ScaleUp Staff vs Recruitment-Only Offshore Agencies: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?

If you've managed offshore staff before and already have payroll, contracts and onboarding sorted, a recruitment-only agency can work. If you're new to outsourcing, it leaves you holding the hardest parts: legally engaging someone in another country, getting them up to speed and keeping them. ScaleUp Staff covers recruitment, Employer of Record compliance and hands-on onboarding, and we don't charge a recruitment fee.

ScaleUp Staff is an offshore staffing and Employer of Record business that places Filipino remote staff with Australian and New Zealand small businesses. We employ every team member through our own registered Philippine company, Rach Net-Sec Inc., and back them with Australian-based support.

What does a recruitment-only offshore agency actually do?

A recruitment-only agency sources and screens candidates, presents a shortlist and charges a placement fee once you hire. That's usually where their job ends. Some offer a replacement period if the person leaves early.

After the placement, you become the one engaging that person. You decide how they're contracted, how they're paid, what equipment they use, how they're onboarded and how they're managed. For an experienced operator, that's fine. For a business owner hiring offshore for the first time, it's a lot to carry.

What do you have to handle yourself after a recruitment-only placement?

Everything that happens after day one. That typically includes:

A compliant contract that suits Philippine law and protects your data and IP.
Payroll on time, every time, in a way that works for the team member.
Mandatory Philippine government contributions and the 13th month pay most Filipino professionals expect.
Public holidays, leave and what happens when someone works on a Philippine holiday.
Laptops, security, password management and getting your data back if they leave.
Onboarding, briefing, quality checks and feedback.
Termination done properly, because the wrong words can change your obligations and your cost.

None of this is impossible. It's just the part most first-time employers don't know they don't know.

Can hiring an offshore worker directly put my business at risk under Australian law?

It can. An offshore worker engaged directly by an Australian business may have rights under Australian law, depending on the working relationship and the law's coverage. Being based overseas doesn't automatically rule out a Fair Work claim. Get advice on your specific arrangement before hiring or ending it.

Your team member is engaged by our registered Philippine company, Rach Net-Sec Inc. We handle local contracts and terminations under Philippine rules. This structure doesn't create a blanket exemption from Australian law or remove your business's own obligations. Get qualified advice about jurisdiction, worker classification and your data responsibilities.

Why can a recruitment fee work against you?

Because the agency is paid at the point of placement. Once the fee is collected, whether that person is still performing in six months matters less to their business model.

We don't charge for recruitment on purpose. If someone we place doesn't work out, we replace them at no cost and you don't pay while the seat is empty. That means it costs us money when we get it wrong, so we work hard to get it right the first time.

How is ScaleUp Staff different from a recruitment-only agency?

ScaleUp Staff vs Recruitment-Only Offshore Agencies: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?
Comparison	Recruitment-only agency	ScaleUp Staff
Recruitment fee	Usually a one-off placement fee	No recruitment fee
Who employs the team member	You, directly or as a contractor	Our Philippine entity, Rach Net-Sec Inc.
Payroll, contributions, contracts	Your job	Handled for you
Background checks	Varies	Police (NBI) and barangay clearances, address and workspace checks, employment history verified with past employers
Onboarding support	Rarely included	Guided onboarding, co-briefing and quality checks in the first 30 days (Sidekick)
If the hire doesn't work out	Replacement period, then on you	Replaced at no cost, no fees while the seat is empty
Ongoing support	None after placement	Australian contact you can call, plus ongoing QA (Sidekick)
Commitment	Pay once, then you're on your own	Three-month minimum, then 30 days' notice

When is a recruitment-only agency the better choice?

We'd rather you pick the right model than pick us for the wrong reasons. A recruitment-only agency can be the better fit when:

You already employ offshore staff and have contracts, payroll and compliance handled.
You have a strong internal manager who's worked with Filipino team members before.
You've taken advice and are comfortable with how you'll legally engage the person.
You only need help finding candidates, not making the role work.

When is ScaleUp Staff the better fit?

You're hiring offshore for the first time, or your last offshore hire didn't work.
You want a partner to handle local employment obligations and guide you on the responsibilities that stay with your business.
You want an Australian you can call when something isn't landing.
You're hiring for sales, marketing, customer service or operations support, which are the roles we know how to support best.

We offer two ways to work. EOR is for businesses that want us to handle employment, payroll, compliance and HR support while they run the work. Sidekick adds hands-on support: we help you build your foundations, sit in on early briefs, check the work and stay alongside you ongoing.

Frequently asked questions

Does ScaleUp Staff charge a recruitment or placement fee?

No. We don't charge for recruitment. If a placement doesn't work out, we replace the person at no cost and you don't pay while the role is empty.

Who is the legal employer when I hire through ScaleUp Staff?

Our registered Philippine company, Rach Net-Sec Inc., engages your team member. We handle contracts, payroll, mandatory contributions and HR support.

Do I still get to choose who I hire?

Yes. We screen, test and interview candidates first, then put three or four people we believe can do the job in front of you. You interview them and make the final call. If none of them excite you, we find more.

How long does it take to hire through ScaleUp Staff?

Typically two to four weeks from the moment you say go to someone starting, depending on the role and the candidate's notice period.

Is there a lock-in contract?

There's a three-month minimum, then 30 days' notice to cancel at any time. That matches the notice we give our team members.

Ready to talk it through? Book a call and you'll speak with an Australian who's hired offshore teams for years, not a call centre.

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