--- title: Contractor of Record in India url: https://www.wisemonk.io/contractor-of-record lang: en --- Contractor of Record # Eliminate legal exposure in India with our Contractor of Record Wisemonk becomes the legal contracting party in India. You direct the work, we handle classification, contracts, payments, and tax exposure, so you stay out of India's labor courts. [Talk to an Expert](https://www.wisemonk.io/contact) [See how it works](https://www.wisemonk.io/contractor-of-record#how-it-works) ## Powering India teams for 300+ companies worldwide American iron and metal, Cobu, Edward Elgar Publishing, Finmed, Folens, Fuse Universal, Infinited Fiber, Intercon Security, Nice RX, OLX, Onereach, Onform, Picture Shop, Poppins Lab, Repurpose.io, Simpro, The Zebra, Thredup, Youtrip, amrop ### Direct contractor engagement #### You draft and manage contracts Risk of unenforceable IP clauses under Indian law --- #### You own classification risk Principal-employer liability if India reclassifies --- #### You handle India tax exposure TDS, GST, and PE filings fall on your finance team --- #### You wrangle 15+ wire transfers Bank FX spreads of 3–5% silently eat your budget ### Contractor of Record with Wisemonk #### Compliant contractor agreements Drafted, signed, and enforceable under Indian law --- #### IP protection baked in Assignment clauses under India's Copyright Act s.17 --- #### Tax compliance & filings handled TDS, 26Q, FIRC, and GST where applicable --- #### We handle bulk payments. Transparent 0.5% FX markup ## Built for what global CORs miss ### Bulk payments, one wire Fund Wisemonk once for your entire India roster. We split, convert, and disburse to every contractor. — The win: One USD/GBP/EUR wire covers 50+ contractors in a single batch, reconciled to a single invoice. ### T+1 settlement to contractor Most global CORs settle India payouts in T+2 to T+5. We pay your contractors within one business day. — The win: Contractors paid in 1 business day, not 3–5 days. ### Employee vs contractor, defensibly We score each role against India's control, integration, and economic-dependence tests. — The win: Every engagement carries a written classification memo your auditor can rely on. ## Start working with Indian contractors in three steps 1. 1 ### Add your contractor Invite them to the portal, define scope of work, rate, and start date. We collect KYC and bank details in the background. 2. 2 ### We set up the contract Wisemonk signs a locally compliant contractor agreement with your hire. IP assignment, confidentiality, TDS, and dispute jurisdiction — all structured for Indian enforceability. 3. 3 ### Pay contractors Fund Wisemonk once in USD, GBP, or EUR. We generate invoices, convert at 0.5% mid-market, disburse in INR, and file the tax paperwork on your behalf. Everything on one platform ## Contracts, compliance, and payments, all handled in one place. No scattered tools, no manual wires, no spreadsheet reconciliations at the end of every month. ### Contracts - Compliant agreements - Enforceable IP ownership - NDAs and non-solicits - e-Stamp + e-Sign ### Payments - Automated monthly invoicing - On-time contractor payouts - 0.5% transparent FX markup - USD · GBP · EUR funding ### Compliance - Classification review per role - Company-side tax filings - TDS, 26Q, FIRC handling - Audit-ready records ### Operations - Centralized dashboard - Payment tracking - Contractor self-service portal - Dedicated account manager Built for every stage ## Start small. Scale safely. Teams of every size use Wisemonk to bring on Indian contractors without the legal exposure. ### Startups Testing talent in India before committing to an entity or full employment setup. ### Product companies Scaling engineering and product teams with a mix of contractors and employees. ### Agencies Building flexible project teams across regions, with clean cost attribution. ### Global companies Expanding distributed teams with India COR as step one before opening an entity. ## Questions we hear most **What does "Wisemonk takes on the liability" actually mean?** Our Master Services Agreement contains an explicit indemnity against misclassification claims, tax authority challenges, and contract-enforceability disputes for workers we engage on your behalf. **How is this different from Deel, Rippling, or Rivermate for India?** Global players treat India as one of 150 markets with a generic contractor template. We're India-only, with local entities, local counsel, and direct relationships with TDS / EPFO / GST authorities. **Can a Wisemonk-engaged contractor still be reclassified?** In theory, yes — if the day-to-day working pattern turns employee-like (fixed hours, exclusive work, company-owned tools, manager reporting). That's why we review each engagement and flag drift. If classification tips, we offer a one-click conversion to our EOR service with no service interruption. **How fast can I onboard my first contractor?** Most companies go from first call to a signed contract within 48 hours. KYC, bank details, and tax forms are collected in parallel on the contractor's side, so nothing waits on anything else. **How does currency conversion and payment work?** You fund Wisemonk once per cycle in USD, GBP, or EUR. We apply a transparent 0.5% markup on the mid-market rate, stamp the exact rate on your invoice, and disburse INR to the contractor's Indian bank via direct transfer. Typical settlement is T+1. **Do contractors get benefits through Wisemonk?** Benefits for true contractors in India are optional and unusual. We can offer health insurance add-ons on request, but doing so can affect classification — we advise case-by-case. If you want full benefits and statutory protections, the engagement likely belongs in our EOR product. **What documents does my company receive each month?** A consolidated invoice from Wisemonk in your funding currency, INR-level breakdown by contractor, FX rate stamp, TDS computation, GST where applicable, and FIRC on request. Everything your auditor and finance team need to close the books cleanly. ## Ready to work with Indian contractors? Tell us who you're engaging. We'll walk you through classification, contract, and cost in one call. [Talk to an Expert](https://www.wisemonk.io/contact) [Get Started](https://hire.wisemonk.io/)