Nearshore talent—professionals based in countries geographically close to the U.S.—is becoming an increasingly popular solution to the talent crisis. But before making the decision to hire nearshore, some business owners hold misconceptions about the process and its potential. We spoke with five CEOs who candidly shared the misconceptions they had before embracing nearshore talent and the surprising benefits they’ve discovered. Here’s what they had to say: 

Misconception #1: Lack of physical presence makes remote professionals less efficient  

Bernadette Capulong, Founder of BC Design House 

Bernadette, like many business owners, was initially skeptical about the idea of hiring remote executive assistants. “In my mind, I always pictured an executive assistant as someone physically close, just outside the office door, handling everything from mail to lunch orders.” She doubted how these tasks, requiring a physical presence, could translate into a remote role. 

However, with the pandemic forcing a shift in operations, she took a leap of faith and hired a WBN assistant. To her surprise, Bernadette found that most of the physical tasks were just a small part of the role. “Before working with WorkBetterNow, we had experience with offshore teams but never for administrative roles. It was hard to imagine how a remote assistant could handle physical tasks. However, we've successfully made it work, even after returning to the office.” 

As her confidence in remote talent grew, Bernadette expanded her team with additional WBN hires, filling roles in marketing and operations. This allowed her to focus more on growing her business, and even led to two WBN employees being promoted within the company, showing that nearshore talent can not only fulfill key roles but thrive and grow. 

Misconception #2: Nearshore talent comes with communication issues 

Kelly Wolf, Global Sales Leader at More Surface Care 

Kelly initially had reservations about hiring nearshore talent, particularly when it came to concerns about communication and reliability. "We weren't sure if it was going to work... I was concerned about Internet reliability and the English capability," she shared. 

However, after hiring two professionals through WBN, Kelly’s perspective shifted. “Mariana, who handles our customer service, has done an incredible job. Her English is excellent, and she’s really become a liaison between our sales team, warehouse, and customers.” Kelly also mentioned that her WBN hires have been a significant time-saver, freeing up approximately 25-30% of her time to focus on higher-level tasks. 

She was impressed with how quickly WBN handled the recruitment process, noting, “The interview process was wrapped up in about an hour, and we had someone on board within a week.” This speedy hiring process combined with WBN's ongoing support has made a big impact on her business. 

“At first, we had some misconceptions about hiring offshore talent, mainly around internet reliability and language skills. But it turns out, we had nothing to worry about. WBN's professionals fit right in from day one, proving they’re reliable and communicate excellently.” Kelly Wolf, Global Sales Leader at More Surface Care 

Misconception #3: Remote Staffing Lacks Proactive Talent 

Sean Spector, Co-Founder and CEO at Dropoff 

When Sean first explored nearshore talent through WorkBetterNow, it wasn’t just about cost savings—it was about finding the right level of proactivity and initiative. Having worked with talent from other regions, Sean initially had concerns about whether remote professionals could step up in more demanding roles. What he discovered, however, exceeded his expectations. 

"We saw good results fairly early on, and it just kept working," he mentioned, highlighting how they scaled from a few roles to now having 20 nearshore professionals. 

Sean was particularly impressed with the proactive nature of the Latin American talent compared to other regions, noting, "We found they were more proactive than counterparts in India or the Philippines."  This allowed his remote team to not only meet but anticipate needs, adding significant value to operations like customer care and dispatch. 

Rather than worrying that remote staff couldn’t handle growing responsibilities, Sean and his team found that the nearshore professionals from Latin America were eager to take on more. As a result, roles naturally evolved, with team members stepping into higher responsibilities. The cultural alignment and time zone compatibility also made a big difference in creating seamless operations, enabling Dropoff to grow efficiently with remote talent. 

Misconception #4: Remote talent won’t care about my business 

Jim Paras, EOS Certified Implementer 

Jim Paras, a business leader using EOS and a referral partner, shared his positive experience with WorkBetterNow (WBN). He highlighted how WBN has provided dedicated remote professionals that not only meet but exceed his expectations. "What struck me was the high level of want from the WBN talent," he noted, emphasizing that these professionals view their roles as careers rather than part-time gigs. “In EOS, we evaluate three things—whether they 'get it, want it, and have the capacity'—and the 'want' from WBN’s professionals is just so much higher. I’ve worked with capable assistants before, but for them, it was just something they did part-time while managing other responsibilities, like taking care of their kids. The work wasn’t their profession or passion, and that difference was clear. With WBN, I found a level of commitment and desire that was refreshing and truly impactful." 

Jim particularly praised the systemized hiring process of WBN, which he found clear and efficient, giving him the flexibility to find the perfect match for his business needs. He shared that his WBN assistant, Denise, has become an integral part of his business, taking over client communication and back-office tasks. "She's not just a clock-puncher. She’s fully invested in the success of my business." 

Misconception #5: Nearshore talent can’t match domestic talent 

Larry Zogby, Owner of RDS Same Day Delivery 

A common misconception is that nearshore talent, especially from Latin America, may not match the performance or capabilities of domestic employees. Larry Zogby addresses this head-on by sharing his own initial skepticism about hiring talent from outside the U.S. He admits he once thought, "there's no way I could do it," but soon found that his nearshore professionals from WorkBetterNow were not only capable but exceeded his expectations in many ways.  

Larry notes how professionals from Central and South America bring a high level of dedication, adaptability, and eagerness to grow—qualities that often surpass those of domestic hires. He emphasizes that with the right leadership and support, nearshore talent can integrate seamlessly into a business and deliver exceptional results. This transformation in perspective shows that the talent gap is a myth, and businesses stand to gain significantly from tapping into global talent pools. 

Discovering the brilliance of nearshore talent 

The common misconceptions CEOs had before hiring nearshore talent have been thoroughly debunked by real-world experiences from these business leaders. Whether it was concerns about communication, time zone differences, or cultural alignment, the reality is that nearshore talent has proven to be highly skilled, proactive, and fully integrated into their companies' operations. With cost-effectiveness, dedication, and the ability to scale quickly, nearshore professionals are helping businesses grow and thrive.  

WorkBetterNow (WBN) provides outstanding remote talent to small and midsize businesses. WBN’s highly skilled and pre-vetted Latin American professionals are hand-matched for each client’s unique needs. Hundreds of growing businesses turn to WBN to unleash their potential through our exceptional talent, ease of hiring, and ongoing support. Request a consult today!