The ultimate guide to hiring freelancers from North Macedonia

Ready to expand your team with qualified freelancers who can help take your business to the next level? Consider hiring freelancers from North Macedonia, a country with an educated and hardworking workforce, skilled professionals, and a straightforward hiring process. As a hub for entrepreneurs and start-ups, with attractive rates and cultural compatibility with Western countries, North Macedonia is the perfect place to find the expertise you need.

In this guide, we’ll explore the unique aspects if you want to hire freelancers in North Macedonia, from the benefits and legal aspects to the documents and payment methods required.

North Macedonia

Tucked away in south-eastern Europe, Macedonia is a country often overlooked by travelers. However, this hidden gem is full of surprises, from its stunning mountain ranges to its warm and welcoming people. The capital, Skopje, is a vibrant and bustling center with a population of over 600,000. The official language is Macedonian, written in an adaptation of the Cyrillic alphabet. North Macedonia is a parliamentary democracy with just over 2 million citizens.

The country is a melting pot of cultures, with ethnic Macedonians making up 66% of the population, Albanians 23% and Turks, Vlachs, and Serbs. North Macedonia is known for its hospitality, rich culture and history, and love of good wine and great traditional food. The country has a highly educated and skilled workforce, particularly in IT, engineering, and finance. There are a lot of specialists with skills in video editing, Microsoft Office, as well as knowledge in Java, CSS, HTML. Or other programming languages. 

Macedonia, now known as North Macedonia, has experienced significant economic growth over the past decade, creating new opportunities for freelancers. The government has made efforts to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, which has led to the development of a thriving start-up scene in the country.

The advantages of hiring freelancers in North Macedonia 

Northern Macedonia is fast becoming a top destination for remote contractors and with good reason. This country boasts a number of advantages that make it a desirable location for companies looking to hire freelancers with good skills. If you are looking for specialized video editing, logo design, or translation services, Macedonia is a good call. Below are some of the benefits of using North Macedonian remote contractors:

Highly skilled professionals

North Macedonia has a well-educated workforce, with professionals holding bachelor’s degree in fields such as computer science, engineering, and business. This means you can find talented freelancers with working experience in a wide range of areas, such as graphic design, software development, or Macedonian translation. You can count on different categories of flexible and passionate experts.

Favorable business climate

North Macedonia has worked hard in recent years to create a business-friendly environment. As a result, the country supports businesses and start-ups and has a good digital infrastructure. This means that there is a large pool of resources available to help self-employed professionals and businesses succeed.

High level of services

If you’re looking for fast, high-quality work, contractors are often the way to go. Unlike traditional employees, they can focus exclusively on your project. Or work within shorter timeframes, leading to faster delivery and greater efficiency. And when it comes to finding hardworking employees, the Macedonian workforce is known for its industrious and dedicated nature.

Freelancers in North Macedonia

In Macedonia, the term sole proprietorship or sole trader is legally used to describe people who work for themselves as independent contractors or service providers. A sole proprietorship is responsible for meeting all its obligations, including tax and legal requirements, and is considered a legal entity separate from its owner. Macedonian tax and labor regulations must be followed by freelancers who register their business as a sole proprietorship.

 There are over 7,000 registered independent contractors in Macedonia, although the actual number is likely to be much higher as the report only includes independent contractors registered on popular talent sites. Independent contractors in Macedonia can work without registering a company but have to register as sole proprietors. Also, they are responsible for paying taxes according to local laws. They can also pay for health insurance individually, at the cost of 1,500MKD per month, and have access to the private pension pillar.

 Some independent contractors choose to register a company in their name, which provides access to health and pension benefits. Registering a company requires an initial investment of €5,000, which can be in cash or in kind. The cost of an accountant is usually between €50 and €100 per month, depending on the size of the company. A bank account is also required in the same bank where the initial investment is made, and the process can be completed by following the guidelines provided by the Central Registry.

Registration of an LLC (Limited Liability Company) is required for sole traders opening a business, while an LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) is required for those with co-founders. With the right guidance and proper registration, independent contractors in Macedonia can access health and retirement benefits and achieve success in their ventures.

 What laws and documents would you need to follow?

 If you’re considering hiring in North Macedonia, it’s important to be aware of the country’s labor laws, which differ from those of the European Union due to its non-membership. Written employment contracts are mandatory in Northern Macedonia and should include terms and conditions of employment, responsibilities, and salary.

But what about hiring a freelancer? The situation is different, as freelancers are considered to be self-employed rather than employees. As a foreign company, you do not need to file any applications or documents with the Macedonian government when you hire remote workers. However, it’s still important to comply with the tax and social security rules relating to self-employment. This means that you’ll need to ensure that your freelancers pay their taxes and social security contributions.

 Even though a freelancer is not an employee, it’s important to have a solid agreement outlining the scope of work, payment terms, and other relevant details, such as contact methods and when the work needs to be completed. Are you going to pay them for a particular project, such as designing a website or for data entry, or for a series of projects? It’s also a good idea to include sections on confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and what happens if the job gets terminated. To make sure that your contract complies with local rules and regulations, it is also advised that you consult a lawyer or accountant.

Of course, you can work with freelancers with Useme. We will take care of the paperwork and send the tax invoice. This way, you can start the cooperation right away and save more time. Click here to start it right away. 

 What about the payment methods?

There are several ways to pay freelancers from Macedonia, including wire transfer, Payoneer, Wise, and Skrill.

• Wire transfer is a safe option, but it can be costly due to fees and exchange rates.
• Payoneer charges a 10% tax fee when withdrawing funds to a local bank account, but you can also use a Payoneer debit card.
• Wise is available for individuals residing in Macedonia, but they don’t support MKD as a balanced currency.
• Skrill allows customers to act as both senders and receivers, but bank withdrawals are not available in Macedonia.
• PayPal is a popular online payment system that allows you to transfer money from your account to the freelancer’s account. It is fast, secure, and relatively inexpensive.