Outstaffing or a direct contract - how much do you really earn
16 October 2026
When you are offered work "for a foreign client", it is worth understanding who pays whom. It decides how much of the money paid for your work actually reaches you.
How the main models work
| Model | Who pays | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Direct hire | The company pays you | The full amount for your work |
| Direct contract (contractor / B2B) | The company pays your invoices | The full amount; taxes and paperwork are yours |
| Outstaffing | The client pays an agency, the agency pays you | Only your rate, not the client's |
| Contingency recruiting | The company pays the recruiter once | Free for you; the contract is with the company |
Outstaffing is not bad in itself: the agency finds clients and takes on contracts, payments and risks. The problem starts when the gap between the client's rate and yours is hidden and out of proportion.
A made-up example
Imagine a client pays an agency $5,000 a month for a developer, and the developer gets $1,700. The difference covers taxes, an office, sales — and the agency's profit. A fair agency can explain what it consists of. If there is no explanation and the gap is most of the amount, you effectively give the middleman more than you keep.
The numbers here are illustrative; every case is different. But the question is always worth asking.
What to ask before you agree
- How much does the client pay for my work, and what share do I get?
- What does the agency do for that difference: find clients, handle paperwork, pay me when the client pays late?
- Can I work with the client directly after the contract ends? (Contracts often forbid this for a while — read yours carefully.)
How to work directly
- A strong resume and profiles. A resume in English, a LinkedIn profile and, in tech, GitHub or a portfolio.
- Search where companies hire themselves. Company career pages, remote job boards, international job sites. We collected them for every country on the job sites page.
- Paperwork. Working as a contractor needs a contract, invoices and a way to get paid. Taxes, currency rules and contracts depend on your country and situation — talk to an accountant before you sign.
- Negotiation. Learn the market rates for your role and the client's country before the interview, not after.
The bottom line
A middleman makes sense when it does real work for you at a clear price. If you do not know what is paid for you, find out first. With a good resume and the right sites, you may find the same job directly.