Key rules and credentials in United States
- Accountants: CPAs are licensed by state boards of accountancy. Enrolled Agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS.
- Payroll: federal, state and sometimes local withholding and filings. Many small firms use a payroll provider or a PEO.
- Employment: mostly at-will, but state and city rules on leave, pay and pay transparency vary widely.
- Lawyers: licensed by state bars. Check the state bar directory.
- Company formation: at state level with the Secretary of State. Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Sales tax: set by states and localities, not federally.
Services you can hire from anywhere
Design, development, marketing, translation, consulting and virtual assistance are often delivered remotely, so you can widen your search beyond your own country. Tax filings, payroll and legal advice usually need someone who knows the local rules.
- Accounting: Tax, year-end accounts, VAT and sales tax, management accounts and advice.
- Payroll: Payslips, payroll tax filings, pensions and benefits, and multi-country payroll.
- HR: Contracts, handbooks, employee relations, hiring, performance and HR software.
- Consulting: Strategy, operations, process improvement, change and fractional leadership.
- Web design: Business websites, ecommerce, redesigns, landing pages and web apps.
- Marketing: SEO, Google Ads and PPC, social media, content and email marketing.
- Branding: Logos, brand identity, naming, packaging and marketing design.
- Legal: Contracts, company law, employment, IP, data protection and cross-border deals.
- IT & cyber: Managed IT, cloud and Microsoft 365, backups, security reviews and certification.
- Virtual assistants: Admin, inbox and calendar, customer support, research and data entry.
- Translation: Website and software localisation, marketing, legal and certified translation.
- Recruitment: Permanent, contract and executive hiring, plus recruitment process outsourcing.
- Company formation: Company registration, registered agents, tax IDs, banking and market entry.
- Bookkeeping: Daily records, reconciliations, invoices and bills, and tax-ready books.
- Tax advisers: Corporate tax, VAT and sales tax, international tax and transfer pricing.
- Software development: Web and mobile apps, integrations, custom systems and dedicated dev teams.
- AI & automation: Workflow automation, AI assistants, chatbots, document processing and data.
- Copywriting: Website and product copy, ads, emails, case studies and SEO content.
- Video & photo: Brand films, product and social video, animation and commercial photography.
- PR: Media relations, launches, thought leadership and crisis communications.
- Ecommerce: Shopify and online stores, Amazon and marketplaces, ads and cross-border selling.
- Customer support: Phone, email, chat and social support, 24/7 and multilingual.
- Logistics: 3PL fulfilment, freight forwarding, customs brokerage and returns.
- Funding: Grants, business loans, investor readiness, pitch decks and financial models.
- Sustainability: Carbon footprints, net-zero plans, ESG reporting and certifications.
- Health & safety: Risk assessments, policies, training, audits and ISO 45001.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
