When should a company consider converting a contractor to an employee?

A company may review conversion when the relationship is ongoing, the worker operates as part of the company’s team, the company directs the daily work or the business wants a formal employment structure.

What factors should be reviewed before conversion?

Review the actual responsibilities, level of control, supervision, payment structure, duration of the engagement, work schedule and intended future relationship.

Can a contractor be converted through an EOR?

Yes. An EOR can employ the worker in the Philippines and manage employment administration while the customer continues to manage the employee’s daily work.

How much does EOR conversion cost?

The standard EOR management fee is US$190 per employee per month. Salary, employer statutory contributions, 13th-month pay, benefits, allowances, equipment and other employee-specific costs are separate where applicable.

How quickly can an existing contractor be onboarded?

Existing contractors can generally be onboarded in as little as five business days once the applicable agreement, employee information, required documentation and funding are complete.

What happens to the final contractor payment?

The company should confirm the final contractor invoice or payment, the contractor end date, any work handover and the employee start date before beginning the new arrangement.

Is recruitment included in the EOR management fee?

Recruitment is not assumed to be included in the standard EOR management fee. Recruitment support, where requested, should be confirmed separately.

Should a company obtain legal or tax advice?

Companies should obtain professional advice where the classification, conversion or tax treatment depends on the specific facts of the relationship.

Are developers in the Philippines suitable for international teams?

The right fit depends on the developer's experience, technology stack, communication skills, role requirements and ability to work within your development processes. Candidates should be assessed against the specific technical and product requirements of the role.

What is the average developer salary in the Philippines?

There is no single salary that applies to all developers. Compensation depends on seniority, technology stack, experience, role scope and working arrangement. Total employment cost should also account for statutory contributions, 13th-month pay, benefits, allowances, equipment and the EOR management fee.

Can I hire developers without a company in the Philippines?

Yes. An Employer of Record arrangement can allow your company to employ developers in the Philippines without immediately establishing its own Philippine entity.

Is an agency better than an EOR?

The appropriate model depends on how you want the work to be managed. An EOR may suit companies that want to manage developers directly, while an agency or outsourcing arrangement may use a different delivery and management structure.

How do I maintain quality in a distributed development team?

Use clear requirements, documented workflows, code-review procedures, testing standards, communication processes, reporting expectations and regular performance management. Your company manages technical quality and daily performance.

What is the biggest mistake companies make when hiring developers?

A common problem is hiring without clearly defining the technology stack, role scope, reporting line, development workflow, security requirements and expected deliverables. These requirements should be defined before recruitment or employment setup.

What is the SOS EOR fee?

SOS charges one EOR management fee of US$190 per employee per month. This is the only SOS EOR rate. It is not a starting price, estimate or price range.

Is recruitment included?

Yes. Recruitment and candidate selection are included in the SOS EOR service, with no separate recruitment fee.

How quickly can an existing developer be onboarded?

Existing developers can generally be onboarded in as little as five business days once the required agreement, employee information, documentation and funding are complete. Recruitment of a new candidate may require additional time.

Who manages the developer's daily work?

Your company manages the developer's daily technical work, including projects, priorities, workflows, tools, code reviews, training and performance. SOS manages employment administration, payroll, statutory processes, employee records and agreed HR support.

Are SDRs in the Philippines suitable for international teams?

The right fit depends on the SDR's communication skills, sales experience, target-market knowledge, role requirements and ability to follow the company's sales process. Candidates should be assessed against the specific market, buyer profile, outreach channel and qualification requirements.

What is the average SDR salary in the Philippines?

There is no single salary that applies to all SDRs. Compensation depends on experience, role scope, target market, working hours, seniority and any approved incentive or commission structure. Fully loaded cost also includes statutory costs, 13th-month pay, benefits, tools, commissions and provider fees.

Can SDRs handle cold calling?

Yes. Cold calling can be included where the role, employee skills, systems, training, working hours and approved sales process support that arrangement.

Do I need to set up a company to hire SDRs?

Not immediately for an EOR arrangement. SOS can employ the SDR in the Philippines as the legal employer while your company manages the employee's daily sales-development work.

How do I maintain SDR performance?

Define the target market, outreach process, qualification criteria, KPIs, CRM requirements, reporting process and coaching schedule. Your company manages the SDR's daily performance and sales activity.

What is the biggest mistake companies make when hiring SDRs?

A common problem is hiring without clearly defining the target market, buyer profile, sales process, outreach expectations, qualification rules, reporting line and performance measures. These requirements should be defined before recruitment or employment setup.

What is the SOS EOR fee?

SOS charges one EOR management fee of US$190 per employee per month. This is the only SOS EOR rate. It is not a starting price, estimate or price range.

Smart Outsourcing Solution Featured in SelectSoftware Reviews’ Best EOR in the Philippines Guide for 2026

Last Updated: October 19, 2026

Smart Outsourcing Solution (SOS) has been featured in SelectSoftware Reviews’ (SSR) 2026 guide to the Best Employer of Record (EOR) providers in the Philippines, alongside a dedicated review of its services.

The third-party assessment highlights SOS’s fixed US$190 per employee monthly EOR management fee, included recruitment services, local Philippine employment expertise, and hands-on HR and payroll administration.

SelectSoftware Reviews gave SOS 4.6 out of 5 across its popularity, user, and product scoring categories, placing the company among the 13 providers featured in its Philippines EOR buyer guide.

Key Takeaways

SOS was included in SSR’s 2026 Best EOR in the Philippines buyer guide and received a dedicated provider review.
SSR assigned SOS scores of 4.6/5 across its popularity, user, and product categories.
The review highlights SOS’s fixed US$190 monthly EOR management fee, included recruitment, and Philippines-focused service delivery.
SSR identifies SOS as particularly suitable for companies prioritizing predictable EOR fees, recruitment support, and human-led employment administration in the Philippines.

What Is SelectSoftware Reviews?

SelectSoftware Reviews is an HR technology and workforce solutions research platform that helps businesses assess and compare service providers.

Its 2026 Philippines EOR buyer guide examines providers offering international employment, payroll, compliance, and workforce administration services.

The guide includes both global EOR platforms and providers specializing in Philippine employment arrangements. It also provides individual assessments to help businesses compare different service models and identify options suited to their hiring requirements.

How Did Smart Outsourcing Solution Score?

SelectSoftware Reviews lists the following scores for SOS in its 2026 Philippines EOR buyer guide:

SSR Scoring Category	SOS Score
Popularity Score	4.6 / 5
User Score	4.6 / 5
Product Score	4.6 / 5

The assessment emphasizes SOS’s positioning as a Philippines-focused EOR provider offering a service-led alternative to global employment platforms.

What Does the SSR Review Highlight About SOS?

In its dedicated review of Smart Outsourcing Solution, SSR identifies several aspects of the company’s EOR service.

Fixed EOR Pricing With Recruitment Included

SOS charges a standard management fee of US$190 per employee per month, which includes recruitment and candidate sourcing, employment administration, payroll support, and HR guidance.

The client interviews and selects its preferred candidate, while SOS coordinates the applicable recruitment and employment processes.

Employee salary, statutory contributions, 13th-month pay, benefits, and other employee-specific costs are charged separately. The standard arrangement also requires advance payroll funding and a refundable employee-liability deposit.

See the full SOS EOR pricing breakdown for details.

Philippine Employment and Compliance Support

SOS provides EOR services through Global BPO Solution Philippines Inc., its Philippine legal employing entity.

Its services include employment contract administration, onboarding, payroll, statutory contribution administration, employee records, HR support, and offboarding.

This enables international companies to employ Filipino professionals without establishing their own Philippine entity, while continuing to direct employees’ daily work.

Hands-On HR and Workforce Administration

SSR also highlights SOS’s service-led approach, which emphasizes direct human support rather than a proprietary HR software platform.

This model may be particularly suitable for companies that prefer dedicated account management and assistance with local employment requirements.

Experience With Contractor-to-Employee Transitions

The review references SOS’s engagement with LawnStarter, which involved converting several hundred contractors into formal employment arrangements over four weeks.

The example demonstrates SOS’s experience supporting workforce transitions through a Philippine employment structure.

Read the LawnStarter case study for more information.

What Does This Recognition Mean for Companies Hiring in the Philippines?

Businesses comparing EOR providers typically need to evaluate pricing, local employment expertise, recruitment capabilities, payroll administration, and the level of support available throughout the employment relationship.

SSR’s assessment provides an additional third-party perspective on these considerations.

For companies focused specifically on hiring in the Philippines, SOS offers a model built around local employment administration, predictable management fees, and included recruitment services.

The review also identifies considerations for prospective clients. SOS focuses on Philippine employment rather than multinational EOR coverage, and its service model prioritizes human support over proprietary HR software. Companies should assess these differences against their own requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smart Outsourcing Solution featured in SSR’s Best EOR in the Philippines guide?

Yes. SOS is one of the 13 providers included in SelectSoftware Reviews’ 2026 Philippines EOR buyer guide and has a dedicated provider review.

What rating did SelectSoftware Reviews give SOS?

SSR lists scores of 4.6 out of 5 for SOS across its popularity, user, and product scoring categories.

How much does SOS charge for EOR services in the Philippines?

The standard SOS EOR management fee is US$190 per employee per month, including recruitment and candidate sourcing. Salary, statutory costs, benefits, and other employee-specific expenses are separate. An employee-liability deposit and advance payroll funding are also required.

What companies is SOS best suited for?

SSR identifies SOS as suitable for businesses hiring employees in the Philippines that prioritize predictable EOR fees, included recruitment, and hands-on employment administration over a sophisticated HR technology platform.

Read the Full SelectSoftware Reviews Assessment

Businesses considering Employer of Record services in the Philippines can review SSR’s findings directly:

Smart Outsourcing Solution has supported international businesses building teams in the Philippines since 2017, providing recruitment, employment administration, payroll, and workforce support.

To learn more about employing Filipino professionals without establishing a local entity, visit our Philippines EOR services page or book an EOR consultation to discuss your hiring requirements.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Martin English is the Co-Founder of Smart Outsourcing Solution, with more than 20 years of experience across outsourcing, customer experience, digital transformation and offshore workforce strategy in Southeast Asia. Having worked with global organisations including Telstra, Vodafone and Shell, Martin brings extensive experience in helping businesses develop effective offshore operating models. At SOS, he focuses on business development, strategic partnerships and helping international companies build and scale teams through EOR, COR, managed outsourcing and Build-Operate-Transfer solutions.

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Smart Outsourcing Solution

Smart Outsourcing Solution is a Philippines-based Employer of Record (EOR) helping global companies hire and employ Filipino professionals without setting up a local entity. We manage employment contracts, payroll, statutory contributions, benefits and local HR support.

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