Horizons EOR Review
Horizons Review Summary
Score 10 out of 10
Currency
100+
Monthly fees
$249+ per employee
Payment options
ACH or SWIFT/Wire Transfer
Horizons is an EOR and Global PEO, able to hire and pay employees in 180+ countries. Horizons is the best EOR for small to medium-sized businesses hiring 1-50 people. Learn more below in my honest Horizons EOR Review.
Based on my experience in the industry, I give my honest take on the Employer of Record platform, Horizons. I cover the benefits and the downsides of this platform and explain why it is the best option for small businesses.
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What is Horizons?
Horizons is an international EOR provider that offers a turnkey employment platform. From recruitment and work visas to hiring and onboarding and through any HR issues that arise, Horizons takes care of it all.
Key elements of the Horizons EOR platform include:
- Employer of Record solutions in 180+ countries
Horizons EOR hires international employees under compliant local labor contracts and handles employment compliance. The employees remain under the direct supervision and control of the client company. - Payroll processing in multiple currencies
Local currency payments no matter where the employee is based. - Recruitment support
Expert recruitment team for companies that need help acquiring top talent in overseas markets. - A market-leading SaaS platform
Industry-leading technology making it easy to pay invoices, reimburse employee expenses, and have an overview of all EOR payments. - Contractor payments
Horizons EOR also provides independent contractor setups for any country, in complete compliance with local regulations. - Global mobility and immigration support
Specialist consulting to ensure that employees are hired or transferred on the correct work visas.
Below, we look at the Horizons EOR and global hiring solution in depth, drawing out its key features, pros and cons, and the unique aspects of their solution that make Horizons the leading global EOR company in this space.
Horizons Key Features
1. Horizons Employer of Record
Horizons EOR enables global employees to be hired through an international Employer of Record Solution. This means that Horizons becomes the legal employer of a client company’s workforce in whichever country they seek to hire in.
As the legal employer, Horizons becomes responsible for:
Payroll Administration
Horizons manages all aspects of payroll for their clients’ employees, ensuring accurate and timely payment according to local laws and regulations. This includes calculating wages, withholding taxes, and issuing paychecks.Tax Withholding and Reporting
Horizons is responsible for deducting the correct amount of taxes from employees’ paychecks and reporting this to the appropriate local tax authorities. They ensure compliance with local tax laws and regulations, avoiding penalties for non-compliance.Employment Law Compliance
Horizons ensures that employment practices comply with local laws in each country where employees are based. This covers various aspects such as working hours, leave entitlements, and termination procedures.Employee Benefits Administration
They administer and manage benefits for employees, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks, in line with local norms and regulations. Horizons often negotiates these benefits with local providers on behalf of their clients.Immigration and Work Visas
In cases of international employment, Horizons assists with obtaining the necessary work permits and visas. They navigate the complex immigration laws and procedures to ensure legal compliance.Worker’s Compensation
Horizons manages worker’s compensation, providing coverage for employees in case of work-related injuries or illnesses. They handle claims and ensure adherence to local regulations regarding workplace safety and compensation.Risk Management and Compliance
Horizons undertakes risk assessment and management related to employment, helping to mitigate legal and financial risks associated with non-compliance. This includes keeping up-to-date with changing employment laws and regulations.Onboarding and Offboarding
They facilitate the onboarding and offboarding process for employees, ensuring a smooth transition for both the employer and the employee. This includes preparing employment contracts, conducting background checks, and managing exit procedures.Employee Relations and Support
Horizons EOR services also extend to providing support to employees on various matters, acting as a point of contact for issues like workplace disputes or grievances. They work to maintain a positive work environment and address employee concerns in compliance with local labor laws.Record Keeping and Data Management
They maintain comprehensive records of employment, including contracts, payroll records, and compliance documents. Horizons ensures that all necessary employment-related information is accurately documented and readily accessible.
By handling these responsibilities, Horizons EOR allows businesses to focus on their core operations while ensuring that their employment practices are compliant, efficient, and tailored to local requirements.
2. Horizons Global Payroll
The Horizon’s all-in-one, cloud-based payroll software simplifies payments to employees worldwide. Horizons ensures that all necessary social contributions are deducted and taxes are remitted to the relevant authorities.
The platform provides the flexibility to easily manage expense reimbursements and one-off payments wherever an employee is. All employee data is held in compliance with data protection rules, including the GDPR.
3. Horizons Human Resources
Horizons works with client companies to handle HR compliance issues throughout employment, including performance and disciplinary matters. In addition, the Horizons EOR SaaS platform means client companies can easily handle:
- Leave management, directly on the platform.
- Employee benefits, including health insurance. Horizons EOR services offers comprehensive global health insurance packages, providing a high level of coverage to international employees in 180+ countries.
4. Horizons Compliance
Horizons handles all aspects of employment compliance, with local labor law experts ensuring that hiring and HR are consistent with applicable rules and regulations.
Draft employment contracts are vetted by in-house legal talent, and any issues of compliance that arise throughout employment become Horizons’ responsibility.
The Horizons platform incorporates enterprise-level security features and enforces cyber-security good practices, including 2-factor authentication and strict access privileges.
5. Horizons SaaS Platform
Horizons takes care of all HR and payroll matters through the Horizons EOR cloud platform.
Key elements include:
- Employee onboarding
Approve employee hire at the click of a button - Employee data management
Client businesses can maintain an overview of employee data at all times - Simple payroll
Pay employees in every location monthly, with just one click.
All information is easily accessible from the intuitive client dashboard.
Horizons Pricing
| Plan | Price per employee/contractor per month |
|---|---|
| Horizons EOR | Starting at $299 per full-time employee/month |
| Horizons Contractor | $49 per contractor/month |
| Horizons International Recruitment | 2% of gross salary/month |
Horizons Reviews
I assessed Horizon’s reviews on Trustpilot and Glassdoor
The average scores (as of the time of writing) were:
- Horizons Glassdoor = 4/5 (56 reviews)
- Horizons G2 = 4.5/5 (134 reviews)
It should be observed that the reviews were largely positive, with a significant number of reviews.
Horizons Pros and Cons
- Pros
Widest global coverage
Horizons can hire and pay employees in 180+ countries. Few other EORs provide the same level of coverage.
Customized support
Horizons provides customized support, based on business needs. They are happy to provide all contract adjustments (probation periods, fixed employment length etc), instead of standard contractual terms.
In-house talent acquisition
Horizons has an expert in-house recruitment team for talent acquisition, whereas most EORs outsource all recruiting to third parties.
Visa support
Horizons’ global mobility, relocation, and concierge services streamline work permit and immigration processes.
Easy contractor payments
For companies wanting to hire independent contracts alongside employees, Horizons provides al the setup and compliance services required.
Truly local expertise
With specialist local teams throughout every region, Horizons’ experts in employment law and HR subjects are always on hand to help with any issues specific to your country of hire.
- Cons
Horizons does not offer a payroll-only (payroll outsourcing) solution for companies wishing to retain their overseas subsidiary. However, Horizons has confirmed that a payroll-only solution is being developed and will be released shortly.
Horizons does not have full HRIS capability. Some other competitors have a fully-functioning HR platform that will handle every aspect of HR. By not providing this level of infrastructure, Horizons maintains it can provide a more cost-effective solution for small businesses.
Horizons Benefits
The Horizons USP is genuine local expertise. Most other global PEOs/international EORs provide a one-size-fits-all solution across countries and do not have in-house legal and local market experts. The benefits of genuine local expertise include:
EORs with local experts ensure compliance with specific legal and regulatory requirements, reducing non-compliance risks.
Local experts provide cultural insights, improving interactions with local employees and authorities.
They stay updated on changing regulations, ensuring ongoing compliance.
Relying on local expertise minimizes international employment risks.
Local experts solve problems efficiently due to their familiarity with the local legal system and business environment.
Horizons can advise on any matters of local employment law and tap into its local recruitment networks to provide you companies with the best available talent. This is one of the key reasons Horizons was rated the best global EOR for small to medium-sized enterprises.
Horizons Review Score
10/10
Our expert score for Horizons
Our team came to this score by considering the following components in the following weightings:
Employer of Record features
25%
Payroll features
10%
HR features
10%
Compliance features
10%
Platform features
10%
Pricing
20%
User reviews
15%
For each component, Horizons received the following score:
Employer of Record features
25/25
Payroll features
10/10
HR features
10/10
Compliance features
10/10
Platform features
10/10
Pricing
20/20
User reviews
15/15
Conclusion
Three features of Horizons make it stand out amongst competitors in the field:
End-to-end employment solutions
Few global employment companies are equipped to help you with the full employee lifecycle from recruitment through hiring, onboarding and any other HR issues that arise.
Genuine expertise
No other global PEO has local experts available in every region with substantial expertise based in locations like Shanghai, Berlin, Mumbai, and Toronto.
Value for money
With monthly per-employee fees that beats all competitors, Horizons is one of the most cost-effective global EOR companies.
While Horizons may not be the most prominent global PEO/EOR regarding headcount or marketing budget, it offers an HR tech solution that is perfect for smaller businesses.
Businesses of all sizes and from any industry can benefit from the support of Horizons when hiring overseas.
Horizon Alternatives
Remote
Remote is a comprehensive solution for global hiring and payroll management. It supports companies in navigating the complexities of international employment, making it seamless to build teams worldwide. With tools to streamline compliance, payroll, and employee onboarding, Remote enhances the hiring experience and empowers businesses to confidently manage their global workforce.
💡 Read our in-depth review: Remote Review
Deel
Deel is a robust platform that facilitates international hiring, compliance, payroll, and benefits management. It supports businesses in over 150 countries, making it a versatile choice for global expansion.
Deel’s comprehensive features include automated invoicing, tax compliance, and localized contracts, ensuring that companies can manage their international teams efficiently.
💡 Read our in-depth review: Deel Review
Oyster
Oyster is another top alternative to Horizons, providing comprehensive EOR services that help companies manage global HR, compliance, and payroll. Oyster’s platform is known for its ease of use and excellent customer support.
💡 Read our in-depth review: Oyster Review
FAQ
Horizons is an international remote/hybrid company with regional headquarters in the United States, Germany and China, as well as offices in dozens of other countries.
Both. Horizons is an Employer of Record (EOR), which means that it takes care of labor compliance, including employment tax and income tax withholding all over the world. It is also a global Professional Employer Organization (global PEO), which means it takes care of a range of other employment and HR matters, alongside its EOR services (which is why you may have seen the company referred to in the past as New Horizons PEO - its former name - as well as an EOR).
Antoine Boquen currently is the Chief Executive Officer at Horizons, steering the organization strategically. Originally from France, Antoine splits his time between the Shanghai and Berlin offices of Horizons.
Our Solutions
- EOR from $199
- Employee Benefits
- Global Payroll
- International Recruitment
- Contractor Management
- Company Incorporation