Proven Pathways into America.
Most companies do not enter the US in a single move. They launch, they set up to operate, and they build a team, often in that order, over months or years. These roadmaps show how the companies we have worked with since 2015 have actually done it.
No two journeys are identical, and wherever you start, one dedicated team stays with you across all of it. Find your stage, Launch, Operate or Grow, and together we shape your route.
Tell us about your business, and we will show you exactly how we can help, from here to wherever you are headed.
Guidance and packages for companies preparing to enter the US market or make their first US hire.
Launch
Market entry and your first US hire.
Support to register, bank and run your US business once you have decided to set up operations here.
Operate
Beginning US operations.
Packages for companies scaling an existing US team and building out proper HR infrastructure.
Grow
Team growth and HR infrastructure.
Wherever you are, there is a clear next step.
Each stage identifies a classic set of roadmaps to achieve your US market objectives.
Launch
Guidance for companies preparing to enter the US market or make their first US hire.
Businesses preparing to enter the US who need guidance to sequence steps, develop budgets, connect with trusted providers, or hire the first employee.
- Solid Ground: short-term consulting to plan sequencing, timeline, and budget. May include trusted partner introductions and comprehensive project management.
- Find & Thrive: everything you need to find, onboard, pay, provide benefits, and understand how to manage your first US employee, all without a US entity or bank account.
- Ready to Hire: you have found your candidate and need a provider to manage employment compliance, pay, benefits, and HR without a US entity or bank account.
Operate
You are no longer testing the waters. You are ready to set up and operate in the USA.
Businesses that plan to set up US operations with an entity, bank account, address or office, US GAAP compliant accounts, and want to avoid missed steps and mistakes.
- Business Starter: a comprehensive structure for legal and financial operations of your US business including entity setup and management, virtual office, banking, and bookkeeping.
- Just Banking: short-term guidance for international companies experiencing bank setup barriers. Includes US resident bank representation and warm introductions to national and international bankers in New York.
Grow
Designed for companies that are expanding their US headcount, relocating staff on visas, or moving away from an existing Employer of Record relationship.
Companies with an existing US headcount planning growth that want to further develop their HR infrastructure to align US, home country, or global people objectives.
- Team Migration: a full transition from Employer of Record or contractor status to PEO+ co-employment hiring through your US entity including benefits planning and manager training.
- Talent Pipeline: comprehensive staffing initiative including staffing plans, recruitment, PEO+ co-employment support for companies hiring five or more people within 18 months.
“We stumbled over employee benefits before Foothold America came in and got us sorted.”
“Our small HR department isn’t equipped with the knowledge to handle US employees.”
“We can work with one partner through every stage of our growth.”
“Most of the business owners I speak with are not short on ambition. They are just not sure what the next step should be. Tell me what is holding you back, and I will tell you honestly what to do about it.”
Laurie Spicer
Director of US Expansion. UK based.
- No sales pitch, just an honest read on your situation
- 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour, depending on what you need
- A clear next step by the end, whether that involves us or not
- Come as you are, no prep or documents needed beforehand
- Ask anything, there is no such thing as a question too early
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which stage is right for me?
Start with the stage that sounds most like your situation. If you are still unsure, one conversation with Laurie will settle it, that is exactly what the first call is for.
Can I move between stages as my business grows?
Yes. Many clients move between Launch, Operate and Grow as their US presence develops, though not necessarily in that order.
Do I need to complete one stage before starting the next?
No. Some clients run Launch and Operate in parallel, depending on their timeline. Everything is shaped around your business, not a fixed order.
Every roadmap starts the same way.
Tell us where you are, and we will tell you honestly which roadmap fits, and what happens next.