If you're a freelance or equivalent, you should apply anyways to those Remote (US) positions, YMMV, but since you can be treated as an external provider, they don't care about where you reside as long as it makes sense with timezones and such for meetings etc...
That's my experience at least, have worked for some US companies remotely from europe that way anyways
Yeah, I got this advice before and it makes sense. Even if I was looking for more of a "full-time-like" position that would happen to hire through a 1099 contract (not exactly sure if it's that form exactly for foreign contractors).
I ended up finding a job exactly like that on a small startup, so I am happy. But next time I am in the market, I will for sure apply to those "Remote(US)" jobs. Even though, in Substack case, the internal recruiter that told me that I couldn't apply.
That works if they are willing to treat you as a contractor (external provider as you say), but if they're hiring remote employees it won't fly. The company generally has to have a presence in the jurisdiction where the employee lives, and that adds overhead.
That is my experience also. As a freelance dev, I am hired as a foreign contractor.
Being hired as a foreign contractor makes tax and regulations issues easier. If you are growing rapidly, You can open an LLC in America then operate as a US contractor. You can work with larger and established companies that way. It would be easier if you have a business partner in America.
Hiring contractor has its pros and cons for both parties but usuaully it is quite different than hiring an employee.
I was always curious about this: Is there any reason why you need LLC in America to work with larger and established companies? Is there any law or limitation why they wouldn't like to work with e.g. European Self-Employed or LTD companies? Many of recruiters I talked to and they offered perm roles they won't consider changing to contractors.
Always thought that generally contractors are a better deal for companies (less tax burden, no paid holidays, easier to hire/fire, etc). Unless maybe when people here word 'contractor' they assume they will have to pay 2x more and that's why they prefer perm-employees? Or is there are any law in US that make it harder for companies to work this way?
I think the main problem is depending in your jurisdiction, if all your employees are contractors, and they are long time, which is actually masquerading-as-contractors, you can get in trouble, in Germany for example I think it's two years max.
Take my response with a grain of salt. I have been working as an offshore freelance dev but I am not registered as a local LLC or a US LLC. I might pick either US or Canadian LLC if I get paid really well for a permanent contract. But until then I hope to work with individuals, startups and small businesses.
One word answer (Pick One): Legitimacy/Accountability/Trust.
> Is there any reason why you need LLC in America to work with larger and established companies?
Companies need people they can hold accountable for the work they do. If you are an American LLC it means that you are a legitimate business that they can interact through proper legal channels and you are legally liable and held accountable under the contract. They are not going to take you to international court for breach of contract but if you are an American business you are fair game.
Also this allows you to sue client in failure of payment or breach of contracts. You have easy access to proper contract engagement services like escrow, small claims court etc.
With larger business you have higher degrees of authority as you come as a business based in America. It makes taxation and legal fillings easier for them. Money laundering acts, audit, tax fraud, wire fraud etc. have extremely strict laws and have serious consequences for a larger business. I have worked with people who are subjected to FinRa (wallstreet people). I had to file proper paperwork or there is a risk of them getting audited.
> Is there any law or limitation why they wouldn't like to work with e.g. European Self-Employed or LTD companies?
It is very grey. You have to file paperwork and send documentation that you are a legit tax paying business in your local country. You have audits and internal control team in large organization that cross checks every transaction made to individuals outside the company. You have to back it up with proper paperwork. Kind of a hassle for larger companies but if a startup, small business or an individual is hiring you that is no problem.
> Unless maybe when people here word 'contractor' they assume they will have to pay 2x more and that's why they prefer perm-employees? Or is there are any law in US that make it harder for companies to work this way?
There are some hassle but it mostly comes down how bad they want you. For individuals, startups and small business the pros far outweigh the cons. I am affordable, I am culturally on point, I am a decent dev. I submit invoice, I get paid. That's it.
But for larger companies there are some legal hassle. But if they really want you, they will find a way. They can hire you as an employee, or ask you send over paperwork as a business. The recruiter can and will make arrangements to hire you. But often times they could hire locally and not risk getting asked questions about you.
I've wondered about that when I've seen it described as 'US timezones' or similar, which on the face of it seems to just mean the Americas (modulo I have no idea if maybe Canada or somewhere South has an extra one not used in the USA) - but maybe it suggests they're pretty open to anyone anywhere who convincingly says they'll work Pacific (or whatever) hours. Good to hear it's worked out for you.
Leading a team spanning more than 8 timezones is hard - but what it usually means is they don't know how to manage (read: trust) and have no leadership experience with remote teams. The factory/assembly line of managing teams is still common - they don't really understand how to asynchronously build software itself. Many employers in the US are particularly keen on NOT hiring in the EU because of the significant difference in both contract and employment laws in the two regions, whereas in Asia is cheap enough and there are plenty of contracting or outsourcing firms to help manage that requirement.
I've never been on a team where having people spread the globe worked well. In fact, just this morning I got off a 7 am (PDT) call with people at 7:30 pm (IST), and as always I was thinking "this sucks for all of us". I don't believe there's a clever hack that can optimize around the circumference of the planet.
the one caveat I've found is that if you _can_ get it running you get a two or three stroke engine instead of a single one. its absolutely fantastic to wake up and find out that not only was the problem solved but we solved another one and we're on the next.
that memory is pretty tarnished by all the other times I couldn't even get very much done because the night team is asleep and its completely unclear where we are - not only did they not make any progress but they actually left things in a bit of a mess.
Wait, so how do you propose this in a way that they will take it? Simply mention that you're a freelancer and then they know it's fine, or how do you introduce this in a handy way?
That's my experience at least, have worked for some US companies remotely from europe that way anyways