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Contractor of Record Services · India

Contractor of Record India for global teams hiring without an entity

Hire and pay independent contractors in India without setting up a local entity. TRH manages contractor agreements, payments, and compliance checks throughout the engagement.
Hire Contractors in India
Compare COR vs EOR
1–2
business days to onboard a contractor

0

India entity required
INR
local payments, managed by TRH
TRH Performance
Placement data · 2024–25
0d
Avg. time to first qualified shortlist
Industry avg: 74 days
0%+
Passive placements
0:1
Interview-to-hire
0d
Replacement guarantee
0%
Completion rate
85%+ Passive candidates
4:1 Interview-to-hire ratio
✦ Trusted by global businesses ✦ Employees across India ✦ Multi-state compliance ✦ Dedicated local HR support ✦Trusted by global businesses ✦ Employees across India ✦ Multi-state compliance ✦ Dedicated local HR support ✦ Trusted by global businesses ✦ Employees across India ✦ Multi-state compliance ✦ Dedicated local HR support

Contractor of Record Services · India

What Is a Contractor of Record?

A Contractor of Record (COR) enables companies to engage independent contractors in India without setting up a local entity. TRH handles the contractor agreement, classification review, payments, and required records, helping reduce the risk of an incorrectly structured contractor relationship.
In plain terms
Your team keeps managing the work. TRH manages the paperwork — agreement, classification review, payments and records — for as long as the engagement runs.
A COR does not decide worker status. Classification always depends on the actual working relationship and applicable law — which is exactly what we review before onboarding.
1

You Define the Work

Share scope, deliverables, timeline, contractor requirements, and payment terms clearly.
2

TRH Handles Administration

We prepare agreements, onboard contractors, arrange payments, and monitor compliance.
3

Your Contractor Starts

Your contractor starts while we manage payments, records, and contracts.

The risk you carry

Why Not Just Pay Contractors Directly?

Paying a contractor directly can seem simple at first. But your company is then responsible for the agreement, worker classification, payments, and required records. If the working relationship is set up incorrectly, it can create compliance problems later.
With TRH, these parts of the contractor engagement are managed for you.
Area
Direct engagement
Contractor of Record (TRH)
Worker classification
You review the working relationship yourself.
TRH reviews the engagement before onboarding.
Contract agreements
You prepare and manage the contractor agreement.
TRH prepares an India-specific agreement.
Contractor payments
You manage invoices, transfers, and currency conversion.
TRH manages contractor payments.
Tax documentation
You maintain the required payment and tax records.
TRH manages the relevant documentation.
Moving to full-time
You set up a separate employment process.
TRH can move the contractor to EOR employment.

One thing worth taking seriously

Misclassification can become a serious issue if a contractor is working more like an employee. It may lead to back payments, penalties, or other obligations. Reviewing the working arrangement early helps reduce that risk.

Proof

Trusted by Global Teams Hiring Contractors in India

TRH works with international companies that need to engage contractors in India without building the process in-house.
Case 01 · Singapore

Singapore Software Company Onboarded 15 Contractors in India

A Singapore software company needed 15 contractors across engineering, design, and QA for a product launch. TRH handled onboarding, contractor agreements, and payments without the company setting up an entity in India.
Software Development
Contractor Management
Compliance Support
Outcomes

15

Contractors onboarded

2 Days

Average onboarding

100%

Compliant contractor engagements
Case 02 · Germany

German Manufacturer Centralized Contractor Payments

A German manufacturer was working with engineering consultants across India but managing contracts, invoices, and payments separately. TRH brought these activities into one process and managed the contractor administration for the team.
International Contractor Payments
Contractor Compliance
Centralized Payment Management

25

Contractors managed

One

Centralized payment process

100%

Payment documentation maintained

Case 03 · Netherlands

Netherlands Technology Company Moved 12 Contractors to EOR

A Netherlands-based technology company wanted to move long-term contractors into full-time roles as its India team grew. TRH managed the transition through its Employer of Record service, including new employment documentation and onboarding.
Contractor-to-Employee
Employer of Record
Compliance Support

12

Contractors converted

Zero

Project disruption

One

Seamless transition to EOR

Self-check · 30 seconds

Is Your Contractor Correctly Classified?

Answer a few quick questions to see if your contractor setup may need a closer review.

Check Your Contractor Classification

For each contractor relationship you want to sanity-check, answer as it actually works day to day — not as the contract reads.

Does the contractor work only for your company?Exclusivity is one of the strongest employment indicators.

Do you decide their working hours?Control over schedule points toward employment.

Do they mainly use equipment or tools provided by your company?Who owns the tools matters in a review.

Has the engagement lasted more than six months?Long-running engagements are worth re-checking.

Please answer all four questions to see your result.

This is an informal self-check for orientation only. It is not legal or tax advice, and it does not determine worker status — that depends on the actual working arrangement and applicable law.

Your Classification Result

Answer the four questions →

Risk level · What it means

Low Risk

The setup appears more consistent with an independent contractor arrangement.

Medium Risk

Some parts of the working arrangement may need a closer review.

High Risk

The setup may look more like employment and may need a different structure.

Nothing is sent anywhere — this runs entirely in your browser.

Send this to TRH for a proper review

Ready to See The Right Hiring in Action?

TRH can review your contractor setup and help you understand whether any changes are needed before you continue.

Talk to a Contractor Compliance Expert

Complete Contractor Lifecycle Support

What's Included in Our Contractor of Record Service

TRH supports the contractor engagement from initial review through payments, record keeping, and, when needed, a move to full-time employment.
01

Onboarding & Classification

We review the proposed working arrangement, assess classification risk, and prepare an India-specific contractor agreement before onboarding.
02

Contractor Payments

We process contractor invoices and manage INR payments throughout the engagement.
03

Compliance & Documentation

We maintain agreements, payment records, and supporting documents, and review engagements for changes that may create classification risk.
04

Intellectual Property Protection

Contractor agreements include confidentiality and intellectual property terms to protect your business and its work.
05

Contractor-to-Employee Transition

If the role becomes permanent, TRH can move the contractor to employment through our Employer of Record service.

Built for Growing Global Teams

Who Benefits from Our Contractor of Record Service?

A Contractor of Record can help when you need to engage independent professionals in India without managing the process internally.
01

Teams with Employees and Contractors

Keep contractor administration separate from your employee HR processes.
02

Project-Based Hiring

Engage specialists for defined projects, short-term needs, or work with a clear scope and deliverables.
03

Roles That May Become Permanent

If a contractor role later becomes a full-time position, TRH can support the move to EOR employment.
04

Companies Already Operating in India

Already have an India entity? TRH can manage contractor agreements, payments, and records for your HR and finance teams.

Simple Steps to Get Started

How Contractor of Record Works

TRH reviews the proposed contractor arrangement before onboarding, then manages the agreement, payments, and required records throughout the engagement.
1

Share the Engagement Details

Tell us about the contractor, scope of work, deliverables, and payment terms. We review how the engagement is structured before moving forward.

2

We Prepare the Agreement

TRH prepares an India-specific contractor agreement covering the agreed scope, payment terms, confidentiality, and other relevant terms.

3

Contractor Onboarding

Once the agreement is signed, we complete onboarding and set up the contractor, usually within 1–2 business days.

4

Monthly Payments

We process invoices, manage contractor payments, and maintain payment records throughout the engagement.

5

Work Begins

You manage the contractor's work while TRH continues to handle the administrative side of the engagement.

Built on Compliance and Protection

Managing Compliance Throughout the Contractor Engagement

A contractor relationship can change over time. TRH reviews the working arrangement, maintains key records, and flags changes that may increase classification risk.

Classification Review Before Onboarding

We review how the contractor will work with your company and identify factors that may make the relationship look more like employment.

Ongoing Classification Checks

If the scope, working arrangement, or level of control changes, we can review the engagement again and flag areas that need attention.

Records & Documentation

TRH maintains contractor agreements, payment records, and supporting documents throughout the engagement.

Ready to Hire and Run Payroll Globally Without the Overhead?

If a contractor role later becomes permanent, TRH can manage the move to EOR employment without changing providers.
Talk to a Contractor of Record Expert

Why Businesses Choose TRH

TRH vs. Global Contractor Management Platforms

TRH focuses on India rather than managing contractors across many countries. This gives clients access to a team that works with Indian contractor engagements every day.
Area
TRH
Multi-Country Platforms
Focus
India-only Contractor of Record service
Contractor services across several countries
Local Expertise
India-based contractor specialists
Support across multiple markets
Agreements
Agreements prepared for India engagements
Processes designed for multiple countries
Support
Dedicated account support
Support model varies by provider
Classification Review
Review based on the proposed India working arrangement
Approach varies by provider
Move to Employment
Contractor can move to TRH's EOR service
Process depends on the provider

Our Compliance Approach

If we identify a classification concern, we discuss the issue and possible next steps with you. If the role becomes permanent, TRH can support the move to employment through our Employer of Record service.
Talk to a Contractor of Record Expert

Pricing & Transparency

Contractor of Record Pricing

Pricing can be based on a fixed monthly fee or a percentage of contractor compensation, depending on the engagement.
Contractor of Record Service
(Price)%
of monthly contractor compensation
Or a fixed monthly fee per contractor whichever suits the engagement.
The service can include
  • Contractor agreement preparation
  • Monthly payments
  • IP and confidentiality terms
  • Account support
  • Contractor onboarding
  • Compliance support
  • Contractor management dashboard
  • Contractor-to-employee transition support
Get a Quote for Your Team
Your quote will depend on the number of contractors, payment terms, and the services required.
No entity, no lock-in. You’ll always be able to compare COR and EOR costs side by side.

FAQ

Questions About Contractor of Record Services in India

An employee works under an employment relationship and may receive statutory rights and benefits. An independent contractor provides services under a commercial agreement. The contract title alone is not enough; the actual working relationship also matters.
Yes. TRH can review current arrangements, update agreements where needed, and move payments and administration into our COR process.
Yes. If the role becomes permanent, TRH can support the move to employment through our Employer of Record service, including new employment documents and onboarding.
Misclassification can create labour, tax, and other compliance issues. If the relationship starts to look more like employment, the arrangement should be reviewed and corrected.
Companies can engage genuine independent contractors in India. A COR helps manage the arrangement, but it does not determine worker status. Classification still depends on the actual working relationship and applicable law.
Contractors generally handle their own income-tax returns. The payer may also have TDS obligations depending on the service and payment.
Genuine independent contractors do not receive employee benefits simply because they provide services. If the relationship is actually employment, different statutory obligations may apply.
The contractor agreement should clearly cover confidentiality and ownership or assignment of work created during the engagement. Under Indian copyright law, an assignment must be in writing and specify the rights being assigned.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and is not legal or tax advice. Contractor classification, TDS, and statutory obligations depend on the facts of each engagement and the law in force — speak with a qualified professional, or with the TRH team, before acting.
Get started

Ready to Choose the Right India Employment Model?

Engage independent contractors in India without setting up a local entity. TRH reviews the arrangement, prepares the agreement, and manages payments and records throughout the engagement.
Get a Quote
Talk to Our Team
Get started
  • No India entity required
  • India-specific contractor agreements
  • Payments and records managed
  • Onboarding in 1–2 business days
  • IP & confidentiality terms included
  • Contractor-to-EOR transition support

Let’s help you get started

Find the Right Talent Without Reviewing Hundreds of Resumes.

Share your hiring requirement below. Our India recruitment specialists assign a dedicated recruiter within 4 hours. You receive a curated shortlist of screened, interview-ready candidates within days, not weeks.
01

You share the requirement

Role, headcount, timeline — the essentials only.

02

Specialist assigned in 4 hours

A real India EOR expert — not a generalist SDR.

03

Quote + compliance plan delivered

Exact cost, timeline, and next steps within 24 hours.

4h
Avg. response
2–5d
Onboarding
100%
Confidential
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