How Much Does It Cost to Hire Customer Support in the Philippines?
Hiring customer support staff in the Philippines through an Employer of Record typically involves the employee's salary, statutory employment costs, benefits or allowances, equipment, and the EOR management fee.
The standard Smart Outsourcing Solution EOR management fee is:
US$190 per employee per month
This is the EOR administration fee. It is separate from the employee's salary and other employee-specific costs.
$190
Key Takeaways
- The standard EOR management fee is US$190 per employee per month, a fixed rate, not a starting price.
- Recruitment and candidate sourcing are included in the fee; your business interviews and selects the candidate.
- Employee salary is separate from the EOR management fee.
- Employer statutory contributions, 13th-month pay, benefits, allowances, equipment and other employee-specific costs are passed through at cost.
- There are no separate SOS setup, onboarding, exit or offboarding fees, and no additional FX markup, under standard pricing.
- A refundable employee-liability deposit equal to one month's base salary is required at commencement and annually.
- There is no minimum contract duration; the service may be ended with 30 days' notice. Minimum headcount is one employee.
- Your business manages the employee's daily work, while SOS manages formal employment administration in the Philippines.
- An existing contractor or previously selected candidate may be onboarded in as little as five business days once the required agreement, documentation, employee information and funding are complete.
What Is the Total Cost of Hiring Customer Support Staff?
The total cost depends on the employee's agreed salary and employment package.
A general EOR cost formula is:
Total monthly cost = employee salary + employer statutory contributions + 13th-month pay allocation + benefits and allowances + equipment or other employee-specific costs + US$190 EOR management fee
The US$190 fee is fixed under the standard pricing structure. The remaining costs depend on the employee's compensation, benefits, working arrangement and statutory requirements.
Customer Support Hiring Cost Example — Entry-Level Role
The following example is for planning only and is not a salary quote.
| Cost component | Illustrative amount or treatment |
|---|---|
| Customer support employee salary | US$1,500 |
| EOR management fee | US$190 |
| Employer statutory contributions | Passed through at cost |
| 13th-month pay | Passed through at cost |
| Benefits and allowances | Based on the agreed package |
| Equipment and software | Where applicable |
| Base cost before variable items | US$1,690 plus employee-related costs |
Customer Support Hiring Cost Example — Senior or Team Lead Role
The following example is for planning only and is not a salary quote.
| Cost component | Illustrative amount or treatment |
|---|---|
| Customer support employee salary | US$2,200 |
| EOR management fee | US$190 |
| Employer statutory contributions | Passed through at cost |
| 13th-month pay | Passed through at cost |
| Benefits and allowances | Based on the agreed package |
| Equipment and software | Where applicable |
| Base cost before variable items | US$2,390 plus employee-related costs |
The final amount should be confirmed using the employee's actual salary, benefits, statutory requirements, equipment needs and employment start date.
What Does the US$190 EOR Fee Include?
The standard EOR management fee covers employment administration and related support, including:
- Employment contract administration
- Employee onboarding administration
- Payroll administration and salary disbursement coordination
- Employee records
- SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG administration
- 13th-month pay administration
- HR administration and employee support
- Benefits administration where applicable
- Employment documentation
- Offboarding and employment separation processes
- Philippine employment compliance support
- Recruitment and candidate sourcing
The standard fee does not include the employee's salary or other employee-specific costs.
For more detail, review the Philippines EOR pricing guide.
Is Recruitment Included in the EOR Fee?
Yes. Recruitment and candidate sourcing are included in the standard EOR management fee of US$190 per employee per month. Your business interviews and selects its preferred candidate.
The recruitment timeline may vary based on:
- Customer support role requirements
- Required experience and communication skills
- Candidate availability
- Interview stages
- Background checks
- Documentation
- Customer approvals
- Funding and employment start date
The fee includes recruitment support, but it does not guarantee a specific hiring timeline or candidate outcome.
What Costs Are Separate?
The following costs are separate from the EOR management fee and are passed through at cost where applicable.
Employee salary. The salary is agreed based on the role, experience, responsibilities, schedule and candidate profile.
Employer statutory contributions. Calculated based on the employee's compensation and applicable Philippine requirements, including SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.
13th-month pay. Eligible employees are generally entitled to statutory 13th-month pay, calculated as one-twelfth of basic salary earned during the calendar year under Presidential Decree No. 851. This is separate from the EOR management fee.
Benefits and allowances. The employment package may include HMO or private healthcare, internet allowance, communication allowance, transport allowance, meal allowance, or other agreed employee benefits. Private HMO or healthcare coverage is not automatically included in the standard EOR management fee; it can be arranged on request as a pass-through cost.
Equipment and software. Computers, software licences, connectivity, security tools and other role-specific requirements may be charged separately.
These costs are employee-related pass-through costs and are not an additional SOS margin.
Are There Additional SOS Fees?
Under the standard pricing structure, there are no separate SOS fees for:
- Setup
- Employee onboarding
- Exit or offboarding
- Termination administration
- Foreign exchange markup
Salary, statutory costs, benefits, allowances, equipment and other approved employee-specific costs remain separate.
A refundable employee-liability deposit equal to one month of the employee's base salary is required at commencement and annually, with salary-related adjustments. It secures potential termination or redundancy liabilities and is separate from the management fee; any remaining balance is refundable subject to settlement of obligations and the agreement.
The standard arrangement has no minimum contract duration and no long-term lock-in. It may be ended with 30 days' written notice, subject to the agreement. Minimum headcount is one employee — there is no volume requirement.
The final quote should confirm the applicable employment package, funding requirements, payment dates and any approved third-party costs.
What Customer Support Roles Can You Hire?
A Philippines-based customer support team may include:
- Customer Support Representative
- Customer Service Specialist
- Technical Support Representative
- Email Support Specialist
- Live Chat Support Specialist
- Customer Success Assistant
- Helpdesk Support Specialist
- Order Support Coordinator
- Customer Experience Specialist
- Customer Support Team Lead
- Quality Assurance Specialist
- Customer Support Administrator
The role, salary, schedule, systems, training requirements and benefits should be defined before recruitment begins.
EOR or BPO for Customer Support?
An EOR may suit your business when you want to hire specific customer support employees and manage their daily work directly. A BPO or managed-service arrangement may be more appropriate when you want to outsource a defined customer support process, outcome or service level to a provider.
| Consideration | EOR arrangement | BPO or managed service |
|---|---|---|
| Employee selection | Your business selects the employee | The provider may select and manage the team |
| Daily work direction | Your business manages daily work | The provider generally manages delivery |
| Employment administration | EOR manages local employment | Provider manages its staffing model |
| Pricing | Salary and employee costs plus US$190 per employee | Usually bundled or service-based |
| Best suited for | Dedicated employees | Defined processes or outsourced outcomes |
Before comparing prices, confirm whether a BPO quote includes recruitment, supervision, quality control, equipment, software, replacement coverage, reporting and service-level commitments.
What Your Business Manages
Your business remains responsible for the employee's daily operational management, including:
- Customer support workflows
- Customer service standards
- Work schedules
- Daily tasks and priorities
- Training and product knowledge
- Access to systems and tools
- Performance expectations
- Quality targets
- Team communication
- Escalation procedures
SOS manages the formal employment relationship and Philippine employment administration. Formal disciplinary, suspension or termination actions should be coordinated with SOS so the appropriate employment process can be followed.
How Quickly Can You Hire Customer Support Staff?
For a new customer support hire, the timeline depends on recruitment, candidate availability, interviews, background checks, documentation, approvals and funding.
For an existing contractor or previously selected candidate ready to join the EOR arrangement, onboarding may be completed in as little as five business days once the applicable agreement, employee information, required documentation and funding are complete. Where the individual is already employed by another provider, the existing employment relationship must first be addressed.
The five-business-day timeline applies to employment setup and onboarding readiness. It does not guarantee the time required to recruit and select a new candidate.
Hiring Without Establishing a Philippine Company
You do not need to establish your own Philippine company to hire customer support employees through an EOR. SOS can employ the worker in the Philippines as the legal employer while your business manages the employee's daily work.
Hiring Existing Contractors as Employees
If you already work with a Filipino customer support contractor, you may be able to transition that person into an employee arrangement through an EOR.
Before making the change, review existing contractor terms, the proposed employment start date, salary and benefits, final contractor payment, employment documentation, payroll timing, classification requirements and transition responsibilities. Moving a contractor into employment does not automatically remove potential liabilities relating to the earlier contractor period.
Read more about converting contractors to employees in the Philippines.
Who Is the Philippine Legal Employer?
Global BPO Solution Philippines Inc. is the Philippine legal employer under the SOS EOR arrangement. SOS manages employment administration in the Philippines while your business manages the employee's daily customer support work.
Read more on Philippines EOR master buyer FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire customer support staff in the Philippines?
The standard EOR management fee is US$190 per employee per month. The employee's salary, statutory contributions, 13th-month pay, benefits, allowances, equipment and other employee-specific costs are separate.
Is recruitment included in the US$190 fee?
Yes. Recruitment and candidate sourcing are included in the standard EOR management fee; your business selects the candidate.
Does the US$190 fee include the employee's salary?
No. The fee covers EOR administration. Salary and other employee-specific costs are passed through separately at cost.
Are statutory contributions included?
Employer statutory contributions are separate employee-related costs and are passed through at cost.
Is private HMO included?
No. Private HMO or healthcare coverage is not automatically included. It may be arranged on request and treated as an employee-related pass-through cost.
Is a refundable deposit required?
Yes. The standard agreement requires a refundable employee-liability deposit equal to one month's base salary at commencement and annually, with salary-related adjustments.
Is there a lock-in or minimum number of employees?
No. There is no minimum contract duration and no long-term lock-in; the service may be ended with 30 days' notice. The minimum headcount is one employee.
Can I hire customer support staff without establishing a Philippine company?
Yes. SOS can employ customer support staff in the Philippines on your behalf, allowing your business to hire without immediately establishing its own local entity.
How quickly can an existing contractor or candidate be onboarded?
In as little as five business days once the required agreement, employee information, documentation and funding are complete.
Can I hire a complete customer support team?
Yes. You can hire individual customer support professionals or build a larger team based on your required roles, schedules, workflows and management structure.
Hire Customer Support Staff in the Philippines
Tell us the type of customer support role you need, whether you are hiring a new employee, building a team, or transitioning an existing contractor or employee into an EOR arrangement.
