Architecture

Hiring freelancers or contractors can feel like a breath of fresh air. No long onboarding, no mountains of paperwork, and you can often get expert help without blowing the budget. For small business owners and solo operators especially, bringing someone in on a project-by-project basis can make a lot more sense than a full-time hire. But before you dive into a casual working relationship with your next contractor, it's worth slowing down and checking the fine print. Because if there’s one thing the law doesn’t love, it’s murky arrangements. Especially ones where someone might legally be considered an employee, even if you’ve both agreed to call it something else. The difference between an employee and a contractor might seem harmless on the surface, but getting it wrong can open a legal can of worms you really don’t want to deal with.