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Rethinking near‑shore team expansion in Eastern Europe

   ·  1 minute read

Rethinking near‑shore team expansion in Eastern Europe.

Skip the big upfront stake. Test first, scale later.

Most companies follow one of three paths:

  1. Use a local service provider that will build and run the team for you.
  2. Build‑Operate‑Transfer (BOT) — you get a ready team (and some management) transferred to your company after 2–3 years, typically with an outsourcing company. 
  3. Build it yourself — hire local management, work with agencies, do employer branding, rent offices, offer perks, etc.
All three require significant upfront commitment, senior management buy‑in, and budget before you even know if the model fits your business.


There’s another way.

Test the model with vetted contractors first. Hire 1, 2, 5, or 10 experienced people — no entity setup, no large upfront investment, no long‑term lock‑in. See how they perform, how collaboration works, and whether the setup adds the value you expect.

If it works, you can scale:

  • conver to employees,
  • transition with a full entity,
  • or continue with more contractors.
If it doesn’t, you walk away without sunk costs.

This approach lets you validate your nearshore strategy step‑by‑step instead of betting big from day one.

Start lean. Prove value. Then scale.