That’s what a global luxury fashion brand achieved in just a few months, thanks to Headcount’s Employer of Record (EOR) services. When their U.S. expansion plans accelerated, they needed to onboard dozens of retail employees fast. But they had no US HR, payroll, or compliance systems in place. Here’s how Headcount made it all happen.
Headcount’s EOR services assisted rapid U.S. expansion and huge revenue growth while staying fully compliant, on budget, and without the burden of establishing a local entity.
The Challenge: Scaling Fast Without a Local HR Team
While the client had a well-established presence globally and a strong sales team, they lacked HR, payroll, or compliance infrastructure in the United States. The brand needed to quickly onboard dozens of retail employees – starting with 30 hires to meet aggressive launch timelines and scale operations nationally.
Global onboarding challenge:
- Onboard and insure 30 employees
- Educate existing employees
- Create a larger, scalable template for national growth
- Become HR proxy for an overseas team
- Launch US payroll, benefits, and geo-fencing
As a foreign entity, they understandably weren’t comfortable navigating U.S. employment laws and payroll systems. They needed a true partner, and given their lack of US infrastructure, growth plans, and timeline, opted to outsource this function. Company resources were focused on staff acquisition, store locations, and product display.
The Solution: Full-Suite Employer of Record (EOR) Services in the U.S.
Headcount Management stepped in as the client’s Employer of Record (EOR), handling the full scope of U.S. employment needs:
The brand’s project team focused on approving timesheets and schedules for existing employees, continued employee acquisition, and adding more store locations. They managed the hires and paid the invoices while Headcount handled all employee-related functions. Headcount was also charged with including a scheduling module, geo-fencing (to ensure employees were working on site), and full employee benefits.
Because our contingent workforce onboarding process is highly structured, transparent, and expedient, we were able to pull this off without a hitch. We worked closely with the client’s team to align on messaging and offerings. Because onboarding is often the first impression new hires get, we made sure it was fast and frictionless.
Why Headcount?
This client told us they had considered other vendors – including PEOs and big-box payroll platforms – but they ultimately chose Headcount largely due to our agility and established contingent platform.
Other providers offered rigid processes. But we understand that different clients have different needs. The reality is, after 16 years in EOR and regular platform updates, what is "out of range" for our peers is systematic and scalable for us. We know from experience that time kills momentum, so we’ve developed streamlined processes to ensure red tape doesn’t get in the way of meeting client goals.
The Results: On Time, On Budget, On Brand
The kickoff project was a success! The client has continued to grow workforce size by approximately 35% quarter-over-quarter and has plans to grow to over 400 US employees by 2027.
High employee satisfaction – driven by fast ticket resolution, accurate payroll, and responsive benefits support – helped build client confidence and paved the way for continued hiring and growth.
By offloading HR and compliance to Headcount, the client’s leadership team was able to focus on building buzz and driving sales. With our help, they successfully opened more than 20 storefronts before the end of the calendar year.
20+ storefronts launched before year-end
35% employee growth QOQ for 2025
Long-Term Impact
After the successful launch, the brand was ready for continued growth. With Headcount as their Employer of Record (EOR), they can scale quickly into other U.S. cities without the time or cost of setting up a local entity.
This is a prime example of why more and more companies are turning to contingent workforce management and cross-border EOR solutions to expand into the U.S. and Canada. By using an EOR, high-growth companies can scale fast and stay compliant without the overhead or long-term commitment.
Our team thrives in demanding scenarios with high stakes. Our ability to remove friction and make everything easy for the client creates immediate and lasting impact.
Looking to Expand in the U.S.?
Whether you’re launching a flagship store, scaling a team, or supporting a global partnership, Headcount can help. We act as your Employer of Record (EOR) so you can: