As startups across Europe scale their operations, many are turning to nearshore locations for talent that’s skilled, affordable, and aligned with Western business culture. In recent years, Turkey—and especially Istanbul—has emerged as a preferred destination. In this article, we share how we helped a French startup hire a team in Istanbul, the challenges we navigated, and the benefits they unlocked by entering the Turkish talent market.
1. The Client: A Paris-Based SaaS Startup Ready to Scale
Our client is a Paris-based SaaS startup offering B2B workflow automation for small and mid-sized companies in Europe. After raising a seed round and validating their product in the French market, they needed to:
- Scale their product and engineering teams
- Build a lean, high-performing customer support function
- Reduce hiring costs while maintaining talent quality
- Start hiring in under 45 days
They came to us after exploring traditional hiring in France, which was proving expensive and time-consuming. Their main question: Could we help a French startup hire a team in Istanbul—quickly and legally?
2. Why Istanbul? Why French Startups Are Looking East
Turkey—and Istanbul in particular—has become a magnet for international companies seeking skilled, affordable, and agile professionals.
Why Istanbul worked for this French startup:
- Highly educated tech and customer service workforce
- Strong English and French language skills, especially among university graduates
- Affordable salaries compared to Paris or Lyon
- Cultural compatibility with European business values
- Proximity and time zone overlap (1–2 hours ahead of France)
- No need to set up a local entity thanks to Employer of Record (EOR) solutions
For startups looking for talent beyond Western Europe, the “French hire Istanbul” approach offers the ideal balance between quality and cost.
3. Step 1: Needs Assessment and Talent Planning
We began with a consultation call with the startup’s CTO and COO to define their immediate and mid-term hiring needs. Their goals included:
- 2 Frontend Developers (Vue.js + REST API)
- 1 Full-Stack Developer
- 1 Customer Support Specialist (French-speaking)
- 1 UI/UX Designer
They needed professionals comfortable working in English and/or French, with experience in remote collaboration.
We shared a talent and salary benchmark report based on current Istanbul hiring trends, including:
| Role | Gross Monthly Salary (TRY) | Approx. Net in EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend Developer | 45,000 – 55,000 | €1,300 – €1,600 |
| Full-Stack Developer | 55,000 – 65,000 | €1,600 – €1,900 |
| French-Speaking Support | 30,000 – 40,000 | €900 – €1,200 |
| UI/UX Designer | 40,000 – 50,000 | €1,200 – €1,500 |
The startup quickly recognized the cost advantages—and the opportunity to scale faster without compromising on quality.
4. Step 2: Localized Recruitment in Istanbul
We launched a targeted recruitment campaign using local and international hiring channels:
Platforms used:
- LinkedIn – direct outreach to passive candidates
- Kariyer.net – Turkey’s largest job board
- Techcareer.net – to find developers with the right stack
- University career centers – Boğaziçi, ITU, Galatasaray (known for French speakers)
We crafted bilingual job descriptions (English and French) and emphasized:
- Remote work flexibility
- Competitive compensation
- Opportunity to work with a French product team
- Growth within a funded startup
Our team conducted the first round of interviews, assessing both technical skills and language fluency, with a strong focus on team fit and communication.
5. Step 3: Legal Hiring Through Employer of Record (EOR)
The startup did not want to open a Turkish entity just to hire a small team. We offered a fully compliant Employer of Record (EOR) solution to manage legal employment, payroll, and HR administration.
Through our EOR in Turkey, we:
- Signed Turkish-compliant employment contracts with each hire
- Registered them with the Social Security Institution (SGK)
- Handled all payroll processing, tax deductions, and benefit administration
- Provided private health insurance and meal card options
- Delivered monthly payslips and payroll reports to the client
This enabled the French company to legally employ their team in Istanbul without the cost or complexity of incorporating locally.
6. Onboarding and Integration: Supporting Remote Success
We helped the startup integrate their new Istanbul-based team into their fully remote organization:
- Set up email accounts, Slack, Jira, GitHub access
- Facilitated 1:1 onboarding sessions
- Supported contract explanations in both French and Turkish
- Held Q&A sessions for Turkish employees on expectations and communication
- Provided an HR manager for local support (in Turkish and English)
We also advised on cross-cultural collaboration and remote work etiquette to help the French and Turkish teams build trust and synergy.
7. The Results: Fast, Compliant, Scalable Hiring
Within 6 weeks, the French startup had a fully functioning Istanbul-based team of 5 employees.
Measurable outcomes:
- ✅ Hired 5 skilled professionals in 45 days
- ✅ Reduced hiring costs by 55% compared to France
- ✅ No legal or compliance risks
- ✅ 100% team retention after 6 months
- ✅ Plan to hire 4 more Istanbul-based team members in Q3 2025
They now manage the Turkish team just like an extension of their French workforce, with full support from our local HR and payroll teams.
8. Common Questions from French Companies Hiring in Turkey
❓ Can we hire French-speaking professionals in Istanbul?
Yes! Many Turkish professionals are bilingual in English and French, especially graduates from Galatasaray University and French high schools in Istanbul. We have a talent pool of customer service reps, marketers, and account managers fluent in French.
❓ Is it legal to hire in Turkey without a company?
Yes, through our Employer of Record model, we become the legal employer on your behalf. This allows you to hire full-time employees in Turkey without incorporating.
❓ What is the tax and social security burden?
Employers in Turkey pay approximately 22.5% of the employee’s gross salary in social security contributions. Employees contribute about 15%. All filings and payments are handled by us.
9. Why French Startups Are Choosing to Hire in Istanbul
The “French hire Istanbul” model is growing fast—and for good reason. Turkey offers the same time zone, excellent education, and cultural compatibility that French startups need for seamless growth.
Top reasons:
- Strong pool of engineers, designers, and bilingual support staff
- Lower cost of hiring, without compromising on quality
- Familiarity with remote-first work culture
- Flexible, compliant hiring via EOR
- Deep ties between France and Turkey, including business, education, and language
If you’re a French company looking to scale, Istanbul is the smart move. With access to high-quality talent, lower salary costs, and a flexible legal hiring model, you can build your dream team without borders—and without red tape.
Whether you’re hiring one developer or a full remote team, we’re here to help you recruit, onboard, and manage Turkish professionals with full compliance and confidence.
We help French startups and scaleups hire top talent in Turkey quickly and legally through our Employer of Record and recruitment solutions.
📩 Contact us today for a free consultation.
