Recommended Local Companies for Starting a Business in Italy

Why International Businesses Start in Italy

Italy is a major player in Europe’s economy and remains the third-largest economy in the European Union by GDP, after Germany and France. It accounts for around 12% of total EU GDP, which makes it a key market for any company that wants a serious European presence. The country is also a manufacturing powerhouse: Italy is ranked as the second-largest manufacturing economy in Europe and one of the largest in the world, with manufacturing alone making up about 15% of its GDP. On top of that, Italy sits among the world’s top exporters, with goods exports recently estimated at more than $650–675 billion per year.

For founders looking to hire employees in Italy or hire contractors in Italy, this means a strong mix of opportunities. There is a large labour market, long engineering and design traditions, and a deep base of skills in logistics, industrial production, tech, and business services. Italy’s central location also makes it a natural hub for serving clients across the EU, the UK, North Africa, and the wider Mediterranean region.

In the last few years, remote work and distributed teams have become normal for many Italian professionals. International companies now hire remote employees in Italy or work with remote contractors in roles like software development, customer support, digital marketing, and back-office operations. For many founders, Italy offers the best of both worlds: EU standards and protection, but still competitive costs compared to some other Western European markets.

At the same time, starting a business in Italy can feel complex for foreign entrepreneurs. You need to deal with:

• company formation and registration
• local employment and contractor rules
• taxes, social security, and compliance checks
• regional differences and local paperwork

Without local support, it is easy to lose time on documents and procedures instead of building your team and serving clients. Understanding how to structure contracts, how to register your presence, and when to treat someone as an employee versus a contractor is critical if you want to avoid fines or delays later.

This guide is designed to make that journey easier. It explains why Italy attracts international businesses and then introduces 20 recommended local partners across five practical categories:

• job sites
• relocation services
• staffing / recruiting agencies
• legal and tax consulting
• financial advisory firms

Each section highlights trusted providers that can help you with company setup, hiring, and compliance. Whether you plan to hire remote employees in Italy or build a full in-country team, these partners can save you time, reduce risk, and help you focus on growing your business instead of fighting bureaucracy.

Top Job Sites in Italy

Below are the best job sites Italy that can help you reach candidates quickly when you need to hire employees in Italy or test the market for contractor roles.

All job boards in this list are presented in alphabetical order.

Indeed Italy

Indeed Italy is the Italian version of the global job platform Indeed. Employers can post roles in Italian or English and reach candidates in many sectors, from office work to skilled trades. The site also aggregates listings from other sources, which gives good visibility. It is often a first stop when companies look for job sites Italy that can deliver broad reach at a reasonable cost.

Manpower Italy

Manpower Italy combines a large staffing network with an active job board. The platform is used heavily for office, industrial, and retail roles. Employers can advertise open positions, search CVs, and then work with Manpower’s local consultants if they need more support. This mix of online reach and offline help makes it a solid option for companies that want a recruitment agency in Italy plus a strong branded job site.

Randstad Italy

Randstad Italy is the Italian arm of Randstad, one of the world’s biggest HR groups. The site lists thousands of vacancies across the country. Employers can promote jobs, tap into Randstad’s candidate database, and get support with screening. For foreign companies that want both job sites Italy and traditional staffing support, Randstad gives a well-known brand and clear processes for high-volume hiring.

Subito Lavoro

Subito Lavoro is the jobs section of Subito, a popular Italian classifieds platform. It reaches a wide audience, including candidates who may not be active on international job sites. Employers can post roles for local office jobs, retail positions, or temporary work. Subito is especially useful when you need regional reach and want to test demand in specific cities before you hire contractors in Italy long term.

Top Relocation Agencies in Italy

Relocation providers help you move founders, managers, or specialist staff into Italy with less friction. They are also useful if you plan broader Italy relocation services for remote workers who want to relocate.

The companies below are listed in A–Z order.

Expats Living in Rome

Expats Living in Rome is an international social network designed to support foreigners planning to move to, live in, or work in Italy. The platform provides practical information, personalized services, and helpful advice on relocation, bureaucracy, visas, citizenship, housing, jobs, and everyday life. It also hosts events and community meetups to help expats connect, share experiences, and build social networks while adapting to Italian culture and life.

Relocate South

Relocate South focuses on relocation services in southern Italy. They assist with housing search, local registrations, school options, and daily-life setup. For foreign businesses opening branches in the south, this support shortens the adjustment period for incoming staff. Relocate South can also coordinate with HR teams to align move-in dates and employment start dates, which keeps onboarding smooth.

Relocate to Italy

Relocate to Italy works with individuals and companies that want to move talent into Italy. Services typically include visa and permit guidance, home search, and orientation support in the new city. For businesses that expect to hire remote employees in Italy and then move some people on-site later, Relocate to Italy can design step-by-step relocation plans tied to business timelines and budget.

R-Home

R-Home is a relocation company that supports moves to several Italian cities. They provide assistance with property search, local bureaucracy, school research, and everyday integration. Their services help companies reduce the risk of failed relocations, which is important when moving senior staff. R-Home can work alongside internal HR teams to create repeatable packages for future hires, which makes relocation services Italy more predictable.

Top Staffing and Recruiting Agencies in Italy

Staffing partners help you find local talent faster and stay compliant while you hire contractors in Italy or build your first core team.

All agencies in this section are listed alphabetically.

Adecco Italia Spa

Adecco Italia Spa is a widely known Italy recruitment agency. It supports temporary, fixed-term, and permanent hiring across many sectors. Adecco can manage sourcing, screening, and contract stages and can also provide payroll services for temporary workers. For foreign companies seeking staffing solutions Italy, it offers a nationwide footprint and experience with both large and small employers.

in.HR Agenzia per il Lavoro

in.HR Agenzia per il Lavoro is a recruitment and staffing agency that works across multiple Italian regions. They help employers with candidate sourcing, skill matching, and contract setup. Their focus includes industrial roles, office staff, and specialised profiles. This makes in.HR useful when you need a staffing agency Italy that can support flexible headcount and short-term project work.

MAW

MAW is an Italian employment agency headquartered in Brescia. It operates across central and northern Italy, with a large network of branches serving thousands of companies. MAW provides a wide range of human resources services, including temporary staffing, recruitment and selection, permanent placement, training, and active labor market services, helping businesses find and manage workforce needs and supporting candidates in their job search and career development. 

Synergie Italia Spa

Synergie Italia Spa is part of the international Synergie group. In Italy, it operates branches in many cities and covers sectors ranging from industry to services. Employers can use Synergie for temporary staffing, direct placement, and sometimes on-site HR management. If you are searching for a recruitment agency in Italy that understands both local and international employer needs, Synergie is a strong candidate.

Top Legal and Tax Advisory Providers in Italy

Legal and tax experts are essential when you want to hire contractors in Italy or launch a local entity and stay compliant. They help with contract structures, tax planning, and labour rules.

All firms in this section are listed from A to Z.

BFMR

BFMR is an Italian advisory firm that combines tax, accounting, and business consulting. They assist foreign entrepreneurs with company formation, compliance, and ongoing reporting. BFMR can advise on how to hire employees in Italy through a local entity and how to treat contractors correctly for tax purposes. This mix makes them useful for both planning and day-to-day operations.

Lexellent

Lexellent is a law firm with strong focus on employment and labour law. For foreign companies, they can draft contracts, advise on terminations, and help manage workplace policies under Italian rules. Lexellent is especially valuable if you need guidance on how to hire and pay remote employees in Italy while staying aligned with local employment protections and collective agreements.

Studio Premoli

Studio Premoli works as a labour consultancy focused on HR, payroll, and employment regulation. They can support salary structures, social security obligations, and audit-ready documentation. For companies that plan to hire remote contractors in Italy, Studio Premoli can explain misclassification risks and suggest compliant setups, which reduces legal exposure while you scale.

Studio Marino STP

Studio Marino STP is a professional firm that offers payroll, HR, and labour law assistance. They help with registrations, payslip management, and compliance checks for local staff. Businesses that want to move from contractor-heavy models to regular employment can use Studio Marino STP as a partner to design safe transitions and keep tax consulting Italy aligned with growth.

Top Financial Advisory and Consulting Providers in Italy

Financial advisors help you understand local costs, structure investments, and manage long-term planning for your Italian operations.

The firms here are listed in alphabetical order.

Adhoc SCF

Adhoc SCF is an independent financial advisory firm regulated in Italy. They focus on investment planning, financial strategy, and wealth management. For businesses, Adhoc SCF can advise owners and key managers on how Italian investments fit into broader plans. This is helpful when you are deciding how much to invest locally and how to balance risk while you build a presence and hire employees in Italy.

Alvarez & Marsal Italy

Alvarez & Marsal Italy provides performance improvement, restructuring, and transaction advisory services. International companies entering Italy often work with A&M for due diligence and operational reviews. If you are planning a sizable expansion, their team can help model costs, review organisational structures, and check that hiring and staffing solutions Italy align with long-term financial goals.

Four Partners Advisory

Four Partners Advisory is an Italian consulting firm that offers corporate finance, M&A, and strategic advisory services. For foreign founders, they can advise on financing options, partner searches, and growth planning. When you are thinking about how to hire in Italy as part of a broader expansion, Four Partners can help link hiring plans with capital structure and investor expectations.

Studio Girolmoni

Studio Girolmoni provides tax, accounting, and business consulting to Italian and foreign clients. They assist with bookkeeping, tax returns, and planning for cross-border activities. This makes them a useful partner if you want a single firm to handle Italian entity accounts, help with tax consulting Italy, and coordinate with your home-country advisors.

Wrapping Up: Hiring and Growing in Italy

Italy combines a large internal market, strong industry traditions, and access to the wider EU. For international businesses, the main challenge is not finding talent, but navigating rules, taxes, and paperwork without losing focus.

Using local partners can make a big difference:

• job sites Italy help you test demand and reach candidates quickly
• relocation companies simplify moves for key hires
• recruitment agencies Italy and staffing firms help you ramp teams up or down
• legal, tax, and financial advisors keep your structure compliant and efficient

Alongside these providers, you can also hire through Employer of Record (EOR) services in Italy if you do not want to open a local entity right away. EORs act as the legal employer while you manage the day-to-day work, which is useful for testing the market or running small remote teams. If you are considering that route, we recommend reviewing our guide to the best EOR service providers in Italy.

Together, these resources give you a practical starting point to plan hiring, compliance, and growth in Italy with less guesswork.