Brilliant Boomer - How to Hire All the Staff You Need and Avoid the Headache of Employees

First of all, do you know the difference between an employee and a contractor? If you don't, then it is important to learn the difference and the best place to learn is from the IRS if you're in America and if you're not then please review your countries taxing authorities rules and guidelines regarding contractors verses employees.

The IRS has some rules that determine if someone is an employee or a contractor, they are:

1. Behavioral Control -- As a contract worker you cannot provide training or overly detailed instruction to your independent contractor. Simply provide guidelines, and a due date, and a final price.

2. Financial Control -- You can't tell your contractors who they can work for or control their ability to earn money from others in any way.

3. Type of Relationship -- Make sure that you don't call your contactors "employees" or give them a title with your company as this can be perceived as an employee which carries many tax liabilities and responsibilities to you.

Contracting with a virtual assistant (VA) can make a huge difference in your business. In many ways it is like you are multiplying yourself. With each VA that you hire you multiply yourself! The trick is ensuring that you hire the right type of VA for the tasks that you need completed who understand your vision for your business.

There is a lot of discussion in the "VA world" about the right terms to use but it seems clear to me that there are various types of VAs such as:

Online Business Managers

Project Managers

Content Managers

General Virtual Assistants

Ghost Writers

Editors

Bookkeepers

Web Designers

Many of these contractors will not consider themselves Virtual Assistants but truly, anything that can be accomplished by someone remotely, in the terms we're using can be considered a Virtual Assistant. They're "assisting" you "virtually" with your business performing tasks as an independent contractor. If you pay them more than 600 dollars in the year, you will send them a 1099 if they're in the USA. You can get a free 1099 form from your IRS office by ordering the 1099- Misc from this link.

To contract a Virtual Assistant ensure that you know exactly what you want done, and have a clear vision as to the VAs tasks. If you're not clear on what you want them to do, they won't be clear either. Additionally, try to work with a VA that has some experience and is highly recommended. If you network with other people who work from home, it is likely they will have some recommendations for you.

Always interview each applicant and make sure you get a contract from them spelling out the work, the payment, and expectations you both share.

A good tip is to have a short term contract of sixty to 90 days to find out if you both can work together effectively. Nothing can be worse than to be stuck in a contract for a year and not enjoy working with the virtual assistant. But do remember that long term contracts are better than short term because they will get to know you better and be better able to realize your vision.