Remote-First

An organization designed around remote work as the default, with processes, tools, and culture built for a distributed team, rather than an office with remote allowed as an exception.

Why it matters

Remote-first widens the talent pool and can cut costs, but it demands deliberate communication, documentation, and culture to work. Choosing it shapes hiring, tools, and how the team collaborates from the start.

For example

GitLab runs remote-first, with every process documented in a public handbook so a fully distributed team can operate without an office.

Go deeper

The Next Evolution of Transparent Salaries: Our Remote-First Formula and Salary Calculator Buffer · article This is a real, published pay formula, not opinion: Salary = (SF 50th-percentile benchmark x cost-of-living multiplier x role multiplier) x experience factor, with the location adjustment set to three clean bands (100 / 85 / 75 percent) instead of a made-up discount. That is exactly the transparent location-aware band your answer argues for, and Buffer even ships a public calculator and open salary sheet so anyone can see how their number is built. Steal the structure and swap SF for a Bengaluru benchmark to price talent in Jaipur or Coimbatore defensibly rather than by gut. Open buffer.com →

Related terms

Also in Starting Up

See how founders actually handle this on Co-founders, team and legal, part of the Starting Up hub.

eChai Partner Brands