As a small business owner, hiring your first employee is an exciting milestone. But it also comes with important compliance responsibilities. One of the most critical is completing Form I-9, the federal form used to verify an employee's identity and authorization to work in the United States. At Basswood, we specialize in payroll processing and financial compliance. While we don't provide HR or legal advice, we want to help you understand your obligations and point you to the

Hiring your first employee is a major milestone and a big responsibility. This guide walks you through the payroll basics every small business owner needs to know.

Building your team starts with understanding how to classify your workers. Small business owners may think they can save time and money by classifying their workers as independent contractors, rather than employees. But this poses legal, financial, and ethical concerns that can hinder the success of the business. Let's take a look at the key differences between employees and contractors, review the latest Department of Labor rules, and help you make the right choice for you b