Gusto

The moment has arrived. You've done the hard work.  Built your creative business from scratch.  Delivered projects that make you proud. And now you're ready for a milestone that changes everything—hiring your first team member. This is huge. Take a moment to celebrate this. You’re well on your way to being an “entrepreneur”. But let's be real: along with the excitement comes a wave of "what now?" moments. Suddenly you're googling terms like "EIN" and "worker classification" at 2 AM. (Trust me, I've been there.) This isn't exactly what you dreamed about when you first opened shop, is it? But here's the hard truth: doing this right matters. A lot. Because mistakes here can cost you more than just money—they can derail the business you’ve worked so hard to build. The big question (Tip 3 of 5, but more on this later): Employee or contractor? Make sure you get this right, saving you potential headaches and penalties down the line. Here’s what you need to know: • A contractor is your specialist for hire. They control their schedule, use their own tools, and operate independently. Perfect for project-based work like copywriting or motion design. • An employee is your core team member. They follow your schedule and use your tools and resources. and help build your business daily. You train them and guide their work. While contractors might seem cheaper (no benefits, no overtime, no payroll taxes), the government has strict rules about who qualifies as which. Choose wrong, and those “savings” become penalties. The IRS uses 3 tests to determine if someone’s an employee. Get familiar with these before you hire: • Behavioral control: Do you control their work process and how they do their job? More control = likely an employee. • Financial control: Who handles the business side? Think payment method, expense reimbursements, and work tools. The more you provide = likely an employee. • Relationship test: Look at benefits, contract length, and how central their work is to your business. Deeper integration = likely an employee. This is a lot to take in. (I know). That’s why we’ve partnered with Gusto to create something special: a comprehensive guide to making your first hire. No fluff. No confusion.  Just clear, actionable steps to help you navigate this milestone while protecting what you’ve built. Ready to take this step? We’ve got your back. Go to Gusto’s landing page to download the handy guide + checklist on hiring the right way. While you're on the site, be sure to grab their other resources. https://lnkd.in/g-cXpsp7 #sponsored #smallbusinesscoach #smallbiztips

🏆 Time for the big reveal... your 2025 Gusto Impact Award winners are… 🥕 Cranky Carrot Juice Co. – Houston, Texas 🔧 She Built This City – Charlotte, North Carolina 🌏 The Mended Company – Dallas, Texas 🤝 Radical Partners – Miami, Florida 🏡 Roaming Rehab – Denver, Colorado We're celebrating these businesses for driving real change by championing their communities, breaking barriers, and making a lasting impact. This year, thousands of businesses applied. Today, we honor not just our winners, but every small business creating positive change. Check out the comments to learn more about these inspiring winners! ⬇️

Money Magnets Club has BIG news…We are officially a Gusto Impact Awards finalist! Excited to be recognized as an entity creating change in our community. #GustoImpactAwards #SmallBusiness #Nonprofit #CharlotteNC