You’ve decided you’re ready to bring another therapist into your practice—but should they be a W-2 employee or a 1099 independent contractor?
In this episode, Amber breaks down the differences between the two, why worker classification isn’t simply a matter of choosing whichever option is cheaper, and what practice owners should consider before structuring a new role.
Listeners will learn:
- The basic difference between a W-2 employee and a 1099 independent contractor
- Why you can’t simply choose 1099 because it seems cheaper or easier
- How control and independence factor into worker classification
- Why W-2 doesn’t automatically mean full-time or salaried
- Why you should define the working relationship before choosing a classification
- How to think about the true cost of adding another therapist
- Why someone else’s contractor agreement may not work for your practice
- When to seek guidance from an employment attorney, CPA, or other qualified professional
Thinking about hiring your first therapist?
DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked with the word HIRE and share what part of the hiring process feels the most confusing.
Let’s build the practice — and life — you deserve.
Love the podcast? Go deeper with Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.
This practical, no-fluff guide walks therapists through the parts of private practice that grad school often leaves out—from building your business foundation and managing your money to finding clients, creating systems, protecting your practice, and growing beyond the therapy room.
Whether you're dreaming about opening a private practice, just getting started, or trying to make your existing practice run a little more smoothly, this book was designed to help you build a practice that actually works for you.
Get your copy of Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You on Amazon today!
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