The True Cost of an Employee in the UK 2026
The true cost of an employee in the UK is roughly 35% to 45% more than their salary. See the full cost stack, including NI, pension, recruitment, statutory leave, turnover and overhead.
Read moreSouth African Staffing Insights
Analytics and trends to guide your hiring strategy and workforce planning in South Africa
Permanent Establishment: A 2026 Guide for UK Businesses Hiring Abroad
Permanent establishment is the tax threshold at which a UK business becomes liable for corporation tax in another country. What triggers it, and how different hiring routes position your business.
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Why Legends EOR?
See how our South African Employer of Record service compares with setting up a local entity or using a recruitment agency.
Time to first hire
Time to CVs
Upfront setup cost
Payroll, tax & benefits
Local compliance & labour law
Equipment & onboarding
Ongoing admin burden
Cost vs home market
Legends EOR
Time to first hire2–4 weeks
Time to CVs7 days
Upfront setup costNone
Payroll, tax & benefits✓ Included
Local compliance & labour law✓ Included
Equipment & onboarding✓ Included
Ongoing admin burdenNone – we run it
Cost vs home marketUp to 60% lower
Build your own entity
Time to first hire4–6 months
Time to CVsVaries (2–4+ weeks)
Upfront setup cost£15k–40k
Payroll, tax & benefitsYour job
Local compliance & labour lawYour job
Equipment & onboardingYour job
Ongoing admin burdenHigh
Cost vs home marketLower + overheads
Local recruiter
Time to first hire3–8 weeks
Time to CVsVaries (1–3 weeks)
Upfront setup costPlacement fee
Payroll, tax & benefits✗ Not covered
Local compliance & labour law✗ Not covered
Equipment & onboarding✗ Not covered
Ongoing admin burdenYours after hire
Cost vs home marketMarket rate + fee
You've seen the numbers, heard from our clients, and understand how EOR works. Take the next step and get a free, personalised cost estimate for your team.
60%avg. savings
48hronboarding
300+hires managed