Hiring help / assistant

[Former_Member]

I'm looking for advice or tips from anyone who has hired an assistant. I don't want someone to do any of the actual sewing, but help with cutting & ironing fabric, packaging & shipping, and cleaning would be great.

How did you go about finding the assistant, craigslist?
Do they work in your home, at theirs?
Did you do a background check?
Have you had to fire anyone, how did that go?
Any other lessons learned?

Thanks so much everyone!

[Former_Member]

This is great a post! I wish I could help but not at that point yet but have been wondering what I will need to do when it's time.

[Former_Member]

I think I would try to find someone thru a local home ec group, or 4H. Ask around, for example I have aunt who would be perfect for a job like this and there are probably those in your area that could recommend someone. I'd first interview the person and set your expectations, see how many hours a day you need & they are available. I would also set up a trial period and if you think it is going to work out after that, draw up a contract.

[Former_Member]

I would suggest that you first look at the employment laws in Wisconsin and see exactly what the requirements are.

You would probably be best off by hiring someone locally that you know. Of course all references need to be checked as well as a background check done.

You would need to determine what hours they will work, whether they will work in your home or theirs.

You should also check your homeowner's policy regarding having employees working for you at the house.

Don't forget also that you will probably be required to file the appropriate IRS forms for employees as well.

What you may want to do instead is have someone come in and help with the house cleaning, gardening or other things so that you have more time to tend to your business yourself.

[PrairiePrimitives]

I have hired independent contractors before ... back in the 1990s. They worked at their home with supplies provided by me, and a general deadline that wasn't written in stone. I did have to give one of them a 1099 because I'd paid her more than $600 in a calendar year; she wasn't happy about that. LOL!

[Former_Member]

You could try posting a flyer at a local fabric shop, or joining an Etsy team in your area and post on there.

You should also look into a non-compete contract (you can probably google it for a template) so that the person you hire can't learn about your business and designs, then quit and open there own shop.

You might also want to check your local library. I've been surprised at how many helpful small business books I've found at mine, and they might have some useful tips.

Here are a few other threads that have info too:

Do you have employees?
https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/12239064/
"I had to acquire Workman's Comp insurance, a withholding permit, etc. It was a pain at first but not impossible for an individual to do."

Hiring Employees
https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/6304203/
"If you are a small business owner, whether you hire people as independent contractors or as employees will impact how much taxes you pay and the amount of taxes you withhold from their paychecks. Additionally, it will affect how much additional cost your business must bear, what documents and information they must provide to you, and what tax documents you must give to them." A lot of information and discussion in this thread. Some suggestions that you could hire someone as an apprentice or an intern versus hiring an employee.

[Former_Member]

Just a note on the "Hiring Employees" thread mentioned in the previous post It says it is from 2009. The IRS has gotten really strict about enforcing that the independent contractor status is only used appropriately rather than simply to avoid taxes. You will need to look into this more if you decide to try to hire someone as an independent contractor.

Generally speaking, someone who is independent and who you hire to do a certain project (without telling them exactly how to do it or when they can work other than your general deadlines) is an independent contractor. For instance, if you hired someone to produce items for you per item they would be an independent contractor. It would be hard to argue that someone helping with shipping, cleaning, etc would be an independent contractor if you were ever audited though.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for all the input!

I have an accountant I would check wit before hiring anyone to see how that that needs to be done, 1099 etc.

I have looked in to getting someone to clean my house, but they are about 20/hr. I could pay an assistant less than that, maybe $10-12.

I don't really want to hire anyone I know, or is even a neighbor or mutual friend because if need to fire them that could be very uncomfortable if I see them in the future, esp if that was not taken well. I would definitely check all references and do a background check. I have been asking at our craft store, but to no avail. I thought maybe the local tech school would be a good place to post the job.

I'd have any potential person do a working interview, too. We have 5 pets that they'd need to be OK with, along with being a good fit for the job.

I will have to check our homeowners policy too, I hadn't thought of that!

Thanks again! I'm still thinking on this, but I better decide well before my crazy Christmas rush comes!

[Former_Member]

Don't you then need to change your etsy shop status to a "collective" when you hire out or have "helpers".

[Former_Member]

Yes, maybe. I'd have to look at that too.