The term independent contractor can be a bit misleading. It makes it sound like it is someone who does construction! In reality, an independent contractor is anyone who works with a company but is not employed directly by the business. So, how do you find one? Once you have one, how do you pay them?

How to Find an Independent Contractor

Before you look into hiring an independent contractor, it’s best to decide if you need to hire someone who can physically come into your business or if someone working remotely will be able to suit your business’s needs. If you need someone who can physically come into your business, then it’s put out a job listing online or looking at online job profiles on Linkedin. These are some of the easiest ways to find someone near you.

If someone working remotely can help you to get the job done, then you have a few more options as to how to find someone. Firstly, you can check out freelancing websites. On these sites, you can usually post the job that you need done, along with your budget and how quickly you need the job completed. On these sites, you can often hire people who live domestically or even abroad! However, it is unlikely that you will find someone who lives near your business on these sites.

How to Pay an Independent Contractor

How you hire someone will depend on how you should pay them. If you hire someone through a freelancing website, then you will most likely pay them through the website. Follow the website’s guidelines and instructions to learn how to do this, as it varies based on each site. Sometimes you may also have the option to pay the freelancer through an online money-sharing platform, like Paypal or Venmo. As a bonus, if you pay through a site, they will likely save your payment information, so you can refer back to it when it is time to complete your business taxes.

Often times when you hire someone who works in your building, they will issue you an invoice for the work done. Pay this invoice as you would pay any other invoice. No matter how you pay this (cash, check, credit, etc.), make sure to keep records of your payments, as you will need these when you complete your business taxes.

Use these tips to find and pay your new independent contractor. Once you begin the process, it’s easier than it seems. Good luck!