Free EOR RFP Template for India
Choosing an Employer of Record in India is a big decision. This free EOR RFP template and checklist gives you the questions to ask every EOR provider you shortlist, a scoring sheet to compare them side by side, and the red flags to check before you sign.
- 42 questions built for India: PF, ESIC, gratuity, PT and LWF, salary TDS, Labour Codes, DPDP Act
- Pricing table that exposes setup fees, deposits, mark-ups and exit costs
- Excel scoring sheet: total out of 100 and best match for up to three providers
- 8 red flags, including the one that matters most: own Indian entity or a partner?
Word, Excel and PDF, sent to your work email.
What is inside the EOR RFP template
Company and legal standingOwn Indian entity or a partner, track record, registrations, insurance.
Statutory compliancePF, ESIC, gratuity, PT, LWF, TDS, the 50% wage rule, monthly proof of filings.
Pricing and contract termsFee bands, deposits, what is at actual cost, FX, lock-in, exit and conversion fees.
Onboarding and payrollTime to first day, checks, pay date, employee portal, insurance, HR help.
Contracts, IP and exitsContract template, IP ownership, confidentiality, exits, POSH.
Data protection and securityData location, DPDP Act, SOC 2 or ISO 27001, breach notification, encryption.
Reporting and supportMonthly reports, account manager, room to grow.
Scoring sheet and red flagsScore 1 to 5, see the total out of 100, the best match and any red flags.
How to choose an EOR provider in India: 5 questions that matter most
If you only have time for a short call, ask these five questions. They separate a reliable Employer of Record from a risky one, and every answer can be checked.
- Who is the legal employer? The provider should employ your staff through its own registered Indian entity, not a local partner you have never vetted.
- Can you show monthly proof of compliance? Ask for monthly copies of PF, ESIC and salary TDS deposits, not just a promise.
- What is the all-in monthly cost for one employee? Get the fee, statutory costs, insurance, deposits and exchange-rate charges in one number.
- Who owns the work, and what does leaving cost? Intellectual property should be assigned to you, with clear notice, exit and conversion fees.
- How is employee data protected? Look for SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification, a breach notification process and compliance with the DPDP Act.
The full template turns these into 42 questions with a scoring sheet. For background, read our guide to Employer of Record in India or compare EOR vs setting up your own entity.
How to use the EOR RFP template
Fill in your hiring planHires, cities, salary range, start date and benefits.
Send the RFPSend the Word file to each EOR you shortlist, up to three.
Score the repliesPick a score from 1 to 5 for each answer in the Excel sheet.
Check the red flagsThe sheet shows the best match with no red flags.
Why an India-specific EOR RFP matters
Most global RFP templates focus on data security and implementation. In India, the costly mistakes usually come from somewhere else: a provider that hires through a local partner instead of its own entity, PF and gratuity calculated on the wrong wages, state rules on professional tax and Labour Welfare Fund missed, or a low headline fee with deposits and mark-ups added later. This template asks about each of these directly, so the answers you get back can be checked and compared.
Want to see how TMS answers it?
TMS has been the legal employer for companies hiring in India since 2006, through its own Indian entity. Get an indicative EOR cost in 2 minutes.
EOR RFP template: common questions
What is an EOR RFP?
A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a set of questions you send to every Employer of Record you are considering. Each provider answers the same questions, so you can compare them fairly instead of relying on sales demos.
Why use an India-specific RFP template?
India has its own rules on Provident Fund, ESIC, gratuity, professional tax, Labour Welfare Fund, salary TDS, the Labour Codes wage rule and the DPDP Act. Global templates rarely ask about these, yet they are where most compliance problems start.
What is the most important question to ask an EOR in India?
Whether the provider employs your staff through its own registered Indian entity or through a local partner. If it uses a partner, you are relying on a company you have not vetted.
What formats does the template come in?
Three: an editable Word RFP to send to providers, an Excel sheet that scores up to three providers out of 100 and flags red flags, and a print-ready PDF.
What certifications should an EOR vendor have?
Ask for SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 certification and the latest audit report, a documented breach notification process, and how the provider complies with India’s DPDP Act for employee data. Then check that it holds PF, ESIC and professional tax registrations in its own name.
Is the template free?
Yes. It is free to use and edit. Fill in the short form and we will email you the files.