Updated September 2025
I wrote this guide to help founders work with global talent (generally in the Philippines). At my company Rent the Backyard (YC S19), we built an operations team of nearly 20 based in the Philippines. The team helped us with everything from payroll to sales proposals to procurement. The team helped extend my capabilities as a founder while extending the company’s runway and our chance of success.
The below methods are a combination of what’s worked for me and what I’ve seen others use.
English is widely spoken and used in business, school, and media.
Filipino culture values education and the country has a strong set of colleges.
Average incomes in the Philippines are around $300 per month (<$2 / hour). You can hire excellent talent for around the US minimum wage.
Traffic in the Philippines is notorious and post-Covid, many of the best workers in the country are now considering remote work.