Employer of Record services
for Germany

Hire employees in Germany quickly & compliantly with our EOR solution. We take care of German payroll, tax deductions, and statutory benefits – no GmbH required.

Rated 5/5 by Gartner users

Employer of Record in Germany: Simplify hiring, payroll & market entry

Using an Employer of Record (EOR) in Germany lets you hire employees fast — without forming a GmbH or learning the country’s complex employment rules. We become the legal employer on your behalf, managing payroll, contracts, and compliance with German labour law (Arbeitsrecht) so your team is fully protected and operational from day one.

No need for a GmbH

Save time on company registration & German entity setup.

Stay compliant

We help you manage social insurance (Sozialversicherung), income tax & other deductions.

Faster hiring

Employ the teams you need in Germany in weeks, not months.

Employer of Record (EOR)

Reduced risk

Stay compliant with German employment rules and notice periods.

EOR-Services-Topsource

Why use our EOR to employ in Germany? 

Expanding into Germany is complex, from strict employment laws to intricate tax systems. That’s where TopSource’s Employer of Record services make the difference.

We don’t just enable hiring without a local entity. We simplify every step after.

We manages contracts, payroll, and statutory benefits in full compliance with German labor law, while providing hands-on support to your HR team.

Hiring in Germany with an Employer of Record.
Your step-by-step guide

Step 1

Speak with one of our German employment experts.
We’ll review your hiring goals, confirm salary benchmarks, and outline your compliance obligations under German labour law, ensuring your setup is correct and risk-free from day one.

Step 2

Select your candidate, or let us help you find them.
Once chosen, we complete employment checks and issue a locally compliant contract that meets Germany’s statutory benefits and tax rules, ready for quick approval and signing

Step 3

We finalise the employment contract for signature and set up your employee in payroll, benefits, and tax systems.
Our onboarding team ensures your new hire is fully compliant and ready to start without delay.

Step 4

We manage monthly payroll, social contributions, and statutory reporting on your behalf.
You oversee your employee’s daily work, while we keep all employment processes compliant and aligned with the latest German regulations

Step 5

You manage your employee through your HR tools or our Portico platform, while we continue handling payroll, compliance, and HR admin.
You’ll have 24/5 expert support and quarterly reviews to ensure your German operations stay smooth and compliant.

Employment costs for Germany

Estimate the cost of your new hires in Germany with our calculator. Simply enter their salary information to get a high level breakdown of the actual cost of employment.

Employment Cost Calculator
United Kingdom
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • Canada
British Pound
  • British Pound
  • Australian Dollar
  • Canadian Dollar
United Kingdom
British Pound United Kingdom
Base Salary (per month) £2,913.58 £2,913.58
Local employer’s cost £384.88 £384.88
Total Cost (Annual) £39,581.54 £39,581.54
British Pound United Kingdom
Base Salary (per month) £2,913.58 £2,913.58
Local employer’s cost £384.88 £384.88
Total Cost (Annual) £39,581.54 £39,581.54
Hiring in United Kingdom View country

More than an Employer of Record.

Employer of Record services are only one way that we help you accelerate your global growth goals. From talent advisory to entity management, we give you the tools you need to research, enter and expand into your key markets.

Market Selection Advisory

Compare available talent, compensation, additional costs and regulations across different countries

Read more
Market Selection Advisory
Salary Benchmarking

Identify and prioritize markets for growth based on talent, cost & regulations

Read more
Salary Benchmarking
Global Skills Analysis

Map skill availability by region to align talent strategies with business goals..

Read more
Global Skills Analysis
Talent Acquisition

Find, hire & onboard the highly skilled team members you need in each locality.

Read more
Talent Acquisition
Talent Strategy Optimization

Optimize your talent strategy to enable your organization to achieve it’s global ambitions.

Read more
Talent Strategy Optimization
Global Benefits Review

Benchmark your global benefits to boost employee retention.

Read more
Global Benefits Review

Hiring in Germany: at a glance

If you’re hiring in Germany through an Employer of Record, these quick facts cover the essentials: currency, minimum wage, payroll cycle, and severance rules.

Currency

Euro (€), the official EU currency.

Minimum wage

€12.82/hour (≈€2,161/month).

Payroll cycle

Typically paid end of the month.

Termination & severance

Due process required; severance based on tenure and contractual agreements.

Frequently
asked questions

Yes. We can engage both contractors and full-time employees.

Yes, full-time employees are legally entitled to a minimum of 20 paid vacation days per year, based on a 5-day work week. In practice, most employers offer 25–30 days as part of a competitive benefits package. Sick leave and parental leave are also strongly protected.

Severance pay is not automatic by law, but it’s often negotiated, especially in cases of redundancy or collective agreements. A typical guideline is half a month’s salary per year of service, but exact amounts depend on the case.

Germany recognizes 13 national public holidays, but the exact number varies by state (Bavaria, for example, has up to 14). Employers need to account for both federal and regional holidays when planning work schedules and payroll cycles.

Yes. Local statutory benefits are included and optional upgrades are available.

Yes, our EOR services are fully compliant with German labor laws.

Yes, with limitations based on local labor laws.

While contractors allow fast market entry, misclassification is a major risk. If a contractor is found to be working as an employee in practice, the employer could face fines, back taxes, and liabilities. Using a compliant employment model helps mitigate this risk.

On top of gross salary, employers usually contribute 20–22% toward social security, which covers pension, health, unemployment, and long-term care. These contributions significantly affect the total cost of employment, making careful payroll planning essential.

Couldn’t find what you were looking for?

Beyond Germany: Where else can you hire with our EOR services

We help you legally employ and pay talent across 180+ countries—so you can scale faster.