Offshore development team for UK startups
Sprout gives UK founders a senior product team in Karachi, Pakistan, 4 to 5 hours ahead of London, so the working day overlaps with yours. You contract with Sprout's US company, pay in US dollars, and own the IP on full payment. Squads start from $6,000 a month, while one senior software engineer hired in the UK costs about £7,200 a month once employer National Insurance and pension are added.
| Option | Cost | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Senior software engineer, UK median advertised salary | £75,000 a year | ITJobsWatch, permanent vacancies in the six months to October 2026. London roles pay more. |
| The same hire with employer costs | about £7,200 a month | Adds 15% employer National Insurance above £5,000 and a 3% minimum employer pension. Before equipment, benefits and recruiter fees. |
| Sprout embedded squad | from $6,000 a month | Engineers, a designer and a PM, sized to your roadmap. 14 days' notice to cancel. |
| Sprout MVP build | from $12,000 | Fixed scope, launch-ready in 6 to 12 weeks, milestone payments. |
Sources: ITJobsWatch: Senior Software Engineer salaries, UK; GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2025 to 2026. Ranges are approximate and vary by city, seniority and stack.
Time zones
Contracts, billing and IP
What the price difference buys
When to hire in-house instead
Can a UK startup hire developers in Pakistan?
Yes. With Sprout, UK companies contract with Sprout's US LLC, pay invoices in US dollars, and get the IP assigned to their company on full payment. The team works from Karachi, which is 4 to 5 hours ahead of London, so the working days overlap.
How much does it cost to hire a software engineer in the UK in 2026?
The median advertised salary for a senior software engineer in the UK was £75,000 in the six months to October 2026, according to ITJobsWatch. With 15% employer National Insurance above £5,000 and a 3% employer pension, that is about £7,200 a month before equipment, benefits and recruiter fees. London roles pay more.
What is the time difference between the UK and Pakistan?
Pakistan is on UTC+5 and does not observe daylight saving. It is 5 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 4 hours ahead during British Summer Time.
Does Sprout invoice in pounds?
No. Sprout invoices in US dollars through its US company. Your cost in pounds depends on the exchange rate when you pay.