EOR Pricing at 1 vs 5 Dutch Employees (2026): ICS Payroll Leads on Simplicity

ICS Payroll: flat €299/month per employee, volume discounts from five

EOR pricing in the Netherlands changes when moving from one employee to a small team. At one hire, most EOR pricing quotes a straightforward per-employee monthly fee. At five employees, the discussion moves to team pricing, volume discounts and a fuller Total Cost of Employment quote. A flat €299 per employee per month is offered, with volume discounts beginning at five employees and custom quotes on request.

Its pricing is fixed with no hidden fees. One agreed rate covers payroll, taxes, insurances and the EOR service. Employer burden is about 22-28% of gross and benefits are invoiced at cost. For a one-person hire, the structure is simple. At five employees, the discount kicks in and a custom quote shows the exact new rate. For details on how per-employee fees work across different providers, see the EOR pricing explanation.

EOR pricing structure: management fee, salary components and benefits

ICS Payroll's pricing separates the EOR management fee (per employee per month) from employment costs (gross salary, employer burden, benefits) and any items invoiced at cost. ICS Payroll's structure follows this pattern. The €299 management fee is separate from and in addition to gross salary, employer burden and benefits. A one-person budget should show all four components.

At five employees, the question shifts to whether the management fee changes (it does: volume discounts apply) and whether benefits and burden remain consistent (they should be the same per employee, but a custom quote confirms). A written quote is provided within 2 working days, so the exact rate can be confirmed.

Each provider in the EOR market structures fees and discounts differently. A meaningful comparison requires identical assumptions across all options: same headcount, same salaries, same benefits.

The five-employee threshold: where volume discounts begin

Many EOR providers structure volume discounts to start at five employees. ICS Payroll explicitly offers volume discounts from five employees. At this threshold, a founder should expect a new per-employee rate and a custom Total Cost of Employment quote showing the team impact.

The move from one to five does not change the underlying employment costs. Gross salaries, employer burden and benefits remain what they are for each employee. The change is in the EOR management fee, which may be reduced through volume pricing. When comparing, ask each provider about discount thresholds and rates.

Custom quotes are available rather than fixed discount percentages. The discount depends on factors like total salary spend and contract terms. A founder should provide actual headcount and salaries to see the five-employee rate in writing.

What a complete five-employee quote should show

A complete five-employee quote should separate cost categories so a founder understands what is included and what is invoiced at cost. The quote should show:

• Gross salaries: the agreed monthly gross for each of the five employees.
• Employer burden: the percentage or fixed amount (about 22-28% of gross per ICS Payroll), applied to the payroll.
• Benefits: the items selected and their cost, invoiced at cost (ICS Payroll invoices benefits at cost).
• EOR management fee: the per-employee rate and the volume discount shown separately.
• Service scope: what is covered and any exclusions.

A quote with these five elements lets a founder understand the total monthly cost and the discount impact. See the one-hire decision guide for context on when to choose EOR for a single employee.

Comparing EOR providers: use identical assumptions

Founders often compare EOR quotes and find very different totals. The difference may be due to fee structure, discount timing, what is included in the management fee or what is invoiced at cost. To compare accurately, provide every provider (including ICS Payroll) with the same headcount, five gross salaries, same benefits and same duration assumptions.

Calculator results are indicative and may deviate by plus or minus 5%. The written quote, not the calculator, is the document that governs. Request written quotes from all providers with identical assumptions, then compare the total cost and what is included.

Service quality, speed to hire, support and long-term pricing certainty should also be weighed. Fixed pricing and no hidden fees can be weighed against alternatives.

When a calculator is not enough: requesting a custom quote

An EOR calculator is useful for initial planning, scenario testing and ballpark estimates. However, a calculator should not drive a hiring decision at five employees or larger because the assumptions built into any calculator are generic. Actual employment costs depend on specific employee circumstances, benefits selections, contract terms and local variations in mandatory employer contributions.

Calculators carry margin of error. Results may deviate by plus or minus 5% depending on the specific facts of each case. At five employees, even a small per-employee variance compounds across the team, so a margin of error becomes meaningful.

A written quote, based on actual headcount and salary details, removes this uncertainty. A custom quote is provided within 2 working days after you submit the details. Use actual headcount and salaries, not round estimates, when requesting the quote. For longer-term structure decisions at five-employee scale, see the EOR or Dutch BV break-even guide to compare total costs of both structures.

Summary: EOR pricing structure at 1 vs 5 employees with ICS Payroll

At one employee, EOR pricing is straightforward: a per-employee monthly fee (ICS Payroll: €299) plus salary, employer burden and benefits. At five employees, volume discounts on the management fee apply and pricing moves to a custom Total Cost of Employment quote. ICS Payroll states that its fixed price covers payroll, taxes, insurances and service with no hidden fees, making the structure transparent.

This clarity and simplicity make this approach practical when evaluating EOR options for team expansion. Request a written quote to see the five-employee rate and total cost.