Expanding into Turkey is a smart move for many growing businesses. The country’s location, between Europe and Asia, makes it a natural hub for international operations — not to mention its strong pool of educated, multilingual, and tech-savvy professionals. But there’s one big question that often holds companies back:
How can you hire employees in Turkey without setting up a local legal entity?
Luckily, there’s a simple answer — by using an Employer of Record (EOR).
The Challenge of Hiring Directly in Turkey
If your company isn’t registered in Turkey, you can’t legally hire Turkish employees on your own. Setting up a local entity (like a limited company or branch office) can take months, involves a lot of paperwork, and requires ongoing accounting and legal administration.
Beyond that, you’d need to register for taxes, open a Turkish bank account, and handle local payroll reporting — all before you even get to the hiring stage.
For many businesses, that’s just not worth the effort — especially if you only want to hire a small team or test the Turkish market before fully committing.
What an EOR Lets You Do
An Employer of Record (EOR) gives you a shortcut. It’s a locally registered company that employs your people on your behalf.
You still manage your employees day-to-day — their projects, goals, and performance are all under your control. But the EOR handles everything on paper: employment contracts, taxes, payroll, and compliance with Turkish labor laws.
It’s the fastest, safest way to hire employees in Turkey without forming a legal entity. You can onboard local talent in as little as a week and operate fully within the law.
How the Process Works
Here’s what hiring through an EOR typically looks like:
- You find the right candidate. Whether it’s a developer in Istanbul or a marketing specialist in Ankara, you choose who you want to hire.
- The EOR prepares a compliant employment contract. Everything — from salary and benefits to notice periods — aligns with Turkish labor law.
- The employee joins your team. They’re legally employed by the EOR, but they work exclusively for you.
- Monthly payroll and taxes are handled automatically. The EOR processes salaries, deducts income taxes, pays social security, and ensures compliance.
- You focus on growth. No bureaucracy, no red tape — just results.
Why This Approach Works So Well
The beauty of using an EOR in Turkey is flexibility. You can hire one person or build an entire local team — without getting bogged down in legal setup or HR admin.
It’s also ideal if you’re running a global team. Maybe you’ve found a brilliant Turkish developer or designer who wants to work remotely. Instead of navigating international contractor laws, you can employ them through an EOR — ensuring both sides are protected and compliant.
On top of that, the EOR takes care of benefits, social security, and tax filings, so your employees feel secure and well-supported. It’s a win-win situation.
Cost and Time Advantages
Let’s be real — setting up a company abroad isn’t cheap. Between registration fees, legal costs, and ongoing compliance work, it can run into thousands of dollars.
An EOR eliminates all that. You simply pay a monthly service fee that covers everything from payroll to benefits administration. It’s predictable, affordable, and fast — the perfect model for companies that want to grow without unnecessary overhead.
Is an EOR Right for You?
If you’re planning to test the Turkish market, hire remote talent, or grow a small local team, an EOR is probably the best solution.
If your business plans include opening offices, signing local contracts, or building a large-scale presence, you might eventually consider setting up your own entity. But most companies start with an EOR because it’s low-risk, fast, and fully compliant.
The Bottom Line
Hiring employees in Turkey doesn’t have to be complicated. With an EOR, you can skip the long setup process and hire quickly, legally, and confidently. You’ll be able to focus on your people and your product — while your EOR handles all the local rules, taxes, and paperwork.
So if you’ve found great talent in Turkey or you’re ready to explore the Turkish market, now’s the time to take the next step.
Get in touch with an experienced EOR partner and start building your team — the easy way.
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