Agent of record (AOR): what it means

By the HRPricing editorial teamReviewed October 18, 2026How we research and score

An agent of record (AOR) is the party officially named to act for a client on an account: in hiring, a firm that contracts with your independent contractors and pays them on your behalf; in insurance, the broker a carrier recognizes on your policy. Contractor AOR services cost $99 to $199 per contractor per month at Payoneer Workforce Management (formerly Skuad) and Atlas, according to their pricing pages (checked October 16, 2026).

An agent of record (AOR) is the firm or broker formally designated to act for a client on a contract or account.

AOR in contractor hiring

The AOR signs the contract with the worker, checks that the relationship looks like real contracting, collects invoices and pays them. The worker stays a contractor. Atlas charges $199 per contractor per month and credits a $99 classification assessment toward the subscription; Payoneer WFM starts at $99. A contractor of record goes further and takes on some of the classification risk: Deel and Remote charge $325, and Remote's CM Plus tier includes a $100,000 indemnity per contractor with a $1 million aggregate. Neither fixes a worker you manage like staff; the IRS still looks at behavioral control, financial control and the type of relationship (see employee misclassification and 1099 worker).

Example: five contractors for a year

Five overseas contractors, published list prices, October 2026
OptionPer monthPer year
Payoneer WFM AOR, from $99 each$495$5,940
Atlas AOR, $199 each$995$11,940
Atlas EOR, from $599 each (as employees)$2,995$35,940

Sources: Atlas and Payoneer Workforce Management (Skuad) pricing pages, checked Oct 16, 2026. EOR adds employer contributions on top.

The EOR line costs more because the people become employees with local payroll. The choice is laid out in EOR vs AOR, contractor of record pricing and contractor management tools.

AOR in insurance and other fields

  • Insurance: the agent or broker of record is the one the carrier deals with and pays commission to. You change it by signing an AOR letter. This comes up when you leave a PEO and move health or PEO insurance cover to your own broker.
  • Agency of record: in advertising, the agency that holds a brand's main account and buys media for it.
  • Architect of record: in construction, the licensed architect responsible for the drawings filed for permits.

Frequently asked questions

What is an agency of record?
In advertising, the agency of record is the one that holds a brand's main account and places media for it. In hiring, AOR usually means agent of record, a firm that contracts with and pays your independent contractors.
What does AOR mean in insurance?
It is the agent or broker of record: the broker the insurer recognizes on your policy and pays commission to. You switch brokers by signing an AOR letter.
How much does an agent of record service cost?
Published prices ran from $99 per contractor per month (Payoneer Workforce Management, formerly Skuad) to $199 (Atlas) in October 2026. Contractor of record services with indemnity cost $325 at Deel and Remote.
What is the difference between an AOR and an EOR?
An AOR keeps the worker a contractor and pays their invoices. An employer of record hires the worker as its employee, runs local payroll and benefits, and charges more, from $599 a month at Atlas.
Sources (5)
  1. Atlas: Pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  2. Payoneer Workforce Management (Skuad): Pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  3. Remote: Pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  4. Deel: Pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
  5. IRS: Independent contractor (self-employed) or employee? (checked Oct 16, 2026)

This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rules and rates change, so check the official source linked above before you file or sign a contract. Read our disclaimer.