With the rise of remote work and cross-border collaboration, Istanbul has become a hotbed for international recruitment. One of the most compelling stories we’ve seen recently is how a fast-growing Spanish startup hired a talented team in Istanbul—without opening a local entity or compromising on quality.
In this article, we’ll share the complete journey: how a Spanish startup hired in Istanbul, what challenges they faced, how we helped them build their team, and what lessons other European startups can learn from their success.
1. The Client: A Barcelona-Based Tech Startup Scaling Fast
Our client was a SaaS startup based in Barcelona, offering automation solutions to e-commerce companies across Spain, Italy, and Latin America. After raising a seed round and onboarding several enterprise clients, the team needed to scale:
- Their software development capacity
- Their customer support function
- Their design and product team
However, hiring in Spain was proving slow and costly. Time-to-hire exceeded 60 days, and salary expectations were increasingly above budget.
That’s when they reached out to us with a simple request:
“Can you help a Spanish startup hire in Istanbul?”
2. Why Istanbul? What Made the Spanish Startup Choose Turkey?
Turkey—particularly Istanbul—offered a perfect balance between cost, talent quality, and business alignment.
Key reasons the startup chose to hire in Istanbul:
- Highly educated talent pool, especially in tech and design
- Lower salary expectations compared to Spain or Western Europe
- High English proficiency, especially among developers and support staff
- Time zone compatibility with Spain (only 1–2 hours ahead)
- No need to establish a company, thanks to our Employer of Record (EOR) service
- Strong cultural affinity and similar work rhythms
The startup wanted to move fast and build a remote-ready team in 45 days. With our help, they did it in 35.
3. Phase 1: Hiring Strategy and Role Scoping
We began with a detailed discovery call with the startup’s CTO and COO. They needed:
- 2 Frontend Developers (React.js)
- 1 Backend Developer (Node.js)
- 1 UI/UX Designer
- 1 English-speaking Customer Success Specialist
We shared a local talent market overview, highlighting salary benchmarks, availability, and required language skills.
Estimated monthly gross salaries in Istanbul (2025):
| Role | Salary (TRY) | Approx. Net (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend Developer | 50,000 – 60,000 | €1,450 – €1,750 |
| Backend Developer | 55,000 – 65,000 | €1,600 – €1,850 |
| UI/UX Designer | 45,000 – 55,000 | €1,300 – €1,600 |
| Customer Success Specialist | 35,000 – 45,000 | €1,000 – €1,300 |
These rates were 45–60% lower than those in Barcelona while maintaining similar quality. The client immediately approved the recruitment plan.
4. Phase 2: Recruitment Campaign in Istanbul
To attract the right candidates, we ran a targeted recruitment campaign using both international and local channels:
Sourcing Channels Used:
- LinkedIn Turkey – with filters for Spanish-speaking or international-experienced candidates
- Kariyer.net – the largest Turkish job board
- Techcareer.net – ideal for developer and tech roles
- Bionluk – a local freelance network for short-term support
- University career centers – including Istanbul Technical University and Boğaziçi University
Our process included:
- Creating bilingual job descriptions (English and Turkish)
- Screening for language skills, especially English fluency
- Running technical assessments and culture-fit interviews
- Shortlisting within 10–12 business days
5. Phase 3: Hiring Without a Turkish Entity — Using Our Employer of Record (EOR)
The client didn’t want to go through the paperwork and time required to open a Turkish subsidiary. Our EOR model made hiring seamless.
Through our EOR in Turkey, we:
- Hired the team on behalf of the Spanish startup
- Drafted legal employment contracts in Turkish and English
- Registered employees with SGK (Turkey’s Social Security Institution)
- Processed payroll, tax, and insurance contributions
- Delivered monthly payslips and payroll reports
- Ensured full compliance with Labor Law No. 4857
This meant the startup retained day-to-day operational control over the team, while we took care of all HR, legal, and administrative responsibilities.
6. Remote Onboarding and Integration
Once contracts were signed, we supported onboarding with:
- HR welcome packs and orientation sessions
- Explaining salary structure, benefits, and tax deductions in Turkish
- Facilitating equipment logistics (laptops and monitors)
- Ensuring data privacy (GDPR-compliant processes)
- Providing optional Spanish language training for two of the Turkish employees
We also helped align time zones, communication tools (Slack, Notion, Zoom), and agile workflows.
7. Results After 3 Months: Measurable Impact
Within 35 days, the startup had hired all 5 team members. After 3 months:
Key outcomes:
- ✅ Product development time reduced by 28%
- ✅ NPS score for support team improved by 35%
- ✅ 100% employee retention
- ✅ Payroll savings of over €100,000/year compared to Spain
- ✅ Plan to hire 3 more roles in Q3 2025
The CTO noted that the Istanbul developers were “just as capable as our team in Barcelona—only faster to hire and easier to scale.”
8. Challenges and Solutions
❌ Challenge: Language Alignment for Support Role
The client initially wanted a native Spanish speaker. Most Istanbul candidates were fluent in English but not Spanish.
Solution: We hired an English-speaking candidate and provided sponsored access to online Spanish lessons as a benefit.
❌ Challenge: Legal and tax compliance concerns
The client wanted to ensure there would be no long-term risks or liabilities under Turkish labor law.
Solution: We provided a detailed EOR compliance guide, tax reports, and ongoing HR support.
9. Why “Spanish Startup Hire Istanbul” Is a Growing Trend
Spanish startups are increasingly looking east, and Istanbul is leading the pack for good reason:
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Time Zone Compatibility | Only 1–2 hours ahead of Spain |
| Cultural Synergy | Mediterranean work culture and communication style |
| Language Flexibility | Strong English and growing interest in Spanish |
| Lower Operational Costs | Up to 60% savings on salaries and overhead |
| Easy Legal Hiring | No entity needed when using an EOR partner |
10. Conclusion: A Blueprint for Hiring in Istanbul from Spain
This project proved that a Spanish startup can successfully hire a team in Istanbul—fast, legally, and cost-effectively. With the right local partner, strong recruitment strategy, and compliant employment model, Turkish talent can seamlessly integrate with European teams and deliver high-impact results.
Thinking of scaling your team in Turkey?
Whether you’re hiring 1 remote developer or 20 product specialists, Istanbul offers one of the best nearshore hiring markets for Spanish tech companies in 2025.
Want to hire in Istanbul without opening a company?
We help Spanish startups hire legally in Turkey through our Employer of Record (EOR) and recruitment solutions, giving you fast access to top-tier Turkish talent—without the hassle.
📩 Contact us today to discuss your hiring goals and explore how we can support your Spanish startup hire Istanbul journey.
