Global payroll made simple for U.S. businesses hiring in India
Hire in India with confidence. We manage payroll, compliance, and employee benefits so you can focus on growth
Schedule a CallGlobal payroll explained: what it is and why businesses need it
Expanding into India can be a game-changer for U.S. businesses. India offers competitive salary structures and a growing innovation ecosystem, with world-class talent. In fact, India’s IT–BPM sector already employs 5.4 million professionals as of FY 2023, making it one of the largest skilled workforces in the world.
Besides finding the right people, hiring abroad also entails ensuring correct pay, the right benefits, and protection under local labor laws. Global Payroll comes in at just about that juncture.
International borders see global payroll as a process of managing employee compensation, taxes, and compliance. It is because of that fact that workers are paid on time and in an accurate way. Companies are also helped to remain within local regulations.
For U.S. leaders, this means peace of mind—your India team runs smoothly without hidden compliance risks or unexpected financial penalties.
Key Indian payroll components explained
Provident Fund (PF)
With employer as well as employee contributions, PF is a mandatory retirement savings scheme in the same way as a U.S. 401(k)
ESIC (Employees’ State Insurance Corporation)
A government body backs this health insurance plan, and it covers those employees who are below a salary threshold
Gratuity
Much like a U.S. severance, yet legally mandated, a lump-sum benefit payable to all employees who have completed a minimum of five years of service
Professional Tax
A state-level tax applicable in certain Indian states, deducted directly from employees’ salaries. Employers are responsible for withholding and depositing this tax with the local authorities
Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)
Similar to U.S. payroll tax withholding, TDS is the system by which employers deduct income tax directly from employee salaries and remit it to the government on their behalf
Choosing Kaamwork for global payroll in India: what sets us apart
Payroll management in India needs infrastructure plus a wide-ranging local perception. The laws are complex, compliance is non-negotiable, and mistakes can cost both financially and reputationally. Kaamwork eliminates this risk.
Our advantages:
Cost-efficient scaling
Reduce payroll overheads by up to 80% when compared to running your own entity
Full compliance
We manage PF, ESIC, gratuity, and all statutory filings
IP protection & control
Unlike traditional outsourcing, you retain full ownership of your team’s work
Integrated with your workflows
Payroll systems align with your existing tools for seamless collaboration
Fast go-live
Launch compliant payroll operations in weeks, not months
Transparent pricing
Kaamwork charges $599 per employee per month, with no hidden costs
How it Works: Engagement Models
Every business has a different approach to building global teams. Kaamwork offers three flexible models to match your strategy:
Dedicated Team Model
- Hire and manage your own Indian employees who work exclusively for you. We handle payroll and compliance while you lead daily operations.
Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) Model
- We build and manage your India payroll operations initially. Once you’re ready, we transition a fully compliant, ready-to-run entity directly to you. Unlike generic BOT vendors, Kaamwork ensures that the entity you inherit is not just operational but also seamlessly integrated with compliance, payroll, and HR frameworks—so you can take control without disruption.
Full-time employee model (EOR)
- Kaamwork becomes established as the official employer in India since it manages payroll, along with compliance, and also HR. You can direct the employees’ work now without needing to set up your own entity.
Key benefits of choosing Kaamwork
Partnering with Kaamwork goes beyond just overseeing payroll. It does create a measurable, calculated value for U.S. companies as they expand into India. Here’s a detailed look at the benefits:
Meaningful cost savings
By leveraging India’s competitive salary structures, Kaamwork’s flat-fee model allows companies to cut total payroll overhead by nearly 80%. For U.S. benchmarks are often 50% higher than like-for-like talent salaries. Savings extend beyond just the salaries to taxes, in addition to benefits administration. HR operations are likewise included in those savings
Rapid scaling and operational speed
Kaamwork enables for organizations the ability for them to hire immediately. Teams are able to scale from 1 up to 10 employees within roughly 6 months. This growth occurs without months for entity setup, legal approvals, or compliance bottlenecks
Access to Top-Tier Global Talent
India's talent pool includes skilled experts from major firms and elite universities. In fact, the Indian IT services market is projected to grow from $69 billion in 2023 to $166 billion by 2030—a 13.4% CAGR—ensuring a continually expanding pool of skilled professionals for your team. Kaamwork hires talent after screening, so clients secure superior workers compliant with U.S. benchmarks
Full compliance and regulatory peace of mind
Kaamwork handles each of the statutory filings, professional taxes, gratuity, ESIC, and PF. U.S. companies bypass risks from penalties, legal issues, or non-compliance tied to Indian labor laws
Improved employee retention
Kaamwork supports HR, manages benefits, and engages employees, so attrition is less than 5% against the 30%+ industry average
Operational control and transparency
Companies retain complete control in regard to hiring decisions as well as promotions. Control also extends to both appraisals and exits. Kaamwork’s platform provides dashboards in USD, showing payroll, compliance, and workforce analytics for complete visibility
Seamless integration with your processes
Payroll, compliance, and HR operations can integrate well with all of your existing workflows and with tools, which then eliminates all friction between HQ and remote India teams
Strategic advantage for leadership
Leaders are able to focus on high-value activities such as product development. They can also focus on global market strategy along with team culture by reducing administrative burden
Roadmap to compliant payroll in India
Kaamwork’s structured roadmap ensures your U.S. business can set up compliant payroll operations quickly, efficiently, and with minimal risk. Here’s the step-by-step process in detail:
Define roles, objectives, & budgets
- Identify just which of the functions in India are needed, like engineering, data, analytics, product, or operations.
- Set up salary bands, establish some reporting structures, and define all KPIs.
- Kaamwork advises regarding local market salary benchmarks. This is done for balancing cost and quality.
Select the right engagement model
- EOR: Quick entry, low risk, Kaamwork manages compliance.
- BOT: Start now with Kaamwork-managed operations. Then ownership should be transferred.
- Dedicated team: Long-term, fully integrated India employees.
- Kaamwork helps determine the best model based on your growth plans, budget, and desired level of operational control.
Legal onboarding & compliance setup
- Draft and execute employment contracts in alignment with Indian as well as U.S. standards.
- Register employees for gratuity plans, plus professional tax, ESIC, and PF authorities.
- Labor laws are something that should be followed. The rights of the employee must be ensured by law
Payroll integration and benefits administration
- Regarding salary disbursal, Kaamwork’s payroll platform onboards employees with automation in INR or USD.
- Full management goes to benefits like ESIC, PF, health insurance, and gratuity.
- Employees receive clear pay statements, creating trust and transparency.
Compliance monitoring and reporting
- Kaamwork conducts monthly and annual filings, tax deductions, and regulatory reporting.
- Automated alerts for deadlines, compliance changes, and local labor law updates.
- Provides analytics dashboards for U.S. HQ visibility into costs, performance, and compliance status.
Launch, integrate, and scale confidently
- HQ workflows align teams for full operation, ensuring it.
- Kaamwork aids employee engagement and retention. It also allows for performance tracking.
- Scaling beyond initial hires is seamless—add new roles or expand departments without legal or administrative friction.
Additional Guidance for U.S. decision-makers
- Use this roadmap to plan headcount, budgets, and resource allocation.
- Kaamwork can offer scenario planning for varied hiring volumes or regions throughout India.
- Kaamwork dashboards allow leaders to track attrition alongside ROI and employee engagement metrics.
Why Kaamwork stands apart
There are many ways to enter India, but only one offers speed, compliance, and control without compromise
| Feature | Entity Setup | Outsourcing | Global EOR | Kaamwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast setup | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (2–4 weeks) |
| Control & IP ownership | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Compliance & payroll handled | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost efficiency | No | Medium | Medium | High |
Kaamwork is not just a payroll vendor. We act as your strategic partner in building a sustainable, compliant, and motivated Indian workforce.
Success stories
Kaamwork has proven to be a great strategic partner, enabling us to access highly skilled global talent while providing hassle-free administrative and onboarding services.
Quick facts
Overheads
80% overhead savings vs U.S. payroll operations
Salaries
50% lower salaries compared to U.S. employees
Day Zero
Day Zero hiring with Kaamwork’s infrastructure
Attrition
<5% attrition with Kaamwork’s employee-first policies
$250B+
$250B+ IT market in India
2–4 Weeks
2–4 weeks average setup time
Frequently asked questions
Ready to simplify global payroll?
Scale your India team without payroll frustrations. Kaamwork ensures both compliance and cost savings. It gives reassurance as well.