Going Global with Mellow
We bring in a new product without phasing out the current
What’s happening?
We are establishing Mellow, a new brand geared specifically towards our US, UK, and European operations. Mellow will be a separate service with its own infrastructure, positioning, and team.
Starting June 15, Solar Staff will only be available to Russian businesses, while everyone else (both existing and new customers) will need to use Mellow.
We will transfer the data of non-Russian clients and their contractors to Mellow.
You won't need to sign up again, re-invite contractors, or re-add payment methods.
You won't need to sign up again, re-invite contractors, or re-add payment methods.
Mellow will have your Solar Staff history. This includes completed tasks, lists of transactions, and generated documents. We will transfer money from companies balances.
To help ease the transition, during its launch stage Mellow will be practically identical to Solar Staff. Starting out, Mellow will keep the same functions and commission rates as Solar Staff.
The option to create offers in the Solar Staff mobile app will become unavailable. It will only be available when working with non-Russian clients via the Mellow app.
How Mellow came about
Pavel Shynkarenko,
Founder and CEO of Solar Staff
Over the past year, we’ve been expanding Solar Staff’s reach in three different regions: Russia, USA, and Europe. However, despite growing profits and an increase in client numbers, we’ve come to realize that this is not a viable strategy.
The needs and budgets of foreign businesses have come to be so distinctly different from those of Russian companies that it became quite clear: in order to maintain sustainable growth, we needed to establish two separate companies, each with its own growth strategy. And that’s exactly what we did.
The needs and budgets of foreign businesses have come to be so distinctly different from those of Russian companies that it became quite clear: in order to maintain sustainable growth, we needed to establish two separate companies, each with its own growth strategy. And that’s exactly what we did.
Solar Staff has been helping thousands of Russian businesses manage their freelancer operations for the last ten years, and it would be unfair to take an existing and well-established brand away from them for the needs of foreign markets, where our journey has only just started. That’s why we have created Mellow, a brand-new company aimed specifically at foreign markets, with a separate infrastructure but familiar payment partners.
We want Solar Staff and Mellow to cater to separate audiences in order to provide the best and most tailored service possible. This will unlock new growth opportunities and help us ensure your business runs as smoothly as possible, free of any and all regional restrictions or sanctions.
Starting June 15, Solar Staff will only be available to Russian businesses, while non-Russian clients will have their data automatically transferred to Mellow. No need to sign a new contract, create a new account, or re-invite your existing contractors.
To make the transition smoother, at first the only thing setting Mellow apart from Solar Staff will be its brand design. However, in a couple of months we'll be introducing new and unique features to each of the two products. For example, Mellow is getting an AI tool for contractor search, to which our existing clients will get early access.
As for Solar Staff, a new team of experienced professionals will step in to keep developing our original brand in the Russian market. You can find more info about our future plans on this landing page. Just to name a couple: we’re planning to create plug-in solutions for marketplaces and ERP systems, as well as help large businesses automate their transactions, payments, disputes, and tax returns.
Thank you for using our service! If you have any questions, feel free to contact our customer support and managers, or reach out to us on social media.
What will change for existing Solar Staff users?
You're a Russian business
Just as before, you can invite Russian and non-Russian contractors, pay for their work, and receive automatically generated documents for each task.
You can access your dashboard at solarstaff.com.
You can access your dashboard at solarstaff.com.
Due to technical maintenance associated with the Mellow launch, Solar Staff will be unavailable from June 15, 2024 (08:00 UTC+3) to June 16, 2024 (00:00 UTC+3).
If you use the API
No changes here either.
FAQ
Which legal entity will we have an agreement with?
Will the service commissions change?
Our company is registered in Russia. Will we be able to work with contractors from outside Russia?
Will contractors be able to withdraw money using their payment methods the same way they were before?
Where should I write if I have a question about the service?
You're a non-Russian business
Starting June 16, you will need to use Mellow instead of Solar Staff. In Mellow, you can invite Russian and non-Russian contractors, pay for their work, and receive automatically generated documents for each task. Same deal as Solar Staff, but with a new brand design and name.
We'll transfer your company and contractor data to Mellow, including the company card, payment methods, task history, certificates, and invoices.
Service commissions remain the same.
Service commissions remain the same.
Due to technical maintenance associated with the Mellow launch, Solar Staff will be unavailable from June 15, 2024 (08:00 UTC+3) to June 16, 2024 (00:00 UTC+3).
You'll find your Mellow account at Mellow.io. To log in, use your Solar Staff username and password.
Your Solarstaff.com account will become unavailable from June 15, and any log-in attempt will result in a redirect to Mellow.
Your Solarstaff.com account will become unavailable from June 15, and any log-in attempt will result in a redirect to Mellow.
Solar Staff and Mellow accounts: Comparison
We understand that this is a lot to take in, so for the moment Mellow differs from Solar Staff only in the color scheme, icons, logo, and fonts.
Solar Staff
Mellow
Login screen
Tasks
Documents
Contractors
If you use the API
Change the method's string to https://my.mellow.io/api/
Correct: https://my.mellow.io/api/
Incorrect:
https://my.solarstaff.com/api/
https://my.solarstaff.com/api/
Please notify your contractors of the changes. After June 15, 2024, they will no longer be able to log in to their solarstaff.com — accounts, and be redirected to Mellow instead.
FAQ
Which legal entity will we have an agreement with?
Will our Solar Staff history be saved during the migration to Mellow?
We are a non-Russian business. How come we don't need to sign a new agreement, even though the current one mentions solarstaff.com?
Will the service commissions change?
If we have several companies that are located in different jurisdictions, will we still have a single commission for all of them?
Will our contractors need to re-verify in Mellow?
Will our contractors be saved during the migration to the new service?
Our company is registered outside of Russia. Will we be able to work with contractors from Russia?
We use the API. What will we need to change in the methods?
Will contractors be able to withdraw money using their payment methods the same way they were before?
What about the funds on our Solar Staff balance?
Where should I write if I have a question about the service?
You're a contractor who receives tasks
If your client is a Russian company
You will stay in Solar Staff. To log in, enter your username and password at my.solarstaff.com/login or in the app. Just like before, you will be able to withdraw funds to the payment methods available for your country.
If your client is a non-Russian company
After June 15, you will get new tasks in Mellow. We'll transfer your data (including client details, payment methods, and closing documents), so there'll be no need to sign up again.
Please note that we will not be transferring the funds on your balance from Solar Staff to Mellow: the money is going to stay where it is. You will still be able to log in to Solar Staff to view your task history, download documents, or withdraw money to a card or bank account.
To log in to your Mellow account, you'll need to enter your Solar Staff username and password. After you first log in, the service will prompt you to change your password for security reasons.
Please note that we will not be transferring the funds on your balance from Solar Staff to Mellow: the money is going to stay where it is. You will still be able to log in to Solar Staff to view your task history, download documents, or withdraw money to a card or bank account.
To log in to your Mellow account, you'll need to enter your Solar Staff username and password. After you first log in, the service will prompt you to change your password for security reasons.
Due to technical maintenance associated with the Mellow launch, Solar Staff will be unavailable from June 15, 2024 (08:00 UTC+3) to June 16, 2024 (00:00 UTC+3).
If you work with both Russian and non-Russian clients
You'll have two active accounts (one in each service). To work on tasks from clients registered in Russia, use Solar Staff.
To work with clients registered outside of Russia, you'll need to use Mellow.
To log in to Mellow, use your Solar Staff username and password. We'll transfer your client details, payment methods, and verification data to Mellow so you don't have to sign up again.
Please note that we will not be transferring the funds on your balance from Solar Staff to Mellow: the money is going to stay where it is.
You will still be able to log in to Solar Staff to view your task history, download documents, or withdraw money to a card or bank account.
To log in to Mellow, use your Solar Staff username and password. We'll transfer your client details, payment methods, and verification data to Mellow so you don't have to sign up again.
Please note that we will not be transferring the funds on your balance from Solar Staff to Mellow: the money is going to stay where it is.
You will still be able to log in to Solar Staff to view your task history, download documents, or withdraw money to a card or bank account.
Tax support
Each service has its own tax support team. As before, we are ready to help you with closing documents, tax returns, and residency matters. Additionally, both services support automatic tax payment.
Documents and remuneration
When working with Russian clients. Solar Staff's closing documents will list our Hong Kong legal entity.
You can withdraw funds to cards and bank accounts (crypto wallets are not available for contractors from Russia).
Withdrawal commissions stay the same.
Withdrawal commissions stay the same.
When working with non-Russian clients.
Mellow's closing documents will list our Cypriot legal entity.
Mellow's closing documents will list our Cypriot legal entity.
Just like before, you can withdraw funds to cards, bank accounts, and crypto wallets. Withdrawal commissions stay the same. Payments will be remitted by TMS SolarWeb.
Solar Staff and Mellow: Comparison
We understand that this is a lot to take in, so we haven't changed the interface of the new service. For the moment, Mellow differs from Solar Staff only in its color scheme, icons, logo, and fonts.
The withdrawal commissions stay the same.
Web version
Solar Staff
Mellow
Dashboard
Tasks
Documents
FAQ
Which legal entity will I have an offer agreement with?
What will change for freelancers?
What about contractors who work with different clients from different jurisdictions?
I don't know the country of my client's company. What do I do?
Have you informed my client of the changes?
How do I access my Mellow account?
How do I access my Solar Staff account?
Can I withdraw money the same way as before?
Does the service support any tax status available in Russia?
Do I need to re-verify to work via Mellow?
Do I need to sign up again to work via Mellow?
Where can I find my certificates and invoices?
What about tax returns?
Can I opt out of data transfer from Solar Staff to Mellow?
Is there currency control in Solar Staff and Mellow?
Where should I write if I have a question about the service?
Will the service commissions change?
You're a contractor who creates offers
The Solar Staff app no longer supports offers. You can create offers in the Mellow app, but only for non-Russian clients.
Below are different scenarios for various jurisdictions of your client's company. If you aren't sure or don't know which country your client is from, write to the support chat and we will help you.
Due to technical maintenance associated with the Mellow launch, Solar Staff will be unavailable from June 15, 2024 (08:00 UTC+3) to June 16, 2024 (00:00 UTC+3).
You have non-Russian clients
After June 16, you will only be able to create offers in the Mellow app. To log in, you will need to use your Solar Staff username and password.
We'll transfer your data (including client details, payment methods, and closing documents) from Solar Staff to Mellow, so there's no need to sign up again.
Please note that we will not be transferring the funds on your balance from Solar Staff to Mellow: the money is going to stay where it is. You will still be able to log in to Solar Staff to view your task history, download documents, or withdraw money to a card or bank account.
Please note that we will not be transferring the funds on your balance from Solar Staff to Mellow: the money is going to stay where it is. You will still be able to log in to Solar Staff to view your task history, download documents, or withdraw money to a card or bank account.
To help you explain these changes to your client, we have prepared a template email in English, which you can request via the chat in the bottom-right corner.
In addition to offers, Mellow will feature invoices, which are a quick way to get paid by your existing clients. Your client won't have to log in, fund the balance, and accept an offer: they just pay the invoice and that's it.
The payment is credited to your Mellow balance, from which you can withdraw it to a card, e-wallet, or bank account.
The payment is credited to your Mellow balance, from which you can withdraw it to a card, e-wallet, or bank account.
Just like Solar Staff, Mellow allows you to withdraw funds to cards, bank accounts, and crypto wallets (for wallets, check availability for you country). Withdrawal commissions stay the same. Payments will be remitted by our Cypriot entity.
If you need help, you can contact our support, reach out on social media, or write directly to our product manager Vladimir (v.chesnokov@solar-staff.com, telegram). We will gladly explain the changes to each individual customer.
You have Russian clients
When working with Russian clients via Solar Staff, you will no longer be able to create offers. Instead, your client will need to set you a task. To see the commissions for businesses setting tasks via Solar Staff, visit the Solar Staff website.
Solar Staff and Mellow apps: Comparison
We understand that this is a lot to take in, so we've kept the interface of the new service largely the same. During its rollout, Mellow will differ from Solar Staff only in its color scheme, icons, logo, and fonts.
Main screen
Withdraw funds
Profile
FAQ
Which legal entity will I have an offer agreement with?
Where in Solar Staff can I find offers that have already been created?
Will my customers have to sign up again?
Have you informed my client of the changes?
How do I access my Mellow account?
How do I access my Solar Staff account?
Can I withdraw money the same way as before?
Does the service support any tax status available in Russia?
Do I need to re-verify to work via Mellow?
Do I need to sign up again to work via Mellow?
Where can I find my certificates and invoices?
What about tax returns?
Can I opt out of data transfer from Solar Staff to Mellow?
Is there currency control in Solar Staff and Mellow?
Where should I write if I have a question about the service?
Will the service commissions change?
I have funds on my balance. Which service should I use to withdraw them? Which legal entity will send the payment?
What about our team?
We separated the existing staff into dedicated departments for the two services and expanded the team to make sure both solutions function independently and efficiently.
Making the transition as smooth as possible for our employees was a priority, so we let them choose where they wanted to work — at Solar Staff, an established market leader, or at Mellow, a fast-growing newcomer.
Making the transition as smooth as possible for our employees was a priority, so we let them choose where they wanted to work — at Solar Staff, an established market leader, or at Mellow, a fast-growing newcomer.
0
dismissals while creating Mellow
19
countries covered by the Solar Staff and Mellow teams
45
employees at Solar Staff
57
employees at Mellow
By the way, both companies are hiring! Come build the future of work with us.
What's next for Solar Staff?
Over the past few years, we have mostly been developing as a fintech service: establishing a network of payment partners, bringing banks onboard, and adding more payment methods. As a result, we were able to grow both our revenue and number of customers.
Top 3 HR tech service in Russia for 2023
SmartRanking
#1 B2B service in Russian fintech for 2023
SmartRanking
Top 3 fintech company in 2022
SmartRanking
We will now refocus on other areas, in particular on expanding our strategic partnerships and cooperation with large corporates. Our goal is to evolve Solar Staff into a full-fledged platform for fast and compliant management of any contractors, freelancers, and gig workers.
Solar Staff welcomes new CEO
Vladimir Koritsky
We are happy to announce that Vladimir Koritsky, an experienced top manager who previously held senior positions at HeadHunter, Avito Rabota, and Rabota.ru, is joining Solar Staff.
“For the past 19 years, I've been hard at work growing some of the largest HR-tech companies in Russia, and I knew I was ready for a new project that would transcend HR. That is why I am very pleased to take the helm at Solar Staff, a service that sits firmly at the intersection of several industries: HR Tech, FinTech, and Legal Tech.
Solar Staff empowers people to earn with ease and helps companies automate the management of non-employees. For me, this is an exciting opportunity to apply my skills in a new area.
My vision for the company perfectly matches the values of the founders and their management approach. I am confident that my experience and understanding of the market will help the company reach new heights.”
Solar Staff empowers people to earn with ease and helps companies automate the management of non-employees. For me, this is an exciting opportunity to apply my skills in a new area.
My vision for the company perfectly matches the values of the founders and their management approach. I am confident that my experience and understanding of the market will help the company reach new heights.”
Coming soon
to Solar Staff
Automatic tax payment for the self-employed and individual entrepreneurs
On the one hand, this change will make life simpler for freelancers, who will no longer have to spend time on accounting and filing. On the other hand, it will help large companies make sure that all their contractors comply with their tax regimes and declare income.
Product for managing non-employees
We plan to grow Solar Staff into a plug-in solution for large companies' platforms and ERP systems. We already have an API, but we are working on bringing it to the next level by creating a separate product that automates transactions, payments, dispute resolution, and tax reporting.
Keep updated
Subscribe to our socials to stay on top of all changes:
So what about Mellow?
We will give all the details in the actual product and on the Mellow.io website.
Media
Valeria Akueva
PR Lead, Solar Staff
Alexander Norovyatkin
Head of Brand & PR, Mellow
FAQ
What will change for Solar Staff and Mellow customers?
Will the service commissions change?
We use the API. What will we need to change in the methods?
Will contractors be able to withdraw money using their payment methods the same way they were before?
What will change for freelancers?
What about contractors who work with different clients from different jurisdictions?
I don't know the country of my client's company. What do I do?
Where should I write if I have a question about the service?
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