Hiring hourly base employee.

[BusDreamer]

Hi,
I have been blogging since one year and half. I tried my best to consider the blog as a job, and blog regularly, however as this is a DIY blog a lot of work is needed. This blog is related to the online shop I am intending to open. The success of the shop is strongly connected to the success of the blog.

Now I am thinking of hiring a girl (She is still studying in the collage) that I know to help me with the blog operation, like:
-Taking photos and editing them.
-Creating videos.
-Creating the online shop.
-other technical stuff.

For the time being I don't have an office to share it with here, it will only be some meetings in a coffee shop to delegate the work to her, and I will rent a room for photo shoots.

I didn't contact her yet, but I would like to ask, what should I write in the email?
Should I mention the hourly rate? I am not even sure if it is hourly rate, or project base? I am undecided.
Should I ask her about her hourly wage?

What do you think? I need your help, it is my first time to hire!

[Harold Mansfield]

I can't really help you with Human Resources questions except to say that I've never asked anyone what their requirements are for an hourly position. If it's hourly, I already know what the rate is, about how many hours per week I'll need them and what time I expect them to work everyday. Take it or leave it.

Of course you handle salaried, partnerships, or rev share partners differently.

, but I can say that you don't need an office to communicate and collaborate with people. I as well as many others here do it everyday.

You just need the right communication tools. If you have Microsoft Office it already has great collaboration tools. There's also tools like Slack. Video conferencing tools like Skype and Go To Meeting. You can share files via tools like Dropbox and Google Docs, and there's just good old fashioned email.

If you're using WordPress you can also easily set her up as a Author and be alerted of any new postings that are pending for your review before publishing and there are Author plug ins for scheduling posts, rev split and a whole mess of other helpful tools for blogs with multiple authors.

I've never met 99% of the people I do business with or collaborate with and they're spread all over the country, sometimes the world.

So that part of it (having an office) shouldn't be a huge concern. Plenty of options.

[MarcA]

I agree with Harold that you do not need an office space. However, there are labor and tax laws around what types of employees are allowed to use your equipment vs their equipment (w2 v 1099). You should establish a business plan and some basic calculators so that you can project various outcomes.
Good luck,
MarcA

[BusDreamer]

Thank you all for your response. Good advices, and to be considered.

[tallen]

Just getting started as you are, I think you probably want to start by hiring her as an independent contractor and treating her as such. In order to hire her as an employee, you will need to get an EIN, file federal and state payroll tax returns, unemployment taxes, worker's comp insurance, etc... But be sure you understand the differences between an independent contractor and an employee. The IRS has a good page on their site detailing these differences, and you could also check with your state revenue service and department of labor -- likely your state government website has information about what is required if you want to become an employer.

[CCAdamson]

It doesn't sound like this is full time work so you are probably better off finding another freelancer who can help you through. It doesn't sound like you are at the point you need an employee or an office space. Look for someone who is good with photography and computers. As your business grows look at what tasks need to be maintained and what can still be farmed out. If you reach a point where employees are necessary then you will need to look into all the payroll taxes and practices necessary to have employees.

[ash21love]

I agree with another reply..You are just starting out and should definitely view her as an indepentdant contractor. So paying her on a per job basis would be good in the begining.

[ramz]

You can contract her as a freelance, for example.