What Is a Payroll Program?
A payroll program is a country-specific payment structure that Rise uses to calculate and distribute employee salaries. It handles:
Gross pay calculation — base salary, bonuses, and stipends
Tax withholding — deductions calculated automatically based on the employee's country
Pay schedule — how often employees are paid (bimonthly, weekly, etc.)
Compliance — ensuring payments meet local labor regulations
Each payroll program is tied to a specific country and currency. If you have employees in multiple countries, you'll need a separate program for each.
What Does "EOR" Mean?
EOR stands for Employer of Record. When you hire through an EOR program, Rise acts as the legal employer for your employees on paper — handling local compliance, tax filings, and labor law requirements on your behalf.
This means you don't need to set up a legal entity in every country where you have employees. Rise takes care of the local complexity so you can focus on running your team.
For more information, check out: The Future of Global Hiring with Rise EOR | Rise Help Center
Available Payroll Programs
🇺🇸 United States EOR
Currency: USD
Pay schedules: Bimonthly or Weekly
Who it's for: Employees based in the United States
What Rise handles: Federal and state tax withholding, employment agreements, and compliance with US labor law
🇬🇧 United Kingdom EOR
Currency: GBP
Who it's for: Employees based in the United Kingdom
What Rise handles: UK-specific tax and payroll compliance, employment agreements under UK labor law
💡 More countries coming soon. Rise is continuously expanding its EOR program availability. Contact your account manager or reach out to Support if you need a country not listed here.
EOR vs. AOR — What's the Difference?
You may also see AOR (Agent of Record) on Rise. Here's how they differ:
| EOR | AOR |
Worker type | Employee | Contractor |
Rise's role | Legal employer | Compliance agent |
Tax withholding | Yes — Rise handles it | No — contractor manages own taxes |
Benefits eligible | Yes | No |
Pay method | Payroll (scheduled) | Direct payment / invoices |
In short: EOR is for employees, AOR is for contractors who need an extra layer of compliance without a full employment relationship.
Which Program Should I Choose?
Choose based on where your employee lives and works — not where your company is based.
Employee in the United States → Select United States EOR
Employee in the United Kingdom → Select United Kingdom EOR
Hiring a contractor internationally → Consider AOR instead
⚠️ Important: Once a payroll program is assigned to a team, all employees added to that team will be paid under the same program. If you have employees in different countries, create a separate team for each country's payroll program.
What Happens After I Select a Program?
Once you confirm your payroll program:
Your Payroll Dashboard activates and shows upcoming pay cycles
You can start adding employees to the program
Rise begins calculating cash requirements based on employee salaries and your pay schedule
You'll need to fund your account before each cycle's due date to ensure payroll is covered