Foothold America
Foothold America is a US-headquartered professional services firm that helps UK and European companies expand into the US market via Employer of Record, PEO+, entity setup, payroll, and HR compliance services, supported by a network of channel and government partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersWaltham, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Foothold America does
Foothold America is a US-headquartered professional services firm (legally Foothold America Limited, UK-registered) founded in 2015 that helps UK and European companies expand into and operate within the United States. Its core offerings span a staged service continuum: Employer of Record (EOR) for entity-free market entry, PEO+ Cross-Border Support for clients with an existing US entity, and People Partnership Service (PPS) for full entity scale, complemented by US Entity Setup (with an online self-service variant), US Bank Setup, Virtual Office, Bookkeeping, Exclusive Talent Acquisition, and Cultural Intelligence Advisory. The company positions itself as the extended US HR department for international clients, handling payroll, multi-state compliance, benefits administration, and immigration coordination across all 50 US states.
Underlying technology is professional-services-led rather than platform-led: the company relies on third-party infrastructure including TriNet for HR/payroll, HubSpot for CRM, and WordPress for its web presence, with no proprietary AI/ML or platform product disclosed. The business model is predominantly subscription/recurring — EOR, PEO+, PPS, and Virtual Office fees are billed monthly — supplemented by one-time professional services fees for entity setup, banking, recruitment, and cultural advisory work. Pricing is custom and quote-based, with a bundled "US Expansion Starter Pack" offered at over $3,000 in savings through June 30. Customer concentration is spread across "hundreds" of businesses in verticals including financial services, life sciences, biotech, recruitment, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing, sourced through a hybrid sales-led and channel-partner motion that leverages referral alliances with Enterprise Nation, Tech Nation, FSB, SelectUSA, and several UK/European VCs.
Foothold America firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foothold America
- Legal name
- Foothold America Limited
- Website
- https://footholdamerica.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Foothold America is a US-headquartered professional services firm that helps UK and European companies expand into the US market via Employer of Record, PEO+, entity setup, payroll, and HR compliance services, supported by a network of channel and government partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foothold America industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Business Expansion Services
- NAICS
- Professional Employer Organizations (56133), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Payroll Services (541214)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Management (BPACAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Professional Employer Organization (PEO) / Co-Employment Services (BPACAHAB), Employer of Record (EOR) & Global Payroll (FSAMAKAB), Global/Multi-Country Payroll & Cross-Border Payments (BPACAIAD), Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD), Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Coordination (EOR/PEO Interface) (BPAAAHAE), Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL)
Keywords
Where Foothold America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waltham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Foothold America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Employer of Record (EOR) Services: The primary revenue stream is providing Employer of Record services where Foothold America becomes the legal employer of record for international companies' US employees. This generates recurring service fees based on the number of employees onboarded and managed. The EOR service handles payroll, taxes, benefits, and HR compliance on behalf of clients.
- PEO+ Cross-Border Support Services: Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services for companies with existing US entities, offering co-employment arrangements where Foothold America handles payroll processing and HR administration while the client remains the Common Law Employer. Generates recurring fees based on employee count and service scope.
- People Partnership Service (PPS): Comprehensive HR partnership service for companies establishing and managing their own US entities, providing extended HR team support, compliance management, and operational assistance. Recurring service fees for ongoing support and management.
- US Entity Setup: One-time or project-based fees for establishing US business entities, including Delaware incorporation, EIN acquisition, and initial registration services. May also include setup of corporate structures and compliance documentation.
- Virtual Office Services: Monthly subscription fees for virtual office services including physical address, phone number, and mail handling. Provides a professional US presence without requiring physical office space.
- Exclusive Talent Acquisition (ETA): Recruitment and talent acquisition services to help clients find and hire US employees. May be structured as project fees or retained search arrangements.
- Cultural Intelligence Advisory: Consulting services to help international companies navigate US workplace culture and adapt management practices for the American market.
- Bookkeeping Services: US financial management and bookkeeping services for clients' US operations, including payroll record-keeping and financial reporting.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Custom Employer of Record pricing based on employee count and service scope |
| Subscription | Monthly | PEO+ and PPS services with monthly recurring fees |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Entity setup and virtual office services |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | US Expansion Starter Pack bundle offering savings |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Foothold America product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Foothold America provides US market entry and expansion services for UK and European companies, including Employer of Record (EOR), PEO+ Cross-Border Support, People Partnership Service, US Entity Setup, Virtual Office, Exclusive Talent Acquisition, Bookkeeping, and Cultural Intelligence Advisory. The company acts as the legal employer or extended HR department for international firms hiring US employees, managing payroll, benefits, multi-state compliance, and entity formation.
Product overview
Foothold America offers a platform of professional services designed to help UK and European companies expand into the US market. The core portfolio includes Employer of Record (EOR) Service for companies wanting quick market entry without establishing a US entity, PEO+ Cross-Border Support for companies with existing US entities seeking HR and payroll management, and People Partnership Service (PPS) for full entity setup with co-employment options. Supporting these primary services are US Entity Setup (both standard and online self-service), Online US Bank Setup, Virtual Office (providing physical address and mail services), Bookkeeping Service, Exclusive Talent Acquisition (ETA) for recruitment, and Cultural Intelligence Advisory. The company also offers a bundled US Expansion Starter Pack combining five essential services at a discounted rate. The service architecture allows companies to start with EOR for quick entry and transition to PPS or PEO+ as their US operations grow.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Employer of Record Service (EOR) Turn-key, cost-effective solution enabling international companies to have a legitimate US presence with US employees anywhere in the country in as little as one week without the cost and complexity of setting up a US entity. Foothold America becomes the legal employer of record handling payroll, taxes, benefits, and HR compliance on behalf of the client.
- PEO+ Cross-Border Support Service providing tailored implementation assistance and seamless onboarding for first-time hires or transitions from other hiring models, helping manage US entity and people operations for international businesses. Requires a US entity and offers co-employment arrangements where Foothold America handles payroll processing and HR administration.
- People Partnership Service (PPS) Comprehensive HR partnership service helping companies navigate US entity setup, become the Employer of Record, onboard US employees, and manage complex operational and HR processes of doing business in America. Includes extended HR team support, compliance management, and operational assistance for companies establishing and managing their own US entities.
- US Entity Setup Service to register and establish a US business entity, handling federal tax documentation, EIN acquisition, initial registration services, and company formation including Delaware incorporation.
- Online US Entity Setup Digital self-service platform to register and manage US entity formation online, offering a streamlined alternative to full-service entity setup.
- Online US Bank Setup Service to open and manage US business bank accounts for international companies, leveraging banking partnerships including Citizens Bank and Bank of America.
- Virtual Office Provides a professional US presence with physical address, phone, and mail service without the overhead of physical office space, delivered as a monthly subscription.
- Bookkeeping Service US financial management and bookkeeping service for clients' US operations, including payroll record-keeping and financial reporting.
- Exclusive Talent Acquisition (ETA) Recruitment service enabling businesses to find and hire the best employees in the USA compliantly and competitively, structured as project fees or retained search arrangements.
- Cultural Intelligence Advisory Consulting service to bridge US cultural gaps in the workplace, helping international companies navigate cultural differences in American business practices and adapt management approaches for the US market.
Quantifiable outcome
- Companies can start trading in the US within one week of candidate signing offer letter using EOR services
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Foothold America
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Foothold America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Foothold America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.
- FragomencoreImmigration law firm partner providing visa and immigration expertise for international companies expanding to the US. Fragomen specializes in business immigration and provides guidance on visa categories including E-2, L-1, and H-1B requirements.
- TH AssociatescoreLegal services partner providing corporate law expertise for US entity setup and business formation matters.
- BarnerscoreLegal partner providing business and commercial law services for US expansion matters.
- AetnacoreHealth insurance partner providing US employee healthcare coverage options as part of comprehensive benefits packages for clients' US workforce.
- HylantcoreInsurance partner providing US business insurance solutions including workers' compensation, liability, and commercial coverage.
- SelectUSAflagshipUS Government investment promotion agency providing resources and support for international companies considering US market entry. Partnership positions Foothold America as a recommended provider for UK/EU companies exploring US expansion through official government channels.
- Enterprise NationflagshipUK business support organization providing resources and networking for small businesses. Partnership includes joint events, webinars, and referral of members seeking US expansion support.
- Tech NationcoreUK technology business support organization supporting tech company growth and international expansion. Partnership includes referrals and joint programming for tech companies looking to expand to the US.
- FSB (Federation of Small Businesses)coreUK small business advocacy organization providing support and resources for small business growth. Partnership includes referrals of members needing US expansion services.
- Exporting is GreatcoreUK Government export promotion initiative helping British businesses expand internationally. Partnership positions Foothold America as a recommended partner for US market entry.
- Irvine Chamber of CommercesupportingUS regional business organization providing networking and business development resources in the Irvine, California market.
- SeedcampsupportingEuropean early-stage investor and accelerator supporting technology startups. Partnership may include referrals of portfolio companies seeking US expansion.
- Forward PartnerssupportingUK venture capital and support firm for startups. Partnership may include US expansion support for portfolio companies.
- Eight RoadssupportingVenture capital firm investing in technology companies. Partnership may include US expansion resources for portfolio companies.
- OpenCorporatessupportingCorporate data platform providing company information and verification services that support due diligence and entity verification.
- TriNetcoreHR technology and services platform providing payroll, benefits, and HR infrastructure that supports Foothold America's service delivery.
- HubSpotcoreCRM and marketing automation platform used for customer relationship management, sales tracking, and marketing campaigns.
- CashroomsupportingUK accountancy firm providing financial services. May refer clients needing US expansion support or receive referrals for accounting services.
- VeganuarysupportingUK non-profit organization that previously used Foothold America's services for US expansion. Relationship demonstrates cross-referral potential with mission-aligned organizations.
- Ellis PortercoreLegal services partner providing attorney services for US business formation and commercial matters.
- GoodwillesupportingLegal services partner providing corporate and commercial law support for international business operations.
- GTM PartnershipcoreGo-to-market partnership providing strategic business development support and market entry expertise.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Foothold America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Deel: Global EOR and contractor management platform serving companies hiring internationally. Most heavily funded player in the global EOR market, directly competing for the same cross-border employer-of-record use cases that Foothold America serves, though Deel operates platform-first vs. Footh America's service-led model.
- Remote: Global EOR, payroll, and HR services platform enabling companies to hire internationally without local entities. Competes head-to-head with Foothold America for UK/EU-to-US EOR engagements, with similar target customer profile (international SMBs entering the US market).
- Globalization Partners: Established global EOR platform providing international hiring, payroll, and compliance services in 180+ countries. One of the original global EOR players, directly comparable to Foothold America's EOR offering with broader geographic coverage but less UK/EU specialization.
- Oyster HR: Global employment platform offering EOR and contractor management for companies hiring across borders. Targets similar SMB and mid-market international expansion customers and competes directly for UK/EU-to-US EOR engagements.
- Velocity Global: Global EOR and international PEO services provider supporting companies expanding internationally. Direct competitor to Foothold America's EOR offering with broader country coverage, including US market entry support.
- Multiplier: Global employment platform offering EOR, payroll, and contractor management across 150+ countries. Directly competes with Foothold America for SMBs and startups expanding from UK/EU/APAC into the US, with similar target customer profile and pricing model.
- Papaya Global: Global workforce management platform combining EOR, payroll, and HR technology for international companies. Competes with Foothold America's EOR/PEO offering while differentiating through more developed proprietary technology and broader geographic coverage.
Broad incumbents
- TriNet: Major US PEO and HR services provider serving small and medium-sized businesses. While primarily a US-domestic PEO, TriNet also powers Foothold America's HR/payroll infrastructure. Overlaps with Foothold's PEO+ and PPS offerings for companies that have already established US entities.
- Insperity: Large US PEO providing HR, payroll, benefits, and workforce management solutions. Overlaps with Foothold America's PEO+ and PPS offerings for clients with established US entities, particularly SMBs seeking co-employment arrangements.
- ADP TotalSource: PEO division of ADP, one of the largest US payroll and HR services providers. Overlaps with Foothold America's PEO+/PPS offerings for clients who have incorporated US entities and need co-employment HR administration, while also offering cross-border payroll capabilities relevant to international expansion clients.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Foothold America social profiles
Digital presenceFoothold America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foothold America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Foothold America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Foothold America M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Foothold America
What does Foothold America do?
Foothold America provides US market entry and expansion services for UK and European companies, including Employer of Record (EOR), PEO+ Cross-Border Support, People Partnership Service, US Entity Setup, Virtual Office, Exclusive Talent Acquisition, Bookkeeping, and Cultural Intelligence Advisory. The company acts as the legal employer or extended HR department for international firms hiring US employees, managing payroll, benefits, multi-state compliance, and entity formation.
Is Foothold America a public or private company?
Foothold America is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Foothold America founded?
Foothold America was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Foothold America based?
Foothold America is headquartered in Waltham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Foothold America make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Employer of Record (EOR) Services are the primary driver. The others are PEO+ Cross-Border Support Services, people Partnership Service (PPS), US Entity Setup, virtual Office Services, exclusive Talent Acquisition (ETA), cultural Intelligence Advisory and bookkeeping Services.
Who are Foothold America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Deel, Remote, Globalization Partners, Oyster HR, Velocity Global, Multiplier and Papaya Global. Broad incumbents are TriNet, Insperity and ADP TotalSource.
Does Foothold America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foothold America.
What industry is Foothold America in?
Foothold America's product category is International Business Expansion Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAHAC, Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Management, with a secondary code of BPACAHAB, Professional Employer Organization (PEO) / Co-Employment Services. Its NAICS code is 56133 and its SIC code is 7361.