Blog

Business in South America

Read

Business in South America
0
(0)

More and more businesses are realizing the benefits of offshoring and entering into co-employment contracts with companies based in South America. The region is home to a large and highly educated talent pool, advanced technological infrastructure, buzzing industry, successful startups, and more. If you are looking to expand your business in South America, here are some important things you should keep in mind.

SERVIAP can help with your global expansion needs. Contact us today to learn how you can expand your business with PEO in South America and Latin America.

Why Do Business with these countries?

Here are just a few of many reasons to do business in South America.

Technological Achievement of business

One of the biggest reasons for the increase in popularity of South America is the fact that many countries in the region are investing heavily in technology infrastructure. In fact, many South American countries rival some of the most modern countries of the western world when it comes to internet connectivity and other technology advancements.

If you are doing business in South America, don’t expect old technology, slow internet speeds, and shoddy service. Instead, expect to be met with metropolitan cities and IT infrastructure that you’re used to back at home.

Business and Burgeoning Ideas

Even 20 years ago, South American countries may not have made it to the top of the list for places home to innovation, imagination, and creation. That has all changed significantly. Today, some of the world’s brightest minds and most successful startups come from South American countries. People all over the world look to the leading entrepreneurs in South America for inspiration on how to think big in new ways.

South American Skilled Talent Pool

Many South American countries have invested heavily in education over the last 20 years, especially in technological fields. For example, in Colombia, over 13,000 people obtain a degree in either IT or engineering every year. In Argentina, there has been an 80% growth in the number of students who are pursuing degrees and qualifications in IT and tech fields. Many other countries in the region have a similar trajectory, providing access to many highly educated and experienced engineers and IT professionals.

Cost Savings in a whole business

Outsourcing work to South American countries can allow businesses to reduce costs significantly. Individuals with equivalent or better skills compared to their counterparts in other areas of the world can be hired for lower salaries. The average annual salary for software developers in South America is around $13,245. Compared to the $110k average salary for developers in the U.S., cost savings are immense.

Beyond salary cost reduction, many South American countries will also offer incentives to businesses to operate in their country. From lower tax rates to investment incentives, grants, and relaxed travel barriers, there are many benefits of doing business in South America.

Tips for Doing Business in South America

There may be some cultural differences that you’re not used to when doing business in South America. While every country in the region is different, here are some general guidelines to help you put your best face forward with your South American business partners:

Dress Appropriately

Personal appearance is a major consideration for doing business in South America. While some companies in the United States have taken a more laxed approach to work attire, their South American counterparts have not. If you are attending a virtual or in-person business meeting, plan to dress appropriately.

Be Patient

Americans are famous for their go-go-go attitudes. They want things done, and they want them done now. That’s simply not the way of life in South America. Life runs at a much slower pace than in the U.S. or even in Europe. That means if you’re doing business in South America, you should be prepared for it to take some time.

Deals and negotiations will often be extended over longer periods of time than you might like. You may also need to be prepared for your South American counterparts to not be punctual to appointment times. They’re not being rude. It’s just the way of life.

Business and Life Intersect

The saying “work is work, and life is life” doesn’t exactly apply in South America. Residents often interweave their personal and business lives, so don’t be taken aback if you’re expected to do the same.

South Americans like to establish familiar relationships with the people they do business with as well. So, be prepared to be invited to social and personal functions, and be sure to attend them if you can. In the long run, this will build trust and engender respect.

South Americans are Passionate

Many South Americans have a lot of passion for life, and it shows right out in the open. When they speak, they do so boisterously and sometimes loudly. Some people may make a lot of gestures, too. This can sometimes be taken as they’re being argumentative, but they’re not. This way of communicating may take some adjustment for people in the U.S., but it’s necessary to understand how to relate to your counterparts.

Treat People with Respect

Treating people with respect really goes without saying no matter where you are doing business. But, in South America, it is very important that you don’t come off as being better than anyone or that you’re patronizing them. South Americans especially dislike when they feel that Europeans and Americans are patronizing them. It will be very hard to come back from a slight like this if they suspect that’s your true feelings.

One way to show respect is to do business as they do business in South America. Following some of the steps above will certainly help you do that.

Expand Your Business with SERVIAP

SERVIAP is a leading Professional Employer Organization (PEO) ready to help your business expand operations throughout the Western Hemisphere. PEO is a model of co-employment, where we assume total responsibility for your talent, allowing you to focus on the strategic activities of your organization. Contact us today to learn more about how you can expand your business in South America and Latin America.

Contact Us


How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Related Articles

Business in South America

What is Neurodiversity in The Workplace And How to Support it

Talent Acquisition

5 Read

Fostering a truly inclusive workplace means going beyond compliance and actively celebrating neurodiversity in the workplace.

Read Blog Post

PEO vs EOR Services: 2 Options to Choose

Global EOR, International PEO

5 Read

Understanding the key differences between PEO vs EOR services is crucial when choosing the right solution for your business.

Read Blog Post

New Minimum Wage in El Salvador: What it Means For Global Companies

News El Salvador

4 Read

The new minimum wage in El Salvador became effective on June 1st, 2025, and requires a varying increase across different sectors.

Read Blog Post

Serviap Global Celebrates 15 Years

Featured, News

5 (2) In 2025, Serviap Global celebrates 15 years of history, an achievement that mirrors the rapid transformation of the employer of record (EOR) industry...

Read Blog Post

How to Pay Contractors Internationally: a Quick Guide

Independent contractors, Talent Acquisition

0 (0) Hiring international contractors can help you grow your business, reduce costs, and access specialized skills, but navigating how to pay contractors across borders...

Read Blog Post

How Can a US Company Hire a Foreign Employee?: 3 Useful Options

Recruitment, Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO)

0 (0) Even with recent tariffs and economic uncertainties, many American businesses are looking beyond borders to tap into international talent. But how can a...

Read Blog Post

Working Hours in Mexico: Country Plans 8-Hours Reduction by 2030

News Mexico

0 (0) Recent years in Mexico have been marked by recurrent discussions in labor reform, including the increase of minimum wage and the fight against...

Read Blog Post

4 Global Expansion Tips With Aaron McDaniel

Global EOR, Remote working

Expanding globally in 2025? The goal is not just about targeting the biggest markets. Read and discover global expansion tips to grow with confidence.

Read Blog Post

Serviap Global Wins at the 2025 Excellence in Customer Service Awards

Awards

The Serviap Global team has been recognized in the Exceptional Customer Experience category.

Read Blog Post

Live Webinar: What You Must Know About Global Expansion in 2025, with Aaron McDaniel

Featured

Learn insightful tips for global expansion expansion in our live webinar, featuring Aaron McDaniel.

Read Blog Post

Serviap Global is a Finalist at the 2025 TIARA Talent Solutions Awards US

Awards

Serviap Global becomes a finalist in Client Service at the 2025 TIARA Talent Solutions Awards US.

Read Blog Post

How to Use AI in Hiring International Workers

Recruitment, Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), Talent Acquisition

How to use AI in hiring? Discover the history, benefits, and challenges of AI assistance in global talent acquisition.

Read Blog Post

How U.S. Tariffs Benefit Canada and Mexico: A Strategic Advantage in Global Trade

News

5 (1) US tariffs on other countries strengthen the position of Mexico and Canada as key partners for companies looking to expand, hire talent, and...

Read Blog Post

Borderless Talks Ep. 6: Women in Remote Work And The Evolution of The EOR Industry

Featured, Global EOR, Remote working

Episode 6 of Borderless Talks invites Brend Limón to discuss the evolution of global collaboration from the perspective of women in remote work.

Read Blog Post

Serviap Global is a Finalist at the 2025 Latin America Inspiring Workplaces Awards

Awards, Featured

Serviap Global is nomitated as a finalist among 8 other global companies at the IW Awards 2025.

Read Blog Post

How to Manage International Teams: 5 Tips for Leaders

Global EOR, Remote working

Efficient international teams take hard work and ongoing efforts in communication and culture. Here are 5 considerations to improve remote teamwork.

Read Blog Post

2 Options for Hiring Remote Foreign Employees Without a Local Entity

Global EOR, Independent contractors

The complexities of hiring remote foreign employees can be simplified with these two options: EOR collaboration and hiring independent contractors.

Read Blog Post

Infographics: Can we Overcome The Global Talent Shortage in 2025?

Recruitment, Talent Acquisition

Discover some key tips to help you beat the global talent shortage and getting ahead.

Read Blog Post

Borderless Talks Ep. 5: Advantages of Chinese companies in Latin America

Featured

Listen to the fifth episode of Borderless Talks with Serviap Global's Sales Executive from China, Sally Chen.

Read Blog Post

6 Important Documents to Hire Employees Abroad

Recruitment, Talent Acquisition, Visas and Immigration

Get to know some of the important documents and steps to hire employees abroad for global companies.

Read Blog Post

Global Hiring Trends in 2025: Which Industries Are Leading International Expansion?

Global EOR, International PEO

In 2025, many sectors will be at the forefront of international expansion and global hiring trends, from technology, to manufacturing, and so on.

Read Blog Post

Infographic: Working Hours in Latin America by Country

Infographics, International PEO

The maximum working hours in Latin America vary from country to country. Getting an overview of their work practices is essential to enter this region's...

Read Blog Post

Hiring In Colombia: 10 Key Factors To Know Beforehand

News Colombia, Talent Acquisition

Discover important aspects of the Colombian market based on the World Bank's Business Ready 2024 ranking.

Read Blog Post

How Does EOR Work?: Your 6-Steps Easy Guide

Global EOR, International PEO

An Employer of Record helps you enter new markets in a matter of weeks or even days. But do you know how does EOR work?

Read Blog Post

New “Unidad de Medida y Actualización” in Mexico: What it Means for Employers in 2025

Global EOR, News Mexico, Payroll outsourcing

The "Unidad de Medida y Actualización" index was increased by 4.21% in 2025 and reflects in the payment increase of fines and other obligations.

Read Blog Post

Borderless Talks Ep. 4: Top Global Expansion Mistakes to Avoid in 2025

Featured, Global EOR, Podcast

Listen to the fourth episode of Borderless Talks with Global Expansion Expert, Klaus Wehage.

Read Blog Post

Infographics: International Maternity Leave Standards

Global EOR

Browse our maps to discover the main differences in guidelines for international maternity leave rights.

Read Blog Post

Borderless Talks Ep. 3: Zain Ali on Global Hiring Solutions

Featured, Podcast

Listen to the third episode of Borderless Talks with Zain Ali, CEO of Centuro Global.

Read Blog Post

5 Top Digital Nomad Destinations in South America 

Uncategorized

Looking for your next place to work, live or hire? Here is our selection of top digital nomad destinations in South America for 2025.

Read Blog Post

6 Global Team Building Tips from Santa Claus Himself 

International PEO, Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO)

Santa Claus partnered with Serviap Global to give you these important tips on global team building in your company.

Read Blog Post