Part 1 of DSBSD Workforce Wednesdays: Small Business HR Series.

Hiring your first employees is a major milestone, but it also comes with new responsibilities, requirements, and risks that every business owner needs to understand.

In this practical training, we’ll explore the HR fundamentals that help owner-operators build a strong foundation from day one. We’ll dive deeper into the areas that most often create confusion for small businesses, including one of the biggest: properly classifying workers as W-2 employees or 1099 independent contractors.

You’ll learn more about:

• W-2 vs. 1099 classification — understand the key differences and why getting classification right matters.
• I-9 requirements — what employers need to know about employment eligibility verification.
• Recordkeeping — what employee records to maintain and why documentation matters.
• Wage and hour basics — foundational requirements around pay, time, and employee classification.
• Documentation — what to document, when to document it, and how good records can protect your business.
• Owner-operator responsibilities — the HR obligations that begin the moment you have employees.

Who Should Attend?

This training is designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and owner-operators who have employees or are preparing to hire their first employees.