All Trades

Guides for service-trade pros

Universal guides for every service business - pricing, customers, hiring, taxes, and the things nobody tells you on day one.

All (16)Starting out (5)Sales & marketing (4)Pricing & money (6)Hiring & ops (1)

A service contractor signing employment paperwork at a desk with a calculator, employment forms, and a coffee - capturing the moment of formalizing a first hire.

How to Hire Your First Helper - W-2 vs 1099 Without Getting Sued (2026 Guide)

Honest, legally-grounded playbook for service contractors hiring their first helper or employee. Covers the IRS test, DOL's 2024 Rule (currently paused but still controlling in litigation), strict ABC states, real-world cost math (28-40% W-2 burden), and the misclassification penalties that ruin businesses.

16 min read·Updated May 27, 2026

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