How to Set Up Your First Offshore Team in India

🚀 Thinking of Going Offshore?

You’re not alone. Whether you're a growing startup, a mid-market firm, or an enterprise looking to scale cost-effectively, setting up an offshore team in India is one of the smartest moves in 2025.

But it can feel overwhelming:

Where do we begin? Do we hire directly? What about payroll, compliance, culture?

This guide walks you through a step-by-step approach — so you can build your India-based team with confidence, even if you’re starting with just 5 full-time employees (FTEs).

🧭 Step 1: Define the “Why” and “What”

Before anything else, get internal clarity on:

Why you're setting up offshore (cost savings? delivery bandwidth? 24/7 ops?)
What roles and functions you want to move
What success looks like — in 3, 6, and 12 months

📌 Common first-move functions:

Tech & product development
Research & analytics
Customer support
Data entry or transcription
Finance & back-office operations

📍 Step 2: Choose the Right Location

India has many talent-rich cities. For first-time setups, we recommend:

Hyderabad: Balanced cost, top talent, modern infra
Tier-2 cities: Great for cost savings and niche skills
Metro cities: Faster hiring for senior or niche roles

🎯 Tip: If you’re not ready to set up a full office, start with co-working or managed office spaces.

👥 Step 3: Decide Between GCC vs EOR

GCC (Global Capability Center): Build your own offshore team; full control, scalable
EOR (Employer of Record): A third-party legal employer hires and manages on your behalf

Startups and mid-size firms often: ✅ Begin with EOR or GCC Lite (5–10 FTEs)✅ Migrate to full GCC as confidence grows

📝 Step 4: Plan the Hiring & Onboarding

Create basic job descriptions for each role
Decide on fresher vs experienced mix
Use trusted partners or recruiters
Define onboarding documents, training flow, and tech setup

🧠 Don’t overthink: Start small and optimize over time.

⚙️ Step 5: Handle Infrastructure & Compliance

This includes:

Laptops and work tools
Email, communication, productivity software
Contracts, payroll setup, statutory deductions
Labor law compliance (PF, ESIC, taxes, etc.)

If using EOR or a setup partner — most of this is taken care of for you.

📊 Step 6: Define SOPs & Governance

Even a 5-member team needs:

Clear reporting structure
Task tracking tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Notion)
Weekly check-ins or standups
Performance review frequency

🎯 Your offshore team should feel like an extension — not a satellite.

📈 Step 7: Measure & Scale

Track:

Quality and timeliness of delivery
Attrition and engagement
Cost vs impact
Communication and team alignment

Once the model works with 5–10 FTEs, you can grow to 25 or 50 with a solid foundation.

🧠 How Global Cap Center Supports You

We help global companies:

Start lean with 5 FTEs in 45 days
Choose the right location and hiring model
Set up office infra, contracts, and payroll
Guide governance, onboarding, and team culture
Transition from EOR to GCC smoothly when needed

🚀 Ready to Launch Your First Team in India?

Let’s take the guesswork out of offshore expansion — and build a team that delivers from day one.

📩 Email: support@globalcapcenter.com📞 Call: +91-891-9999-748

Start small. Scale smart. We'll show you how.

How to Set Up Your First Offshore Team in India — Step by Step