Comparison
EOR / Managed Team vs Staffing Agency
A staffing agency finds you a candidate and steps back. An Employer of Record (EOR) or managed-team model keeps running the operating layer — payroll, compliance, equipment, HR, and retention — while you direct the work. The difference shows up months later, when the agency hire needs a payroll fix at 2am and no one owns it.
| Dimension | EOR / Managed Team | Staffing Agency |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Team + full operations | Candidate placement |
| Payroll & compliance | Handled for you | Your problem |
| Equipment & IT | Provisioned | Not included |
| Ongoing retention | Actively managed | Not their job |
| Who directs the work | You do | You do |
| Commitment | Month-to-month common | Placement fee up front |
Choose EOR / Managed Team when
- You want a long-term team, not a one-off hire
- You do not want to run offshore payroll/compliance
- You value retention and continuity
Choose Staffing Agency when
- You only need one placement
- You already have offshore HR/payroll set up
The verdict
If you want a durable team without setting up an entity or an offshore HR function, the EOR / managed-team model is lower-risk. A staffing agency can be cheaper up front but leaves the operational burden with you.