Methodology · rubric 1.0 (fixed 2026-10-25, before any company was scored)

How we score

Every company gets the same six criteria, scored 0 to 10 from public information: pricing pages, terms, service pages and review profiles. The rubric is written for a buyer hiring 1 to 50 people.

The rubric

Talent & screening
How staff are screened (skills tests, interviews, background checks), what share of applicants get through, and what seniority is on offer.20%

Pricing transparency
Are rates or price ranges published? Are setup, placement and management fees disclosed before the sales call?20%

Small-business access
Can a small business start with one person, or part-time? Minimum seats, hours or contract value.15%

Terms & guarantees
Trial period, free replacement, notice period, lock-in and one-off fees.15%

Track record
Years operating, scale, and independent review ratings with the number of reviews behind them.15%

Management & reporting
Account management, onboarding, performance reporting, quality checks and time-zone coverage.15%

Page scores

Each drawer page blends the rubric score (70%) with fit for that page (30%): a dedicated service and proven work in that industry or function. On country pages, fit means working well for buyers in that country: published proof of clients there, cover for its business hours, pricing in its currency and local support. A company doesn't have to be headquartered in the country to be on its page.

What the anchors mean

9–10: best in class, with published evidence.
7–8: good, with clear evidence.
5–6: average, or unclear.
3–4: weak, or not published where it matters. "Quote only" pricing scores 3–4; a minimum of ten seats scores 3–4 on small-business access.

How we choose the companies in each drawer

Each drawer is a shortlist of strong, relevant companies, not a list of every provider. A company appears in one drawer only, the one where it's strongest, so each page shows a different set of options.

VA MASTERS, the parent company of this site's publisher, appears in every drawer because it places staff in all of these areas. It's scored with the same rubric and has its own "what to watch" list.

We don't list freelance marketplaces, job boards or software tools. Those are a different way to hire: you screen and manage the person yourself.

Rules we follow

One rubric for every company, fixed before scoring.
Every fact has a source and the date we checked it. If something isn't published, we say so.
No one pays for a score or a rank. If we ever add sponsored placements, they'll be labeled "Sponsored" and kept apart from the scores.
Companies can request a listing or a correction at any time.