions SaaS founders ask about India hiring.

Eight questions that come up often with SaaS teams, answered as we answer them on calls. Number eight covers who should skip us.

How do SaaS startups hire engineers in India cost-effectively?

Through an EOR. No six-month subsidiary delay, no incorporation overhead, one flat $149 monthly fee per engineer including all payroll and compliance. You focus on product while we handle employment and statutory filings.

Can we hire full-time developers in India without a local entity?

Yes. We employ them on Foo Falcon Technologies Pvt Ltd in Bengaluru under a service agreement with your company. Full-time employment law applies, but you avoid six months of subsidiary setup and ongoing compliance overhead.

What is the onboarding timeline for a SaaS engineering team?

Five business days from signed offer to first payroll. Day one is KYC and bank checks, day two PF and ESI registration, day three insurance and device setup, day four onboarding call, day five live on salary. Engineers start coding while paperwork closes.

How much do developers cost in India through an EOR?

$149 per developer per month, including all employment, filings and support. Salaries and employer statutory costs, PF 12%, ESI 3.25%, gratuity 4.81%, pass through at cost. Drops to $129 past twenty engineers.

What compliance does an EOR handle for SaaS payroll in India?

All of it. PF, ESIC, professional tax, TDS, Leave and Wages Code, Shops and Establishments, and gratuity accrual. Filings go out on the 15th for PF and ESIC, 7th for TDS, and we send proof monthly.

Do engineers own the code they write for us?

Your company does. IP assignment language sits in both the employment contract and our master service agreement, covering work product, inventions and improvements. IP disputes have never occurred on our watch.

Can we move engineers to our subsidiary later?

Yes. When your Series A or B funding justifies it, we transfer each engineer with UAN, gratuity accrual and tenure dates intact. Payroll never gaps. We have successfully moved 200-person teams this way.

When is an EOR not the right fit for a SaaS startup?

If you already run payroll through an Indian subsidiary you own, an EOR becomes an unnecessary layer. If the engagement is under three months, contractor billing is cheaper than employment. And if the plan is indefinite permanent staff on contractor agreements, we decline, because that is misclassification risk.

Longer reading: EOR India 2026 · EOR India playbook · Pay employees in India

Tell us where you are on the decision.

A role you want to hire, a team you want moved, or just the two routes to compare. A named person replies in 4 to 6 hours.

A named person replies in 4 to 6 hours, not an autoresponder.

We use these details to respond to your enquiry.

A named person replies in 4 to 6 hours, not an autoresponder. We use these details to respond to your enquiry.

What the first call covers

30 minutes

A cost comparison for your headcount, on your numbers, both routes.

  • A written cost breakdown
  • Entity documents before the call
  • PF, ESI, TDS, termination law
  • No follow-up sequence
Book a call →

You pick the time, we send a Meet link. Any timezone.

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