Build-Operate-Transfer Services
Build a nearshore team today. Own it tomorrow.
WE manage setup, staffing, and operations under your oversight, then transfer full ownership to you.
YOU get a fully operational team and business subsidiary, complete with the knowledge and systems to run it independently.
Phases of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Model
Exploratory Phase
Explore talent and regions through a traditional staff augmentation model. Our team handles recruiting, contracting, and payments. Team members start contributing immediately.
Build Phase
Commit to a region and AgilityFeat establishes a LATAM subsidiary on your behalf, working with our local experts on incorporation, banking, compliance. Team optimization is ongoing.
Operate Phase
We transfer the staff to the subsidiary and manage it transparently, ensuring you are knowledgeable on all operational, legal, and accounting matters.
Transfer Phase (optional)
When you are ready, we step aside. Upon payment of the pre-negotiated transfer fee, all legal entities are switched into your ownership. This phase is optional. You can continue under the Operate Phase as long as you wish, even forever.
Why Choose the Build-Operate-Transfer Model?
Immediate Talent, Zero Risk
Hire vetted nearshore engineers within weeks instead of months. Scale fast without the burden of long hiring cycles.
No vendor lock-in
A Build-Operate-Transfer model keeps your options open. Start small, scale as needed, and when the time is right, take full ownership of your team and subsidiary.
Full Compliance
Ensure compliance with industry standards through a hybrid or fully on-site workforce based in your office in LatAm, allowing for complete control of networks & devices, as well as operating procedures.
No learning curve
We have a network of recruiters, lawyers, accountants, and local managers already in place
Even greater cost savings.
An additional 20-30% reduction over staff augmentation after transfer for a total savings of up to 50% on typical US salaries.
Gain insights from AgilityFeat’s 15 years of building custom software development teams with The Ultimate Guide to Nearshoring Software Development in Latin America.
Cost Efficiency and ROI of the BOT Model
Build Phase Savings
- 30%+ savings on nearshore talent acquisition compared to US salaries
- Revenue generation is accelerated through faster team deployment.
Operate Phase SAVINGS
- No legal and compliance setup expenses
- Our established infrastructure reduces typical subsidiary setup costs by 70-80%.
Transfer Phase Savings
- Post-transfer operations typically achieve 20-30% additional cost savings over staff augmentation models, creating annual savings of $200,000-500,000 for teams of 15-25 developers.
- Transfer fees are structured to provide positive ROI within 12 months post-transfer.
Long Term ROI
- Owned subsidiaries reinvest savings directly into growth.
- Companies typically achieve 40-60% total cost reduction compared to US-based teams
- All while maintaining quality and adding strategic operational capabilities that drive competitive advantage beyond pure cost considerations.
Your Team.
Our Ecosystem.
When you build teams with AgilityFeat, you’re plugging into an ecosystem that has been helping companies like yours succeed in Latin America for over 15 years.
It’s not just our best practices for nearshore teams, we’ve also built a network of legal, accounting, and site selection experts that we put to work for you. These professionals helped us to build our own subsidiaries in Panama and Colombia and bring deep expertise in areas such as cross-border payments, local employment law, and tax incentives.
Build with the right foundation, backed by experience and trust.
LATAM: The Perfect BOT Destination
- Geographic proximity: The large overlap in work hours for real-time collaboration. Travel for team visits and offsites is also a breeze.
- Cultural affinity: Latin America has a business culture that is more similar to the US than many parts of the world.
- Legal Affinity: Countries like Colombia are extremely business friendly and allow for foreign owners without requiring special visas or local owners.
- Large tech community: LATAM has a vibrant tech community and many technical Universities filling the talent pool. Hubs like Bogotá, Medellín, and Mexico City are emerging as leading centers for AI and software innovation.
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FAQS
Build-Operate-Transfer Services: Frequently Asked Questions
What are build-operate-transfer services in IT?
Build-operate-transfer services in IT helps you establish a software development subsidiary in a way that reduces the risk, upfront investment, and learning curve.
What are the benefits of the build-operate-transfer model over outsourcing?
Under a build-operate-transfer model, you get greater control and compliance, greater cost savings, and no vendor lock-in, compared with outsourcing.
What is the difference between BOT services and staff augmentation services?
In staff augmentation, recruitment can happen across multiple countries, and is usually under a contractor model. For BOT services, we recruit talent in one country as local employees under our foreign entity which we eventually transfer to you.
How long does a build–operate-transfer project take?
The full build-operate-transfer path to team ownership can take as little as 12 months. This starts with getting a team up and running, which happens in just a few weeks.
Is the BOT model cost-effective for startups?
Startups are better suited with nearshore software development services or traditional staff augmentation. The BOT model is best for larger companies or for those in industries that need more control.
Can build-operate-transfer services be customized for different industries?
Yes, a BOT model is highly customizable. The team, contracting, and operations are built to your specifications, such as if you need to meet SOC 2, ISO, or other regulatory requirements.
How does the BOT model work step-by-step?
Step 1 (Build): We employ your team using our entities and work with our local experts to establish a subsidiary for you. Step 2 (Operate): We manage the subsidiary transparently while training your staff to take over. Step 3 (Transfer) When ready, we transfer the subsidiary to you.
How does the Build phase work?
During the Build phase, we will work with you in a typical Staff Augmentation contract with employment contracts under our local subsidiary. Behind the scenes, we work with our legal and accounting partners to set up a subsidiary for you, which will be owned by a US-based LLC.
What level of control do I have during the BOT operation phase?
Operations are defined by your needs from day one, and in the operation stage we will “open the books” to your team and teach your team how to run the subsidiary yourself.
How does the transfer phase work in the BOT model?
In the transfer phase, we will sell you the US LLC for a pre-agreed flat fee. The foreign subsidiary will be owned fully by your US LLC and will automatically transfer with the sale.