How much does an EOR cost? What I’ve seen HR teams overlook
Working closely with HR teams hiring internationally, one budgeting mistake comes up repeatedly: treating the EOR fee as the total additional cost.
In reality, the monthly cost is:
Gross salary + employer-side contributions + EOR fee
For a $5,000/month employee, using Multiplier’s $459 starting fee:
- Germany: $459 + $5,000 + ~$950 in employer costs = ~$6,410/month
- India: $459 + $5,000 + ~$650 in employer costs = ~$6,110/month
Same salary and EOR fee, but around $300/month difference because statutory costs vary by country.
I’ve also seen teams overlook implementation fees, mandatory benefits, payroll deposits, FX costs and termination charges.
My advice: ask for a sample invoice before choosing an EOR. The headline price rarely shows the complete hiring cost.
What’s one EOR cost that caught your HR or finance team by surprise?