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Written byTarino Editorial Team**· Offshore Staffing Specialists · Published 8 November 2026
Australia has one of the most developed offshore outsourcing markets in the Asia-Pacific region. A dozen or more managed staffing providers operate between Sydney and Manila, all promising to give Australian businesses access to Philippines-based talent without the complexity of hiring overseas. Most of their websites list case studies and service pages but no prices. This page explains the three main models used by outsourcing companies in Australia, shows what each one costs with real numbers, names the main providers and what is publicly known about their fees, and then shows when the alternative, hiring a Philippines-based staff member directly, works out cheaper over time.
In this guide
- The main models used by Australian outsourcing companies
- The main Australian outsourcing companies compared
- When direct hire beats paying a provider indefinitely
- Frequently asked questions
The Main Models Used by Outsourcing Companies Australia
Every outsourcing arrangement in Australia follows one of three structures. Understanding which model an outsourcing company in Australia uses determines who the employer is, who carries the HR risk, and what you actually pay each month. Australian businesses evaluating offshore outsourcing companies should compare all three before committing to a provider.
Managed BPO (seat-based outsourcing)
This is the most common model offered by Australian outsourcing companies. The provider maintains a managed facility in the Philippines, typically in Manila, Cebu, or Clark, and is the legal employer of the offshore workers in that facility. You direct the day-to-day work and pay a monthly seat fee. The provider handles workspace, IT infrastructure, HR, payroll, and statutory compliance in the Philippines.
Seat fees typically run from AUD $3,500 to $7,000 per month per person, depending on role level and provider tier. That fee is all-inclusive: it covers the facility and HR overhead, but the staff member’s salary is embedded inside it, not shown separately. The provider pays the worker, takes a margin, and charges you the balance as a single monthly figure.
This model suits Australian businesses that want to start quickly without building offshore infrastructure. The trade-off is that the provider margin is baked in permanently. After three years, you have paid a substantial ongoing fee that would not exist under a different model. Many outsourcing companies Australia-wide default to this structure because it generates predictable recurring revenue for the provider, not necessarily the most cost-effective outcome for the client.
Employer of Record (EOR) outsourcing
An Employer of Record is a third-party entity that becomes the legal employer of a Philippines-based worker on your behalf. You find the person (or a recruiter finds them for you), and the EOR handles the Philippine employment contract, payroll processing, tax filing, and statutory benefits, SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and 13th month pay.
The cost structure is transparent. You pay the staff member’s salary directly, plus an EOR service fee of roughly AUD $300 to $600 per month per person. Providers in this space include Remote.com, Deel, Atlas HXM, Multiplier, and Safeguard Global. All of them cover the Philippines, though none focus exclusively on the Australian market.
The EOR model works best if you have already found your candidate and simply need employment infrastructure. If you are using a recruiter to find the person and an EOR to hire them, you are combining two services, which is worth comparing against the all-in managed BPO fee. For more on staying compliant when you structure it this way, the compliant way to hire offshore talent without an outsourcing agency covers the key steps.
Direct hire offshore team recruitment
A specialist offshore recruiter finds and screens candidates, then hands the shortlist to you. You choose the person and hire and pay them directly, either through your own Philippine entity or via an EOR. The recruiter charges a one-off placement fee and then steps away. There is no ongoing monthly markup from the recruiter.
Tarino works this way. The placement fee is $250 upfront plus $4,750 on hire (excl. GST), with no ongoing monthly markup. You hire and pay the Philippines-based staff member directly. After placement, the only recurring cost is the staff member’s salary and any EOR fee if you use one. For long-term hires, this is almost always cheaper than a managed seat arrangement after the first six to twelve months. This model is increasingly chosen by cost-conscious Australian businesses outsourcing roles that are expected to be permanent.
The main Australian outsourcing companies compared
None of the major providers publish their pricing publicly. The figures below are reported ranges drawn from market research and client accounts. When comparing outsourcing companies in Australia for your situation, the model matters as much as the monthly number. The providers listed here represent the most commonly encountered names in the Australian outsourcing market, spanning accounting, professional services, customer experience, and general business process outsourcing.
TOA Global
TOA Global is one of the largest managed offshore staffing providers focused on Australian accounting firms. Their facility is in the Philippines, and their talent pool is trained on Australian accounting software. Xero, MYOB, BGL, and Handisoft. They also offer a practice management platform called XBM. Pricing is not publicly listed; reported seat fees sit between $4,000 and $6,500 per month depending on role and engagement size.
For a detailed look at what an offshore accountant actually costs across models, the 2026 direct hire guide for offshore accountants breaks it down by role level.
Hammerjack
Hammerjack operates a Manila-based facility and targets Australian accounting firms, legal practices, and business support functions. Their market positioning is similar to TOA Global, though with broader sector coverage. Reported seat fees are in the $4,000 to $6,000 per month range. If you are considering them, read a comparison of the alternatives. The Hammerjack alternatives for Australian professional services firms page covers the landscape honestly.
Staff Domain
Staff Domain positions itself as a multi-sector managed staffing provider for Australian SMEs as well as larger Australian businesses. They operate across accounting, marketing, IT support, and business administration, and many Australian SMEs outsource functions like digital marketing and customer support while demand for remote administrative support continues to grow among Australian businesses. Reported seat fees typically sit between $3,500 and $5,500 per month. Their model is standard managed BPO: the provider is the employer, you direct the work. Staff Domain is one of the more frequently considered outsourcing companies for Australian small businesses because of their lower entry-level seat pricing and broad role coverage.
Beepo
Beepo focuses on professional services firms and has a presence in the Australian financial services and accounting markets. Reported fees are in a similar range to Staff Domain. They are part of the Probe Group family, which gives them access to larger shared infrastructure.
Probe Group and MicroSourcing
Probe CX is a larger BPO operation with Australian roots and significant Philippines infrastructure, and it is one of Australia’s largest customer experience providers. Customer experience management is one of the key outsourcing services associated with the group’s scale, especially for businesses looking for a dedicated contact centre partner. MicroSourcing, now part of the Probe Group, was one of the earlier Philippines outsourcing companies serving Australian businesses. Both operate managed seat models. MicroSourcing reports seat fees in the $4,000 to $6,000 range; Probe Group’s pricing varies by engagement size and service type.
Acquire BPO
Acquire BPO is an Australian-founded outsourcing company with operations in the Philippines and the United States. They focus on larger engagements and enterprise clients. Their pricing is not publicly listed and is typically negotiated based on volume and scope. Acquire BPO is one of the larger Australian outsourcing companies that serves multinational clients alongside domestic Australian operations.
How to compare outsourcing companies in Australia effectively
When evaluating any outsourcing company in Australia, ask four questions before signing a contract. First, who is the legal employer of the offshore worker? Second, is the salary disclosed separately from the seat fee? Third, what happens to the worker if you exit the contract? Fourth, can you transition the worker to a direct employment arrangement, and at what cost? These questions separate providers whose model benefits the client from those whose model primarily benefits the provider. Australian businesses that ask these questions early tend to choose the right outsourcing structure more often than those who evaluate providers solely on seat fee price.
When direct hire beats paying a provider indefinitely
The managed BPO model makes sense when you need to start quickly, have no offshore HR infrastructure, and are unsure whether the role will be permanent. For the right roles, outsourcing can reduce operational costs by 40% to 65%. It also helps businesses focus on core competencies by taking internal workload off core teams. For a short-term or trial engagement, paying a provider’s all-in seat fee trades speed and simplicity for cost.
The maths shifts once a hire becomes permanent. Take a mid-level role at a managed seat fee of $5,000 per month. Over two years, that is $120,000 in provider fees. Under a direct hire model, the placement fee is a one-off $5,000. The staff member’s salary, paid directly by you, might sit at $1,500 to $2,000 per month for a Philippines-based accountant or administrator, plus an EOR fee of around $400 per month. Total monthly cost: roughly $1,900 to $2,400. Over two years, that is approximately $45,600 to $57,600, compared to $120,000 on a managed seat. The gap is real and it compounds with every additional hire. Lower internal workload can also improve operational efficiency, and the cost savings become more meaningful as teams scale.
Direct hire also gives you the employment relationship. The person works for you, not for a provider that could change its terms, increase its fees, or move the worker to another client. For roles that touch client data, financial records, or sensitive business information, that direct relationship is worth something beyond the cost saving. The Australian data privacy compliance checklist for businesses hiring offshore is a useful reference before you make that call.
Outsourcing companies Australia-wide serve a legitimate purpose for Australian businesses that need speed, simplicity, or short-term flexibility. The question is whether that purpose fits your situation at the price being charged, or whether you can reach the same outcome more cheaply by hiring directly. For businesses scaling beyond one or two offshore roles, the cumulative cost difference between managed BPO and direct hire often justifies a structural reassessment. Offshore staffing can also extend customer service coverage across time zones, which is a genuine operational benefit regardless of the engagement model chosen.
Frequently asked questions
What do outsourcing companies in Australia typically charge per month?
Managed BPO providers typically charge between AUD $3,500 and $7,000 per month per person, depending on role level and provider. Depending on role type and setup, BPO can reduce operational costs by 40% to 65%. That fee covers the facility, HR, IT infrastructure, and the provider’s margin, with the staff member’s salary embedded inside it. Many BPO companies also bundle back office work such as data entry alongside customer support.
Is the staff member’s salary included in the BPO seat fee?
Yes. In a managed BPO arrangement, the provider pays the staff member and charges you a single all-inclusive seat fee. The salary is embedded in that fee and is not shown separately.
What is an Employer of Record and how much does it cost?
An Employer of Record is a third-party entity that becomes the legal employer of your offshore worker in the Philippines on your behalf. Dedicated payroll arrangements can also scale to organisations with up to 25,000 employees. Businesses that outsource payroll typically see pricing vary based on workforce size, complexity, and support level, with services built to maintain accuracy and compliance every pay cycle. The cost is the staff member’s salary plus an EOR service fee, typically AUD $300 to $600 per month per person. Compliant providers may store payroll data in Australian based data centres.
When does direct hire offshore recruitment work out cheaper than a managed seat?
For permanent or long-term roles, direct hire is almost always cheaper after the first six to twelve months. A one-off placement fee replaces the ongoing provider margin, so the monthly cost drops to the staff member’s salary plus any EOR fee, a significant saving compared to a managed seat fee paid indefinitely.
Who is the employer in a managed BPO arrangement?
The BPO provider is the employer of the offshore workers in its facility. You direct the day-to-day work but do not hold the employment relationship.
Do any of the major Australian outsourcing companies publish their pricing?
None of the major managed BPO providers, including TOA Global, Hammerjack, Staff Domain, Beepo, MicroSourcing, Probe Group, Acquire BPO, or startek australia, publicly list their seat fees. Startek Australia has been operating since 1987. The figures in this article are reported market estimates and should be used as a planning guide rather than a quote.
What services do outsourcing companies in Australia typically offer?
Most Australian outsourcing companies offer a combination of back office support, accounting and finance functions, customer service and contact centre operations, IT support, digital marketing, and business administration. The specific services available depend on the provider’s sector focus. Accounting-specialist providers like TOA Global and Hammerjack concentrate on roles such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, and practice management support. Broader managed staffing providers like Staff Domain and Acquire BPO cover a wider range of functions across multiple industries.
What should Australian businesses consider before choosing an outsourcing company?
Australian businesses should consider role permanence, budget, data privacy requirements, and their tolerance for provider dependency. For short-term or exploratory hires, a managed BPO from one of the established outsourcing companies in Australia offers speed and simplicity. For permanent roles where cost efficiency matters over time, a direct hire model with an EOR delivers better value. Businesses with sensitive client data should also review offshore data handling practices before selecting any provider.
The Tarino teamTarino publishes what it learns from the work itself.
This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your situation with a qualified adviser.