Hire specialists who actually execute.
Browse vetted talent, meet your top 3 on a private page, and let us employ, pay and manage them. One platform, one invoice, zero cross-border admin.
The platform
One platform. Two sides of the deal.
Clients see a shortlist built for one role. Specialists keep one profile that gets them matched. No noise, no filtering, just the right people.
What's inside
Built to run hiring, not just list it.
Clients browse and select. Specialists build a profile and get placed. We run the compliance underneath. Here's what each side actually sees.
Private client pages
Your top 3 on a branded, password-protected page. Full profiles, one-click scheduling.
Auto-formatted CVs
Every candidate rendered into one clean, branded format. No ugly-CV penalty, always current.
Interview scheduling
Book candidate interviews straight from the page. Calendars sync, no email ping-pong.
Collaborate & hire
All the tools to hire with ease.
A private shortlist, built-in check-ins, pipeline management and a vetted talent network. The Friends gives you all the tools you need, and nothing you don't.
Check-ins built in
Your private shortlist
Where our talent comes from
Pipeline you can actually see
Testimonials
From the people on both sides.
How it works
From "we need someone" to working, in about three weeks.
01
Tell us the role
A 30-minute discovery call. Role, seniority, budget, must-haves. That's all we need to start.
Day 0
02
Meet your top 3
Within 7 days you get a private, branded page with three matched specialists, ready to interview.
Day 1–7
03
Interview and choose
Interview the ones you like. We sit in, coordinate calendars, and get you a decision fast.
Day 7–14
04
They start
We handle contracts, equipment and onboarding. Your specialist starts, and we check in throughout.
Day 14–25
The vetting
"Vetted" means something here.
Everyone in the pool clears three gates before a client ever sees them.
Gate 01
Skills & portfolio
A real portfolio review and a practical task in their actual specialty. Titles don't pass. Work does.
Gate 02
Expert interview
A live interview led by an experienced practitioner in the same field: the questions only someone who does the work knows to ask.
Gate 03
References & compliance
References, background checks and full employment paperwork, completed before day one.
The bar is simple: only specialists we'd trust with a business-critical role make it into the pool.
The division of labor
You approve the work. The platform does the rest.
Every specialist on the platform has cleared three gates before you ever see them.
You
Interview and pick your specialist
Give them the work
Approve one monthly invoice
Us
Employment contracts & Serbian labor compliance
Payroll, taxes & social contributions
Equipment, tooling & secure setup
Onboarding, check-ins & replacements
One clean invoice in USD or EUR
Guarantee & transparency
No fine print. On purpose.
14-day replacement guarantee
Not the right fit in the first two weeks? We replace them at no extra cost, and we do it fast.
Transparent from day one
Pricing model, process, timelines and terms are public before you ever get on a call. No surprises.
No hidden costs
You know exactly what you're paying for and when. You're only invoiced once your specialist is placed.
How we compare
Same talent pool. Completely different deal.
Benefits
The Friends
Hire direct
Upwork
Vetted by practitioners
The Friends
Hire direct
You do it
Upwork
No
Employed, not gig
The Friends
Hire direct
Upwork
No
Legal / tax / payroll
The Friends
Us
Hire direct
You
Upwork
You
Single invoice
The Friends
Hire direct
No
Upwork
No
Replacement guarantee
The Friends
14 days
Hire direct
No
Upwork
No
Time to start
The Friends
~3 weeks
Hire direct
Months
Upwork
Days
For specialists
Are you the specialist?
Build one profile, get matched with clients abroad, and let us handle employment, payroll and paperwork. You just do the work.
Ten-minute application.
Not hiring? Need it done for you?
Don't need a hire, need an agency?
If you'd rather hand the work over than bring someone in-house, our sister agency runs marketing, web, design and growth as a full service, done for you, end to end.
FAQ
The questions everyone asks.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the role, seniority and scope, so we price each engagement individually and transparently. You'll see the full model and your exact number on the discovery call, before any commitment.
Where is your talent based?
Our specialists are based in Serbia and the wider region. They work remotely with clients in the US, UK and EU, in your time zone or with meaningful overlap.
Are they employees or contractors?
Employees, not gig contractors. Every specialist is employed by The Friends under a full employment contract, with payroll, taxes and benefits handled by us.
Why are names and photos hidden?
Profiles are anonymized until you book a call to protect specialists who are currently employed elsewhere. Once we match you, you get full names, photos and references on your private shortlist page.
What if it doesn't work out?
If it's not the right fit in the first 14 days, we replace the specialist at no extra cost, and we do it fast. After that, replacements are handled case by case, without penalties.
Who owns the work?
You do. Everything your specialist produces while working for you belongs to your company, and that's written into the agreement from day one.
Your next hire is already on the platform.
Tell us the role. Meet three matched specialists on your private page within a week. Decide with a 14-day guarantee behind you.
