Rookie Question

[Michael Trust]

I retired a few years ago at 49, lost my money in the stock market and have recently started a very small lawn service business. My intent was to mow, trim, edge and blow. I have found that many potential customers also want cleanup, landscaping, etc.. I'm disabled but can still run a lawn tractor and trim.
I have found that I need help on some jobs and need part time employees until I build the business.

Question is: Is it legal/possible to hire people on a 1099 basis as needed without going through all the insurance, workers' comp and other formal processes?

[GrassMaster]

Are you talking about working them as a subcontractor?

If so that's hard to do. I could be wrong about this?

If you tell them when to go to work & when to knock off, they are not subcontractors.

If you let them use your equipment, they are not subcontractors.

There's plenty more, it's all in a 20 Question Questionnaire I think that is used as guidelines by the IRS & from what I know a lot of people have got messed up on this!

I'm sure there's far more qualified people than me to answer this, just be careful!

[Michael Trust]

Thanks, that's good to know. Maybe I can go to a staffing agency, pay them, and let them handle the payroll and other requirements

[Dixie Pro Lawn Care]

That's an idea. BTW, if one thinks about it. If you have a customer that tells you when to show up, are you not an employee? LOL Sounds to me like the customer should have you on payroll and with workman's comp and everything. It's true if you go by what they say.

Tell your employees to go get a business license saying "Joe's labor service" and give the office an EIN number the laborer got FROM THE IRS. It says what they do with no bs. It does not imply they have the tools or NEED any tools to do what they do. They are a contractor! ALL it takes is a legal contract to be one and the government, according to what I read in the Constitution (take some time to read it, btw). I'll try to look that part of it up again. It's been a couple of months.

[Dixie Pro Lawn Care]

meant to say government cannot legally interfere with a contract fulfillment.

[Ryan Lemons]

the workforce has an option where you can pay 13/hr to cover your employee's insurance, retirment plan, and social secerity number. this might be a better way to do but i urge you to get more cust. than you can handle so you won't end up with nothing left.