Vistra has struck a strategic partnership with San Francisco-based G-P to reduce disruption for mid-sized companies as they move from employer of record (EOR) hiring to setting up full legal entities in overseas markets.
Many firms use an EOR as an early step when testing demand in a new country. Under this model, a third party employs staff locally while the company operates without its own local entity. Problems can arise when businesses decide to scale. They may need a local entity for tax, payroll, banking, or commercial reasons, often triggering a provider change and new procurement cycles.
Under the partnership, customers can start with G-P's EOR and contractor offering, then shift to entity formation and ongoing management through Vistra. The companies are positioning the joint approach as a single pathway designed to avoid re-onboarding staff and switching vendors.
Single contract
The arrangement uses a single-contract model and a dedicated point of contact. Vistra and G-P said this structure shortens procurement and contracting timelines compared with managing separate providers across different stages of expansion.
The joint offer links G-P's global employment platform with Vistra's services for entity set-up, payroll, and compliance. G-P describes its platform as AI-powered. Vistra's scope includes legal entity management, regulatory compliance, tax and accounting, and global payroll and HR services.
Vistra Executive Vice President Curtis Holmes said the partnership is intended to support different expansion patterns among clients and provide continuity from initial hires to established operations.
"Each company's expansion journey is unique," said Curtis Holmes, Executive Vice President, Vistra. "Partnering with G-P allows us to support clients from their first overseas hire through to fully established operations. Vistra's expertise in global payroll, local entity setup, tax compliance, and operational management, combined with G-P's innovative AI-powered global employment solutions, helps organizations move faster, operate compliantly, and capitalize on global opportunities, through a unified customer experience. The single contract approach shortens procurement and contractual lifecycles, and clients can easily transition from early-stage contractors to compliant legal entities without the disruption of changing providers or re-onboarding talent."
Mobility data
The companies cited findings from Vistra's Payroll Report 2026, based on responses from 251 payroll leaders in the UK and US. The report found that, on average, 32% of workforces are paid across borders, rising to 41% for large firms. It also found that 69% of firms plan to expand cross-border hiring in the next 12 months.
In the US, the data suggests faster movement. In the survey, 38% of US payroll leaders said employee mobility has the biggest impact on payroll processes. The report also found that 76% of US firms expect to expand cross-border hiring in the next 12 months.
Vistra and G-P framed the partnership as a response to these patterns, saying companies are building global teams earlier in their growth cycle and want to keep operational arrangements stable as their footprint changes.
G-P said a common concern among customers is committing to permanent structures too early in the market-entry process. Lori McNally, Senior Vice President, Partners at G-P, said the combined offer provides flexibility between early-stage hiring and longer-term operations.
"Many companies want to expand internationally without committing to permanent structures too early," said Lori McNally, Senior Vice President, Partners, G-P. "Together with Vistra, we're helping turn that ambition into action. This partnership gives organisations a clear, low-friction way to hire, onboard and manage talent quickly and compliantly today, with the flexibility to scale into long-term operations when the time is right."
Operational scope
The partnership focuses on transferring employee data, payroll processes, and compliance responsibilities when a client moves from an EOR model to a local-entity structure. Vistra and G-P said the transition sits under a single contract, reducing the need for multiple vendor negotiations.
Vistra has more than 9,000 professionals across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, and operates in more than 50 markets. G-P said it supports teams in more than 180 countries and has more than a decade of experience in global employment services.
The integrated solution is available immediately to enterprises and companies worldwide, according to the companies.