1099 Contractors

[DKPC]

I own a sole proprietor pet sitting business, and have become too busy to handle by myself. I have been trying research how to bring some people on board as 1099 outside contractors but am having trouble getting a clear picture of what liability would fall on me. My business offers services that require me to go into peoples homes and care for their domestic pets. I would hate to loose everything I worked so hard to build, due to someone lets say, stealing or getting bit. Some advice or direction of where to read about the laws that would affect me would be very helpful! Thank you.

 

[quincy]

I own a sole proprietor pet sitting business, and have become too busy to handle by myself. I have been trying research how to bring some people on board as 1099 outside contractors but am having trouble getting a clear picture of what liability would fall on me. My business offers services that require me to go into peoples homes and care for their domestic pets. I would hate to loose everything I worked so hard to build, due to someone lets say, stealing or getting bit. Some advice or direction of where to read about the laws that would affect me would be very helpful! Thank you.

What is the name of your state?

You will want background checks done on all your workers and you will want to speak to your insurance agent about the coverage you will need to best protect you and your business.

 

[DKPC]

What is the name of your state?

You will want background checks done on all your workers and you will want to speak to your insurance agent about the coverage you will need to best protect you and your business.

California

 

[quincy]

California

Thank you for providing your state name.

Here is a California government "quick start guide" to starting a pet sitting service:
http://businessportal.ca.gov/wp-content/Documents/Quick-Start-Guides/QSG-pet-house-sitting.pdf
Good luck.

 

[DKPC]

Thank you for providing your state name.

Here is a California government "quick start guide" to starting a pet sitting service:
http://businessportal.ca.gov/wp-content/Documents/Quick-Start-Guides/QSG-pet-house-sitting.pdf
Good luck.

Thank you

 

[quincy]

Thank you

You're welcome, DKPC. Thanks for the thanks.

You are lucky to live in a state with great online resources.

Good luck with your pet sitting service.

 

[Zigner]

Be very careful in how you classify the folks you work with. It's very easy to see how your sub-contractors may actually be classified as employees.

 

[FlyingRon]

Zigner has a key point. If you tell your "helpers" just when and how to do the jobs, you're pushing into the realm of an employer-employee relationship. If you just delegate a list of customers who need to be serviced, with no restrictions on how they do things, perhaps not.

 

[quincy]

Here from the California's Employment Development Department is a guideline to help determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor:

https://www.edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de38.pdf