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Perhaps we need 15 social media graphics designed every month; we would then request estimates for each new piece we want her to design. As long as she’s controlling her hours and how/when she gets her work done, she could remain as a 1099 employee paid an hourly rate. A contractor is generally free to work on their own schedule as long as tasks are completed. Determining which form to use and who to hire can help you meet your business needs.
A maintenance technician for instance can own their own supply shop. The company could contract them out to provide equipment for the company. You’ll need to discuss payment terms with the person you’re hiring.
Managing your workers with Square Payroll
Keep in mind that there are different terms to refer to a 1099 worker like an independent contractor, self-employed individual, freelancer, or gig worker. These workers are business owners themselves who provide set services to your company and are not on your payroll like a company employee. As an employee, it is essential to understand the distinction and know what your rights are as a worker, as well as understanding the benefits and drawbacks of full-time employment vs. contract work. As an independent contractor, you do tend to charge more per hour, but it is because you have to cover more costs.
The employer has the power in this relationship, and they should recognize that there are many ways to control the production of work product at an acceptable level other than mandating butt-in-seat hours. In the designer example above, we could certainly have spent less on a freelance designer, or even multiple freelancers. But when it became clear that our visual brand was core to our business and we wanted more control and consistency over it, we hired a full-time employee. The relationship with a 1099 contractor operates on a more independent level. Employers have little influence over the performance activities of a contractor and cannot dictate the specific details of how the work is performed. Because contractors are engaged for particular projects or tasks, they maintain greater autonomy over their work methods and schedules.
How to Hire Independent Contractors For Your Business
Let’s take a closer look at each classification when it comes to both forms and workers. 1099 and W-2 forms are both common small business tax forms, but the differences include who receives the form and how they get handled regarding tax rates and practices. Square Payroll simplifies your operations https://dodbuzz.com/running-law-firm-bookkeeping/ and helps you save time with fully integrated timecards, workers’ comp, sick leave, and PTO for your employees. It also lets you pay both employees and contractors with direct deposit. It also takes care of payroll tax calculations (for W-2 employees) and creation of your W-2s and 1099-MISCs.
If your business needs are more ongoing, a W-2 employee may be the way to go. Employment taxes (like Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes) amount to 15.3% of a worker’s gross wages. Employers pay half of this (7.65%) and withhold the other half from W-2 employee paychecks. Whether you hire contractors or employees or a mix of both depends on your business needs and resources. Since workers are assumed to be employees unless proved otherwise, switching from a W-2 to a 1099 may trigger some questions from the IRS. Make sure you talk with your lawyer and accountant before making these changes.