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Hiring your first employee in Florida

Moving from contractors to an employee adds paperwork: forms, payroll taxes, reporting and insurance. A checklist keeps it in order.

Business3 min readCorvane Ashmoor & Co.

Talk to your accountant first about whether the person is an employee or a contractor.

Common steps

  • Get an EIN if you do not have one.
  • Have the employee complete Form I-9 by their third day of work, and Form W-4.
  • Report the new hire to the Florida New Hire Reporting Center within 20 days.
  • Register for Florida reemployment tax.
  • Set up payroll and federal tax deposits.
  • Check workers' compensation rules for your business.
  • Post the required federal and state notices.

Our first hire checklist walks through each step.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible agency or a licensed professional.

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