International Hiring for Small Businesses: Why Global Talent Can Be Your Competitive Advantage

Hiring internationally. It hasn’t always been easy, and it certainly hasn’t always been an option for small businesses. I learned this the hard way when my co-founder and I tried to hire global talent on our own nearly 10 years ago. 

But now, I believe every small business can be hiring abroad. 

Why International Hiring Can Be a Game Changer for Small Businesses 

We've seen this play out so many times, and hiring internationally can be a huge unlock, but one of the questions we get asked most is: “Why do small businesses hire internationally?” Well, every business is unique, here are some of the most common reasons why:

1. Access Niche Talent Pools, and Compete for Top Candidates

Running a small business is tough enough. Worrying about competing for the best candidate in your area simply doesn't need to be added on top. By opening up your hiring operations internationally, you can home in on specific markets offering the best of the best in exactly the field you're looking for.

For example, when my co-founder and I were building out our engineering team in Silicon Valley, we knew we couldn't compete with the Fortune 500s right down the road, but we also knew that our home country of Mexico was rich with engineering talent.

What we didn't know was how hard hiring internationally would be on our own. But nearly 10 years later, small businesses have better options. Employer of Record (EOR) partners like Justworks make hiring internationally simple and fast.

An EOR streamlines compliance, payroll, and HR admin, making it easier and more cost-effective to scale globally.

2. Serve Customers Across Time Zones

Hiring internationally isn't just about finding the right talent—it's about understanding your customers' needs and addressing them as quickly as possible.

When you have team members in different time zones, you're essentially creating a follow-the-sun support model without the complexity of night shifts or overtime costs. Your customers get faster response times, and your team gets to work during normal business hours. It's a win-win that can dramatically improve customer satisfaction while keeping your team happy and productive.

Think about it: while your New York-based team is wrapping up their day, your team in Manila or Dublin is just getting started. Customer issues don't wait for business hours, but with international hiring, you don't have to either.

3. Retain Key Team Members

One of the most compelling reasons to embrace international hiring is when it helps you keep the people who are already driving your business forward.

Take Andie Swim's story, for example. They had talented contractors who were integral to their operations, but geography was creating artificial barriers to making these relationships permanent.

They didn't want borders to be the reason they lost someone who was already such a strong part of the team, so they shifted from a short-term workaround to a long-term, full-time hire. By finding an EOR partner, they were able to convert contractors to full-time employees seamlessly.

This isn't just about paperwork—it's about recognizing that great talent doesn't always come with the right passport, and smart businesses find ways to work around those limitations.

4. Build Regional Hubs Where Your Customers Are

Some companies take a more strategic approach to international hiring, using it as a way to plant roots in key markets. SecondNature's story is a perfect example of this.

Because of their global focus, they took a really thoughtful, long-term approach to building their global team. Their strategy was to create regional hubs in places where their customer base was growing, which meant their hiring decisions were closely tied to how they were scaling their business.

What stood out to me about their approach is the flexibility it gave them. Rather than trying to serve international customers from a single location, they embedded local expertise right where they needed it most. It's a great example of how international hiring can evolve with your business needs—it doesn't have to be all-or-nothing.

5. Enter New Markets Quickly and Cost Effectively 

Sometimes international hiring is less about finding specific talent and more about expanding your market presence strategically. Project Expedition's approach perfectly illustrates this.

They were looking to grow their team in a way that would help them scale without sacrificing what made them successful in the first place—the expertise, service, and reputation that their U.S.-based team worked so hard to build.

They wanted to expand their customer support coverage across time zones, but they also cared deeply about maintaining quality and creating a more authentic experience for travelers. Building out a team in a new market gave them the chance to do both: support their customers more effectively, and deepen local partnerships.

It's a great example of how international hiring can be both practical and strategic when it's tied to the experience you want to deliver. Instead of seeing international expansion as a separate initiative, they made it part of their core service strategy.

Why Global Hiring with an EOR Might be Right for You

At Justworks, we've helped hundreds of small businesses make this transition successfully.

Expanding internationally doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Justworks simplifies the process with expert-backed EOR solutions, so you can focus on building your business while we handle compliance, payroll, and HR.

Whether you're hiring your first global employee or scaling an international team, we can help you make a smooth transition with minimal admin burden.

Let’s take your business global—get in touch today!