Ought to I Take a 1099 Job or is it too Dangerous? (Quiz)

Whether or not you end up all of the sudden unemployed or simply contemplating a profession change, the query “Ought to I take a 1099 job?” is usually a difficult one.

I nonetheless keep in mind taking my eight-year side-hustle full-time and questioning: “ought to I actually be doing this?”

No extra W-2s for me. I had formally entered the world of “1099 staff.”

Having survived turning into an unbiased contractor myself, I can safely provide you with this recommendation: calm down. It’s not as scary as you may assume.

Nonetheless, it’s price contemplating all of your choices earlier than you’re taking a 1099 job to make sure you’re making your best option. You might not even know what a 1099 job is. Or it’s possible you’ll perceive what it’s, however nonetheless aren’t positive if it’s a greater possibility than conventional employment.

So on this article, I’d wish to shed some gentle on the most important causes for and in opposition to taking a 1099 job as a substitute of a standard worker place (generally known as W-2).

Quick Reply: Ought to You Take a 1099 Job?

In brief, taking a 1099 job is a good way to construct up certainly one of two issues: (1) aspect income along with your day job or (2) income to your personal small enterprise as an unbiased contractor.

If you happen to’re pursuing a side-hustle or need to develop your individual enterprise, then taking a 1099 job is a superb concept.

If not, it’s possible you’ll need to rethink and concentrate on discovering conventional W-2 employment.

Let’s dive a bit deeper into what it means to take a 1099 job and whether or not or not it’s a good match to your profession targets and work model.

To start out, let’s discover some frequent floor round what precisely the variations are between a 1099 job and extra conventional work.

What precisely is a 1099 Job vs. a Conventional Worker?

Whenever you take a 1099 job, you’re basically agreeing to be paid as a freelancer or contractor, as a substitute of as an worker.

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The time period “1099 job” comes from U.S. tax code. The truth is, the 1099 kind is solely a U.S. tax kind primarily used to report revenue earned by people who aren’t staff, comparable to unbiased contractors, freelancers, and self-employed people.

In actuality, there are round 21 completely different sorts of 1099s. However for simplicity, the 1099 types which may impression you probably the most are 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC.

Whereas we don’t must dive deep into the meanings of those types, it’s simply vital to know that these tax types report the revenue you’ve obtained from companies outdoors of conventional employment.

The place a full-time worker will obtain a W-2 kind on the finish of the tax yr, a freelancer or unbiased contractor might obtain a 1099 type of some variety to report their revenue.

Execs vs Cons of Taking a 1099 Job

There are many benefits to taking a 1099 job—and some downsides price contemplating.

First, the constructive:

Execs of taking a 1099 Job

1. Flexibility to choose tasks you get pleasure from

Whereas a standard W-2 worker basically has to do no matter their boss tells them (irrespective of how a lot they hate their boss), taking a 1099 job means you may have the selection to just accept or flip down a mission.

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So if the mission or the shopper simply isn’t a match, you possibly can politely flip them down and await one thing higher to come back alongside.

2. Freedom to work when and the place you need

3. Achievement in working for your self

Whenever you’re a 1099 employee, you’re sometimes your individual boss. And whereas working for your self isn’t at all times good, it has main benefits.

For instance: when you work at a standard job and do one thing that brings in numerous income to your employer’s firm, it’s possible you’ll not see a lot (if any) of a pay enhance.

However if you’re operating your individual enterprise, issues are completely different. When your small business does higher financially, YOU do higher.

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Within the first three years after leaving my W-2 job and turning into a 1099 employee, I elevated my revenue by practically 5 occasions. Present me a day job the place you are able to do that in just some years.

Not solely that, however you get to benefit from the success of rising one thing by yourself—as a substitute of counting on an employer for a paycheck.

Cons of taking a 1099 Job

I don’t need to paint all the pieces as a picture-perfect state of affairs when you take a 1099 job, although.

The reality is, there may be some downsides to being your individual boss. Listed below are a couple of price considering by way of earlier than you’re taking any new jobs:

1. Every thing depends on you to succeed

Sometimes, if you’re a 1099 employee, the “buck stops” with you. Which means, all the pieces in your small business depends on you to succeed.

That’s the opposite factor about 1099 work: you’re basically beginning a enterprise. Even when you’re simply taking a 1099 job on the aspect. If you happen to make greater than $600 outdoors of your conventional employment, you’re taxed on it—as further enterprise revenue.

Which means when you’re sick for per week, there’s nobody there choosing up the slack. It’s a giant dedication. And despite the fact that you possibly can graduate rapidly from freelancer to founder, there will probably be a time period the place it’s all on YOU.

2. It could be much less safe

Some advocates of “common” day jobs declare that taking over a 1099 job could also be much less safe than a standard job.

For instance, it’s possible you’ll endure from a feast-famine state of affairs the place you may have a number of work one month and hardly any the subsequent.

You possibly can have a shopper who ghosts you and turns into utterly unresponsive. Even failing to pay their invoices.

Or your word-of-mouth referrals may dry up utterly, leaving you with none new enterprise in any respect.

Observe: One in all my favourite authors, Chris Guillebeau would disagree right here (and so do I). He wrote: “What’s dangerous? Whether or not you’re employed a ‘actual job’ or strike out by yourself, counting on another person is dangerous.”

3. Lack of conventional advantages

If you happen to’re used to working at a standard job the place you not solely obtain a paycheck, but in addition produce other advantages, then taking a 1099 job is usually a actual adjustment.

Typically, employers will provide an employer-matched 401K, healthcare subsidies, and well being financial savings accounts (HSA). To not point out paid day without work (PTO) and—in some circumstances—premium perks like a telephone, a automobile, or sizable bonuses.

Whenever you work as a 1099 employee or unbiased contractor, many of those advantages go away.

That’s to not say there aren’t choices for 1099 staff. It’s only a bit extra difficult.

Contractors and freelancers can get a self-employed retirement plan and in addition have entry to medical health insurance in less-traditional methods.

After I first left the world of conventional employment, I used to be terrified about dropping advantages like healthcare. However it seems, there are many comparable choices for freelancers, contractors, and the self-employed.

How 1099 Taxes Work

If you happen to begin taking extra 1099 jobs, you’re going to see a reasonably important shift in the way you pay your taxes.

For starters (like I discussed earlier than), you’ll now not obtain a W-2 kind (except you’re maintaining your day job whereas constructing your side-hustle). As a substitute, you’ll obtain 1099 types for all of the contractor jobs you settle for (over $600) in the course of the yr.

You’ll then use these types to calculate your tax legal responsibility.

Tax legal guidelines may be complicated and I positively advocate consulting with a tax skilled (I’m not one).

To get you began, listed below are a couple of adjustments you possibly can anticipate:

You do Your Personal Tax Withholding

As a standard worker, your employer normally withholds taxes out of your paycheck and pays them for you.

For instance, revenue taxes, Social Safety taxes, and Medicare taxes are normally taken out of your paycheck earlier than you obtain it.

However as an unbiased contractor, you’re liable for setting apart and paying these taxes your self.

You’ll must estimate your tax legal responsibility and make quarterly estimated tax funds to the IRS all year long.

It’s easy. However not computerized like it’s if you work for another person.

You Should Pay Self-Employment Taxes

Whenever you tackle 1099 jobs, you’re technically self-employed. Which suggests you’re liable for paying self-employment taxes along with your individual private taxes.

That’s as a result of, when you’re your individual boss, you must pay each the employer and worker parts of Social Safety and Medicare taxes.

This tax is along with your common revenue tax and is named Self-Employment Tax.

There are methods, after all, to save lots of on self-employment tax. For instance, I signed up for Collective which helped me convert my sole-proprietorship to an LLC—and within the course of saves me round $10,000 a yr.

You get to take extra tax deductions

On the plus aspect, you’ll have extra alternatives for tax deductions in comparison with conventional staff.

You’ll be able to deduct eligible business-related bills like workplace provides, gear, journey bills, and a portion of your house workplace bills.

These deductions will help offset your taxable revenue which, in some circumstances, means you truly get to pay much less in taxes than when you had a standard job.

I additionally advocate you evaluate the finest tax deductions for freelancers and self-employed.

Secret Weapon: The QBI Deduction

I’ve saved the most effective for final. If you happen to’re a 1099 employee, you will have entry to one thing known as the “QBI Deduction.”

QBI stands for “Certified Enterprise Earnings” and, in brief, it’s a tax profit that helps freelancers and 1099 staff who run their companies as people, partnerships, S companies, or LLCs.

The QBI Deduction can cut back the amount of cash you must pay in taxes and supply some monetary aid.

I counsel you converse with my mates at Collective about it. They set me up and it’s been unbelievable for my enterprise income.

The Verdict: Ought to You Take a 1099 Job?

After all the pieces I’ve shared with you as we speak, I hope you’re a bit nearer to deciding whether or not taking a 1099 job is best for you.

The reality is: it’s not maybe as massive of a deal as you may assume. Taking a 1099 job doesn’t preclude you from taking a standard job nor does it make your life overly difficult.

However I get it: it’s nonetheless an vital resolution. And one you need to be well-educated about.

When you’ve got any extra questions on taking over a 1099 job, I’d love to assist over in our fb group.

If you happen to’re able to take the leap, then congrats and good luck! I want you the easiest as you discover a work-life with extra freedom, flexibility, and success.