27.06.2025 Uncategorized

Over the past decade, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) — especially Poland — has become a hotspot for international companies seeking high-quality, cost-effective remote talent. With a strong pool of developers, designers, marketers, and project managers, many businesses turn to platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal to find Polish freelancers.

But while these platforms offer convenience and global reach, they also come with limitations — high fees, less control, and legal grey zones when it comes to long-term cooperation. As your collaboration with a freelancer deepens, you may begin to wonder:
Is it time to hire directly? Can I do it legally without setting up a company in Poland?

In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of hiring through platforms versus hiring directly in Poland. We’ll also discuss legal solutions, like Employer of Record (EOR) services — including Bizky, a local Polish provider — that can help you make the transition smoothly and compliantly.

Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, Deel and Bizky Compared

As remote work becomes the default for modern companies, more and more businesses are embracing global hiring to access the best talent — regardless of location. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal have made it easy to work with freelancers from countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, or Romania. But while these marketplaces are excellent for short-term or project-based work, they fall short when companies need long-term commitment, legal compliance, and employee-level integration.

• Upwork is often used to find remote professionals for ongoing freelance tasks. It’s quick to start, but lacks the legal structure required for full employment or compliance with local labor laws — a growing concern when hiring in regulated markets like Poland.
• Fiverr focuses on task-based gig work and is ideal for design or content projects, but it offers very limited flexibility for building long-term global teams.
• Toptal provides access to high-end, pre-vetted talent (especially developers and finance experts), but its enterprise pricing can be restrictive for growing teams or startups expanding into Eastern Europe.

If your goal is to hire global talent legally and retain them as full-time employees, platforms like Deel, Remote.com, and Bizky offer Employer of Record (EOR) and global payroll solutions that solve the compliance puzzle. These services allow you to hire employees in Poland or across CEE without setting up a legal entity — handling local taxes, contracts, benefits, and payroll on your behalf.

In particular, Bizky specializes in the Polish market, giving companies a localized EOR alternative to global players. This makes it easier for businesses to convert freelancers to employees, onboard remote team members, and ensure legal security — especially when scaling operations across borders.

As companies grow beyond the limitations of freelance platforms, the shift toward global hiring through EOR providers is not just a trend — it’s a strategic move toward building stable, compliant, and globally distributed teams.

Hiring Legally in Poland: What Global Employers Need to Know

Hiring talent in Poland — whether it’s a developer found on Upwork or a marketing specialist previously working as a freelancer — comes with specific legal and tax implications. Many international companies underestimate the complexity of converting freelance contracts into long-term employment or engaging remote workers in a way that’s fully compliant with Polish labor law.

Poland has strict regulations governing employment classification, taxation, and social security. Misclassifying an individual as a contractor when they function like a full-time employee can lead to audits, penalties, and even retroactive tax liabilities. This becomes especially risky when the working relationship evolves from a casual freelance project into a structured, ongoing role with defined hours, reporting lines, and responsibilities.

Additionally, companies must navigate:

• Contract types (B2B, employment contract, or civil law contracts like umowa o dzieło),
• Income tax obligations,
• Social security and health contributions (ZUS),
• Employer registration requirements.

For foreign companies without a legal entity in Poland, handling these obligations directly can be overwhelming — or outright impossible. That’s where Employer of Record (EOR) solutions become essential. Providers like Bizky, Deel, or Remote.com act as the legal employer on your behalf, ensuring full compliance with Polish law while allowing you to focus on managing your global team.

What sets Bizky apart is its flexible contract structure, tailored to the Polish legal system. Unlike most international EOR platforms, Bizky gives you the option to engage talent not only through standard employment contracts, but also via umowa o dzieło — a civil law agreement with minimal tax burden. With umowa o dzieło, the total income tax can be as low as 6%, depending on the nature of the work. This model is fully legal and can be highly cost-effective for project-based or creative roles.

In short, if you’re planning to scale your team in Poland — or convert a freelancer from Fiverr, Upwork, or Toptal into a full-time contributor — working with a local EOR like Bizky isn’t just a compliance shortcut. It’s a strategic advantage, offering both legal certainty and fiscal efficiency as you build your global workforce.

Is Deel legal in Poland?

Yes, Deel is legal to use in Poland; however, it does not operate through a local Polish legal entity. Instead, it typically partners with intermediary structures or third-party providers to deliver its services. While this model allows companies to hire in Poland, it can limit contract flexibility and pose challenges when it comes to fully complying with Polish labor law — especially for contract types like umowa zlecenie or umowa o dzieło, which require local legal and tax expertise.

What Is an Employer of Record (EOR) — and Why You Might Need One in Poland

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party organization that acts as the official employer of your worker in a given country — while you retain full control over their day-to-day responsibilities. The EOR handles all legal, administrative, and tax-related obligations on your behalf, allowing you to hire employees internationally without opening a local entity.

This model is especially powerful for companies looking to:

• Scale global teams quickly,
• Hire remote workers compliantly in countries like Poland,
• Convert freelancers into formal employees,
• Avoid risks related to employee misclassification,
• Reduce the overhead and complexity of international payroll and HR compliance.

When hiring in Poland, the EOR becomes invaluable due to the complexity of local labor law. From registering with the Polish tax office to handling ZUS (social security), contracts, paid time off, and health insurance — the EOR takes care of it all.

Most global EOR providers offer standard employment contracts, but Bizky stands out by also supporting umowa o dzieło — a flexible civil law contract that allows for only 6% income tax when applicable. This gives companies a cost-efficient alternative for hiring creatives, developers, and specialists for project-based work — fully legally, and without overhead.

In short, an EOR like Bizky allows you to:

• Hire Polish talent legally, without a local company,
• Convert Upwork or Fiverr freelancers into compliant employees,
• Offer local benefits and contracts,
• And do all of this within days, not months.

Whether you’re hiring your first remote employee in Poland or building an entire distributed team across CEE, working with an EOR gives you legal peace of mind, speed, and scalability — without the red tape.

Deel vs Remote vs Local EORs in Poland: What’s the Best Option?

As the demand for global hiring solutions grows, platforms like Deel and Remote.com have become household names for startups and scale-ups. These global EOR providers promise fast onboarding, standardized processes, and coverage in over 100 countries — including Poland. But are they always the best choice?

If you’re specifically hiring in Poland, there are important local nuances to consider — and this is where local EOR providers like Bizky offer a real advantage.

Here’s how they compare:

Is Deel legal in Poland?

While Deel and Remote are legal to use in Poland, they do not have local legal entities, and often rely on third-party infrastructure, limiting flexibility and increasing the risk of compliance issues — especially when dealing with umowa zlecenie, umowa o dzieło, or other local contract forms.

In contrast, Bizky is a registered EOR in Poland with deep understanding of Polish labor law. It enables clients to:

• Hire through umowa o pracę, umowa zlecenie, or umowa o dzieło depending on role and scope,
• Avoid hidden FX fees and commissions,
• Stay 100% compliant with Polish regulations.

So if you’re looking for the cheapest EOR in Poland that still offers local legal protection, flexible contracts, and fast onboarding — Bizky is a smart alternative to Deel and Remote.com.

How to Hire in Poland Without Upwork or Fiverr: Direct Sourcing Alternatives

Freelance marketplaces are just one of many ways to find talent in Poland. In fact, many companies building long-term teams prefer to avoid platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, especially when looking for more direct relationships, better pricing, or full control over contracts and communication.

So how can you hire Polish freelancers or employees without using Upwork?

• Local job boards and portals, like JustJoin.it or NoFluffJobs, are popular for hiring developers and IT specialists in Poland.
• LinkedIn sourcing is highly effective in CEE and gives you access to top talent without intermediaries.
• Recruitment agencies or embedded recruiters in Poland can help you build local teams fast, without handling legal and payroll processes — which is where partnering with an EOR like Bizky becomes a powerful combination.
• Referrals and communities (e.g. Slack groups, Facebook tech communities) offer high-trust leads for niche roles.

By hiring directly and using a local EOR, you can bypass platform commissions, reduce costs, and build longer-term working relationships with full legal support — without needing to open a company in Poland.

Legal Protection and IP Ownership When Hiring in Poland

One often-overlooked issue when hiring remote workers — especially via freelance platforms — is intellectual property (IP) ownership and legal protection. Many platforms use generic global contracts, which may not clearly assign IP rights or be enforceable under Polish law.

When you hire using an Employer of Record like Bizky, all contracts are created in line with local legal standards, in Polish and English, and can include specific clauses for:

• Full and exclusive IP transfer to the hiring company,
• Non-disclosure and confidentiality,
• Non-compete and non-solicitation (when applicable),
• GDPR compliance for handling EU personal data.

This ensures that your business not only stays compliant, but also fully protected in case of disputes, audits, or product launches. Especially for tech companies, owning the code, designs, or content outright — without legal grey areas — is critical for future funding, acquisitions, or scaling.

By working with a Polish EOR, you eliminate the legal ambiguity of freelance platforms and gain contracts that fully protect your business interests from day one.

Hiring in Poland Without Upwork or Fiverr – Legal and Scalable Alternatives

Upwork Alternatives for Hiring in Poland

If you’re searching for Upwork alternatives for hiring in Poland, there are several practical options:

• Posting jobs on local portals like JustJoin.it, NoFluffJobs, or Pracuj.pl,
• Using LinkedIn and sourcing candidates directly,
• Working with local recruitment agencies,
• Engaging a Polish Employer of Record (EOR) to onboard and legally employ candidates on your behalf.

These methods give you more flexibility, better control over contracts, and full legal compliance — without paying platform fees or commission.

Fiverr vs Direct Hiring in Poland: Which Is Right for You?

When comparing Fiverr vs direct hiring in Poland, the key differences lie in commitment and control:

• Fiverr works well for quick, one-time tasks, but long-term cooperation is limited.
• Direct hiring — whether via your own entity or through an EOR — offers better legal structure, ownership of results, and stronger integration into your team.

For companies looking to retain skilled talent in Poland, direct engagement is typically more sustainable.

Toptal vs Hiring Directly in CEE

If you’re considering Toptal vs hiring directly in CEE, think about your hiring scope and flexibility:

• Toptal offers curated freelance talent at a premium, useful for short-term or critical projects.
• Hiring directly in Central and Eastern Europe, whether via local contracts or with support from an EOR, gives you more control over terms, cost, and team consistency.

This can be especially relevant for roles like software development, product, and finance.

How to Hire Polish Freelancers Without Upwork

To hire Polish freelancers without Upwork, companies often turn to:

• LinkedIn and tech communities,
• Local freelancer platforms like Useme or Oferia,
• Referrals and direct outreach,
• Contracting through a local payroll or EOR partner to manage payments and compliance.

This approach avoids high commission fees and allows for more tailored engagement and contract structure.

How to Pay Fiverr/Upwork Freelancers Legally in Poland

To pay Fiverr or Upwork freelancers legally in Poland, you need to ensure tax and contract compliance. This may include:

• Confirming that the freelancer is self-employed and can issue legal invoices,
• Keeping proper documentation for cross-border services,
• Considering a transition to a formal agreement via direct contracting or through an EOR if cooperation becomes long-term.

This helps reduce the risk of misclassification and ensures proper tax treatment under Polish regulations.

How to Convert an Upwork Freelancer to an Employee in Poland

If you’re wondering how to convert an Upwork freelancer to an employee in Poland, the process involves:

1. Ending the platform-based engagement,
2. Drafting a local employment or civil law contract,
3. Registering the individual properly for social security and tax purposes,
4. Using an EOR if you don’t have a Polish entity — they act as the legal employer on your behalf.

This ensures a smooth transition into compliant employment status under local labor law. Upwork to Employee Conversion Legal in Poland?

Yes — Upwork to employee conversion is legal in Poland, provided it’s done within the framework of Polish labor and tax law. This means using appropriate contracts (umowa o pracę, umowa zlecenie, etc.), registering contributions, and following standard HR procedures.

Companies without a local presence can work with a Polish EOR to handle this process without setting up a legal entity.

📌 Summary Tip:
Freelance platforms are great for getting started, but if you’re planning to scale or retain talent in Poland, consider moving toward direct hiring models or using local legal partners who can provide employment compliance, payroll, and contract flexibility.

Ready to Hire in Poland? Choose the Smarter Way to Grow Your Global Team

As global hiring becomes the norm, companies need solutions that are not only scalable — but also legally sound and financially efficient. If you’re hiring in Poland, it’s not enough to rely on one-size-fits-all platforms or take shortcuts with informal contracts. Local compliance, taxation, and labor law all matter — and getting them wrong can cost you time, money, and reputation.

With the right partner, you can hire Polish talent legally, pay fairly, and grow confidently — all without setting up a company or navigating bureaucracy on your own.

Bizky offers a smarter path forward:
✅ Local contracts tailored to Polish law
✅ Flexible options including umowa o dzieło (6% tax) and umowa zlecenie
✅ Full payroll and HR compliance
✅ Transparent pricing — no hidden fees or FX markups

Whether you’re transitioning a freelancer from Upwork or building a new remote team in CEE, Bizky helps you do it faster, cheaper, and 100% legally.

👉 Start hiring in Poland with confidence — contact Bizky today.

Sources

• Polish Labor Code – ISAP (Official Legal Portal of Poland)
• Polish Ministry of Finance – Tax information on civil law contracts
• Remote.com – What is an Employer of Record?
• Deel – Global Hiring Report
• ZUS – Social Insurance Institution of Poland
• Upwork – Freelance Marketplace Platform
• Fiverr – Gig-based Freelancer Platform
• Toptal – Network of Top Freelance Talent
• Wise – FX Transparency Report on Hidden International Transfer Fees