India EOR Delivery Partners: How Global EOR, Payroll and Advisory Firms Employ in India (2026)
Short answer: an India delivery partner is a local company that legally employs staff in India on behalf of a global Employer of Record, payroll provider or advisory firm. The global firm keeps the client relationship and billing. The India partner issues employment contracts, runs payroll and handles statutory compliance under Indian law.
Few international EOR and payroll firms own an Indian entity. When their clients want to hire in India, they need someone on the ground who can employ people correctly from day one. This guide explains how those partnerships work, what they cost, and what to check before signing one.
Who uses an India delivery partner
- Global EOR platforms without their own Indian entity, serving clients who want to hire in India.
- Global payroll providers whose clients set up an Indian entity and need local payroll and filings.
- Accounting, tax and advisory firms that receive regular India hiring requests from their clients.
- Staffing and mobility firms placing people on projects in India, including expatriate assignments.
- Regional EOR firms in the Middle East, Asia or Europe looking for one reliable India partner.
Three common partnership models
| Model | Who the client sees | Who employs the staff | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-label EOR | The global firm only | The India partner’s entity | Global EOR platforms that want one brand for the client |
| Referral or co-delivery | Both firms | The India partner’s entity | Advisory firms that refer a client and stay involved |
| Payroll subcontracting | The global payroll firm | The client’s own Indian entity | Clients that already have an Indian company and need payroll and filings |
Be clear about which model you need. A request for “payroll” from a client with its own Indian entity is a different service, with different pricing, from a request to employ people where the client has no entity.
Comparing India delivery partners?
Use our free EOR RFP template to ask every partner the same questions and compare answers side by side.
What the India partner should handle
- Employment contracts and appointment letters under the labour codes
- Monthly payroll in rupees, payslips and income tax deducted at source
- Provident Fund (12% employer share; mandatory wage ceiling Rs 25,000 per month from 17 September 2026)
- Employees’ State Insurance where wages are up to Rs 21,000 per month
- Professional Tax and Labour Welfare Fund in each state where staff work
- Gratuity, statutory bonus where due, leave and final settlement on exit
- Monthly compliance evidence the global firm can pass to its client
For the full list of employer duties, see what an India EOR covers under the labour codes.
How partner pricing usually works
Most India delivery partners charge the global firm a per-employee monthly fee, lower than their direct client rate. The global firm then adds its own margin. Salary, employer statutory contributions and insurance are passed through at actual cost. Some partners charge a percentage of salary instead, or a different rate for expatriates. Ask for:
- The partner fee per employee per month, by headcount band
- Any salary cap, expatriate surcharge or minimum volume
- Setup, onboarding and exit charges
- Charges for extra services such as visas, background checks, insurance administration or reimbursements
- How currency conversion and bank charges are handled
The contract between the two firms
A partnership agreement should cover more than price. Check these points:
- Liability chain. Who is responsible if a contribution is missed or an employee raises a claim.
- Service levels. Payroll cut-off dates, response times and escalation contacts.
- Non-solicitation. Whether the partner can approach your client directly.
- Funding. Whether you pre-fund payroll, and what happens if your client pays late.
- Exit. How employees move if the partnership ends or the client sets up its own entity.
Data protection
An India partner processes employee personal data such as identity documents, bank details and salary records. India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 applies, and its rules were notified in November 2025 with a phased start. Your agreement should say who decides how data is used, where it is stored, who can access it, and how breaches are reported. If you are bound by GDPR or other laws for the same data, align the clauses.
Checklist: choosing an India delivery partner
- Does the partner employ staff on its own Indian entity, or does it subcontract again?
- Can it show EPF and ESI registrations and state registrations where your staff will work?
- How many employees does it run payroll for today, and in which sectors?
- Can it handle expatriates as well as Indian nationals, including visas and registrations?
- Will it work under your brand, and keep your client relationship confidential?
- Can it invoice in USD, EUR, GBP or AED?
- How fast does it reply to a quote request? Ask for a sample cost sheet within two working days.
- Can it give references from other partners?
Frequently asked questions
Is a white-label India EOR legal?
Yes. The India partner is the legal employer and must meet Indian law. The global firm presents the service under its own brand to its client, and the contracts between the three parties set out who does what.
Can the India partner employ foreign nationals?
Many can, subject to the right visa and registrations. Visa costs and processing times depend on the nationality and visa category, so ask for them per case.
What if our client later sets up its own Indian company?
Employees can usually move from the partner to the client’s new entity. Agree the transfer process and any fee in the partnership agreement.
How fast can a partner start?
Once the partnership agreement is signed, individual employees can typically be onboarded within days of receiving their documents.
Working with an India partner
Team Management Services (TMS) employs staff in India on its own Indian entity and works with international EOR, payroll and advisory firms as their India employer, for Indian nationals and expatriates. To compare a local India partner with a global platform, read local India EOR vs global EOR platform, or contact TMS through EOR in India to discuss partner terms.
Partner with TMS in India
We employ staff in India for global EOR, payroll and advisory firms, white-label or co-branded. Talk to us about partner terms.