Mistakes When Expanding Into LatAm Tech Markets

2025-08-21 · Howdy.com Editorial Lab Howdy.com

Latin America offers immense opportunity for US tech leaders, but expansion comes with pitfalls. Many companies underestimate hidden costs or overlook compliance. Avoiding these mistakes is critical to success.

Underestimating hidden costs

Salaries are lower, but other costs add up if they are not planned for.

  • Turnover. Replacing engineers is expensive.
  • Onboarding. Training cycles delay productivity.
  • Benefits. Local requirements can surprise unprepared teams.

Ignoring compliance complexity

Each country has its own labor code and requirements that can be unforgiving.

  • Contract rules. Termination laws vary widely.
  • Payroll. Tax structures require local expertise.
  • Social benefits. Missing contributions risks fines.

Misaligning compensation

Paying too low risks churn, while overpaying distorts budgets and expectations.

  • Market awareness. Local benchmarking is essential.
  • Retention incentives. Benefits and growth paths keep engineers engaged.
  • Sustainability. Compensation must scale with company growth.

How Howdy.com prevents expansion mistakes

Avoiding mistakes in new markets requires experience and local infrastructure. Howdy.com helps US leaders expand into LatAm smoothly and sustainably.

  • Compliance handled. Payroll and benefits managed locally.
  • Compensation expertise. Fair, competitive pay packages.
  • Retention support. Local HR and career growth reduce turnover.
  • Transparent operations. No hidden costs or surprises.

Conclusion

Expanding into LatAm offers strategic benefits but only if approached carefully. By avoiding hidden costs, compliance issues, and misaligned pay, US leaders set their teams up for success. Howdy.com delivers the expertise and infrastructure to make LatAm expansion seamless.