OpenWork Review
OpenWork (formerly STA Portage) is one of France's leading portage salarial companies — a uniquely French employment structure for freelance consultants seeking salaried employee status. With a 5% all-inclusive management fee, no hidden costs, and a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating across 394 reviews, it delivers under-24-hour onboarding, guaranteed monthly salary payments, and a proprietary mobile/web app. France portage salarial only.
Countries
Companies
Per Employee/Month
Setup Time
Provider Highlights
Advantages
- 5% flat all-inclusive fee — vs. market standard 7–12%; salary advance, PEE, PERCO, Swile card, CSE, cheques all included at the base rate; no entry fees, no exit fees; "Garantie sans frais caches" (no hidden fees guarantee)
- Trustpilot 4.8/5 (394 reviews) — the highest independently verified review score of any provider in this entire audit series; combined with Google 4.6/5 (143 reviews), 537 total independently verified reviews
- Salary advance guaranteed 5th of every month — even if the client has not yet paid; eliminates cash flow uncertainty that is the primary operational concern for freelance consultants; included at no extra cost
- Proprietary mobile/web app: expenses by photo, payslips, invoice tracking, real-time salary simulator, document storage; KYC, double authentication, client financial monitoring; onboarding under 24 hours; zero paper
- PEPS label (Syndicat du Portage Salarial); 16 years of operation; Orange, GRDF, RATP, Samsung corporate clients; CDI for banking/rental access; dedicated commercial + administrative advisor model; Mon–Fri 08h30–19h00 support
Limitations
- ⚠️ NOT for companies wanting to hire in France — portage salarial is a consultant-facing product, not an employer-facing EOR; companies needing France EOR (without entity) should use Deel France, Remote, or equivalent
- France only — portage salarial is a uniquely French legal construct; no equivalent in UK, Germany, Spain, or any other jurisdiction; no international capability by legal design
- 5% of TJM = significant absolute monthly cost at high billing rates (€1,000/day × 20 days = €1,000/month management fee); fixed-fee portage salarial alternatives may be more economical for very high-TJM senior consultants
- Not suitable for international consulting assignments (non-French client company, travel abroad) where complex cross-border tax and social security rules apply beyond portage salarial coverage
Platform Features & Capabilities
⚠️ Who Needs OpenWork vs. Who Needs International EOR France?
Before evaluating OpenWork's features, the use case distinction must be clear. Use OpenWork if: you are a freelance consultant or independent worker based in France; you have client engagements to invoice; you want to convert your TJM into a salaried salary with full French employee benefits (unemployment insurance, health insurance, CDI); you want to avoid creating your own business structure (SASU, EURL, auto-entrepreneur). Use an international France EOR (Deel France, Remote, Lano) if: you are a company outside France wanting to hire a French employee; you want to avoid establishing a French entity; you want the EOR provider to be the legal employer of someone who will work for you. These are fundamentally different product categories addressing opposite sides of the same employment relationship.
Portage Salarial — How the French Legal Framework Works
Portage salarial (French Labour Code Articles L1251-64 to L1251-76, codified by Decree No. 2017-774) creates a triangular employment relationship: the consultant (portee) brings their own client engagements; OpenWork (societe de portage) invoices the client company, converts the revenue into salary, and handles all French employment administration; the client company pays OpenWork's invoices. The consultant receives a salary with full French employee rights — unemployment insurance (UNEDIC), French social security (Securite Sociale), retirement (AGIRC-ARRCO), health insurance (mutuelle), paid leave, and payslips. The 2017 Convention Collective du Portage Salarial (collective agreement specific to portage salarial) governs minimum salary requirements (minimum 70% of PLAFOND SS for experienced consultants) and professional conduct standards that all PEPS-certified companies must follow. OpenWork's PEPS label confirms adherence to this collective agreement.
The 5% vs. Market Comparison — What the Fee Actually Includes
The typical portage salarial management fee in France is 7–12% of TJM HT. OpenWork charges 5% and includes items that competitors sell as additional paid options. The salary advance (full salary paid on the 5th of each month regardless of client payment timing) is the most commercially significant inclusion: competitors typically charge 2–3% of the monthly amount as a surcharge for this service. For a consultant invoicing EUR 10,000 HT/month: at 8% competitor rate + 2% salary advance surcharge = EUR 1,000/month; at OpenWork's 5% all-in = EUR 500/month. The savings are EUR 500/month — EUR 6,000/year — at this billing level. The PEE, PERCO, Swile restaurant card, cheques cadeaux, sports allowances, holiday participation, and CSE (works council discounts for travel and leisure) add tangible employer-equivalent benefits beyond the salary, all at the 5% inclusive rate.
What Users say
Trustpilot 4.8/5 (394 Reviews) — The Highest Score in This Audit Series
OpenWork's Trustpilot score of 4.8/5 across 394 verified reviews is the highest independently verified rating of any provider in this entire audit series, and the 537 combined review pool (Trustpilot + Google) is larger than the combined total of all other boutique providers audited in this series. The statistical significance of 394 reviews at 4.8/5 is not a marketing claim — it is a genuine operational quality signal. The consistent positive themes across available review context: reliability of the 5th-of-month salary payment, responsiveness of dedicated advisors, clarity and detail of payslips, quality of the mobile application, and speed of the digital onboarding process. These themes directly validate the specific product promises that differentiate OpenWork from competitors in the portage salarial market.
PEPS Label — Industry Certification Validation
The PEPS label (awarded by the Syndicat du Portage Salarial — the French portage salarial industry trade association) certifies that OpenWork adheres to the 2017 Convention Collective du Portage Salarial, maintains financial security deposits protecting consultants against company insolvency, and operates with professional ethics. This certification is not self-awarded — it requires external audit and annual renewal. For consultants evaluating portage salarial companies, PEPS certification is the most important due diligence checkpoint: it confirms the company can legally and financially deliver on its salary and benefit promises. OpenWork's PEPS label combined with 16 years of continuous operation provides the strongest available institutional credibility signal in the French portage salarial market.
Named Corporate Clients — Consultant Placement Validation
Orange, GRDF (French gas distribution), RATP (Paris public transport), Adeo (Leroy Merlin parent), and Samsung are named on OpenWork's client testimonials page as companies that use OpenWork-ported consultants. These are all large French corporate organisations with rigorous vendor compliance requirements — they cannot engage consultants through non-compliant portage salarial companies without creating legal employment risk for themselves. Their acceptance of OpenWork-ported consultants confirms that the portage salarial structure is legally sound and administratively robust from the client company perspective.
OUR TAKE
Is OpenWork the Right Solution for You?
OpenWork is the market-leading French portage salarial provider in this audit series — for French freelance consultants wanting the best combination of competitive management fee (5% all-inclusive), comprehensive benefits, salary advance guarantee, digital experience, and customer satisfaction, it is the strongest available option. However, it is a fundamentally different product from international EOR. If you are a company wanting to hire someone in France without establishing a French entity, OpenWork is not the right tool — you need a France-market EOR provider such as Deel France, Remote, or Factorial. If you are a freelance consultant in France wanting employee status from your consulting activities, OpenWork offers the highest-rated, most transparently priced portage salarial service in this audit series. Use our comparison tool to find the right option for your specific need.
Best For
French Portage Salarial 5 Percent
French freelancers wanting employee status through portage salarial at 5% flat fee.
Salary Advance Guaranteed France
French consultants needing guaranteed salary advance on the 5th of every month.
Freelance Consultant CDI France
French freelance consultants seeking CDI employee status without creating a business.
Openwork Trustpilot 48
Freelancers choosing France's highest-rated portage salarial with Trustpilot 4.8/5 validation.
ALTERNATIVES
How it compares
OpenWork vs. Freelance.com (for French portage salarial)
Freelance.com (formerly Oresys Portage) is one of France's largest portage salarial companies, listed on Euronext Growth Paris, covering portage salarial alongside freelancer marketplace services. OpenWork charges 5% all-inclusive vs. Freelance.com's typically higher rates (exact published rate not confirmed in available data). OpenWork wins on published pricing transparency, 5% competitive rate, PEPS certification, Trustpilot 4.8/5, and the guaranteed salary advance inclusion. Freelance.com wins on scale (as a listed company with significant marketplace network). For French freelancers prioritising the most competitive all-inclusive rate with the highest independently verified satisfaction scores, OpenWork is the stronger choice.
OpenWork vs. Deel France (for France employment — different products)
This comparison is provided for Compareor visitors who may confuse portage salarial with France EOR. Deel France covers France EOR at $599+/month — the company pays Deel; Deel is the legal employer of the company's chosen candidate; the candidate works exclusively for that company. OpenWork covers portage salarial at 5% of TJM — the consultant pays OpenWork; OpenWork converts their freelance revenue into a salary; the consultant works for multiple clients. The products serve opposite use cases: Deel France = company hires one specific person in France. OpenWork = French consultant manages multiple client engagements under one employer umbrella. A company trying to hire a specific French person should not use portage salarial for this purpose.
5% Flat Fee All-Inclusive — The Most Transparent Published Rate in French Portage Salarial
<p id="">OpenWork charges a single flat fee of 5% of the consultant's pre-tax revenue (HT — hors taxes). This is all-inclusive with no hidden fees, no entry fees, and no exit fees. The 5% rate includes services that competitor portage salarial companies (typically charging 7–12%) provide as paid add-ons.</p><p id=""><strong id="">Included at 5% (competitors typically charge extra):</strong><br id="">Salary advance: full salary guaranteed on the 5th of each month — included (competitors: 2–3% surcharge)<br id="">PEE (company savings plan) — included (competitors: paid option)<br id="">PERCO (collective retirement savings) — included (competitors: paid option)<br id="">Titres-restaurant via Swile card — included (competitors: paid option)<br id="">Cheques cadeaux, culture, sport, vacances — included (competitors: paid option)<br id="">CSE / works council access — included (competitors: rare)<br id="">Entry fees — EUR 0 (competitors: variable)<br id="">Exit fees — EUR 0 (competitors: variable)</p><p id="">Use the salary simulator on openwork.fr or the OpenWork app to calculate your exact net monthly salary from any TJM — real-time, before any commitment.</p>
Pricing Breakdown
Base Monthly Fee (Per employee, per month)
Setup Fee (One-time, varies by country)
Termination Fee (Covers statutory costs)
Volume Discounts (Available for 10+ employees)
Countries where it operates
Latest news & updates
Ongoing — 2017 Convention Collective du Portage Salarial
The 2017 Convention Collective du Portage Salarial (signed October 2017, extended by government decree) governs all PEPS-certified portage salarial companies including OpenWork. Key provisions affecting consultants: minimum daily remuneration (minimum 70% of PLAFOND Securite Sociale for experienced consultants); minimum notice periods; professional expense recognition rules; and the minimum experience level required for portage salarial eligibility. OpenWork's PEPS certification confirms full compliance with this collective agreement.
Ongoing — France Freelance Market Growth
France has approximately 1.2 million freelancers (independants) as of 2024, with significant growth in IT, consulting, and professional services. The portage salarial market has grown substantially since its legal codification in 2008 and the 2017 collective agreement, with an estimated 100,000+ consultants using portage salarial structures. OpenWork's 16-year track record and high review scores position it as an established player in this growing market.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the EOR Provider.
Still have questions?
Ask our team and get clear, unbiased guidance tailored to your situation.
Is OpenWork the right choice if I want to hire someone in France?
No. If you are a company wanting to hire a specific person in France without creating a French entity, you need an international EOR France provider such as Deel France, Remote, or Lano — not a portage salarial company. Portage salarial serves French freelancers who want to convert their own client engagements into a salaried employment structure. The key distinction: with international EOR, you pay the EOR provider to employ your chosen person. With portage salarial, the consultant pays the portage company to handle their payroll.
What is portage salarial and how does the 5% fee work?
Portage salarial is a French employment structure that allows independent consultants to work on multiple client projects while receiving a monthly salary (instead of invoicing as a self-employed person). OpenWork invoices your clients on your behalf, converts the pre-tax revenue (TJM HT) into a gross salary after deducting the 5% management fee, processes all French social security contributions (URSSAF, UNEDIC, AGIRC-ARRCO), and pays you a net salary on the 5th of each month. For example: if you bill EUR 10,000 HT in a month, OpenWork deducts EUR 500 (5%), processes social contributions on the remaining EUR 9,500 gross, and pays you the net salary (approximately EUR 6,000–6,500 net depending on contribution rates).
Why is OpenWork's 5% fee lower than competitors charging 7–12%?
OpenWork positions its 5% as achievable through operational efficiency and a digital-first model that reduces administrative costs. Critically, the 5% is genuinely all-inclusive — it includes salary advance (which competitors charge 2–3% extra for), PEE, PERCO, Swile restaurant card, cheques cadeaux, sports allowances, CSE access, and no entry/exit fees. When comparing against a 8% competitor that charges additional fees for salary advance and benefits, the all-in cost differential can be EUR 400–800/month in favour of OpenWork for typical consultant billing levels.
Is the guaranteed 5th-of-month salary payment really guaranteed?
Yes — OpenWork guarantees full salary payment on the 5th of each month regardless of whether the client company has paid its invoice by that date. OpenWork assumes the credit risk on client payment. The 394 Trustpilot reviews consistently confirm this payment reliability. The salary advance is included at no extra cost in the 5% fee — competitors typically charge 2–3% of the monthly amount as a "salary advance" option.
Still have questions?
Ask our team and get clear, unbiased guidance tailored to your situation.
Switching to or from OpenWork?
Joining OpenWork
Onboarding takes under 24 hours once a mission is identified. The process is fully digital: create an account on openwork.fr; complete KYC (Know Your Customer) electronic identity verification; sign your CDI or CDD contract electronically; and start invoicing your clients through the OpenWork platform. No physical documents, no in-person meetings, no accounting software required on your side. Once onboarded, declare worked days and expenses via the app; OpenWork invoices your clients; you receive your net salary on the 5th of each month. The salary simulator on the website and app allows you to model your exact net salary from any TJM before committing.
Leaving OpenWork
OpenWork has no exit fees (confirmed). Leaving requires: formally ending your CDI or CDD (standard French Labour Code notice period applies for CDI); ensuring all outstanding client invoices are issued and settled through OpenWork before departure; receiving your final payslip and all accumulated PEE/PERCO savings documentation; and requesting your full document package (payslips, tax certificates, employment certificate). Your unemployment insurance (UNEDIC) contribution history through OpenWork will be usable for French Pole Emploi unemployment benefit claims if applicable.
Find a better EOR — without risk
Compare EOR providers to gain insights on cost, coverage, and contract flexibility, ensuring compliance and payroll continuity.
.png)
.png)
