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c/remote-work u/devlk Team

Is it better to work remotely through an agency or directly with a foreign company?

Team FAQ: this question comes up often, so we've answered it below. Add your own experience, or a different view, in the comments.

Some developers are placed with foreign clients through local agencies; others work directly. Which is better?

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devlk Team·

Both can work well. It depends on what you value.

Through a local agency or company:

  • ✅ Local employment contract and benefits, more stability between projects, local HR support.
  • ✅ Easier to get started: they find the clients.
  • ❌ Pay is usually lower than the client pays for you, because the agency takes a margin.
  • ❌ Less direct relationship with the client; you may be moved between projects.

Directly with a foreign company (as a contractor or through an employer of record):

  • ✅ Often higher pay, and a direct relationship and career inside the company.
  • ✅ More ownership and visibility.
  • ❌ You may handle your own taxes and payments (as a contractor), with fewer protections.
  • ❌ Harder to find, with more competition.

A common path: start with an agency or local company working for foreign clients to build experience and references, then move to direct remote roles.

Questions to ask any option: Who is my legal employer? How am I paid, and in what currency? What happens if the project ends?

See how to compare job offers and how to find remote developer jobs from Sri Lanka.

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