Free review
Hiring, Payroll & Labor Costs

Tax planning for contractors building crews and managing labor costs.

We model the full cost of each hire, structure payroll that holds up, and map the tax outcome before you commit to the headcount. Our team works with trade contractors who need the numbers clear before they sign the paycheck.

Start with a free labor-cost review

We look at your current crew size, payroll structure, and growth plan. No charge for the first conversation.

Free, no obligation · Your details stay private

Flat fee quoted upfront Remote or in-person Tax strategists, not sales staff
$0First review — we quote a flat fee after
Flat feeNo hourly billing on strategy work
All 50 statesRemote payroll and tax filing
Why it matters

The hiring decision is usually made too fast or too slow

Every contractor hits the same fork: bring on help now and absorb the cost, or wait and lose the work. The mistake is deciding on gut feel. We model the full loaded cost — payroll taxes, workers comp, benefits, the overhead of managing — so you know the number before you post the job.

Hiring blind
You bring someone on, discover the true cost after the fact, and the margin disappears. Turnover follows.
Modeled first
We build the cost per hire into your job pricing, structure payroll that aligns with your cash flow, and file
Staying solo too long
You price for one-person output, turn down scaled work, and the competitors who built crews take the market.

We map the break-even on each role, the payroll tax load, and whether your entity structure supports the headcount. You decide with the numbers in hand.

What this engagement covers

What we do
01
True cost per hire
We calculate loaded labor cost — wages, payroll taxes, workers comp, and overhead — so you know what a hire actually costs before you commit.
02
Payroll structure and timing
We set up or review your payroll cycle, withholding, and tax deposits to match your cash flow and keep you compliant.
03
Employee vs contractor classification
We review your current classifications and model the cost of shifting roles, with the filing handled either way.
04
Compensation design
We structure hourly, performance pay, or commission plans that align with your job costing and tax position.
05
Family payroll strategy
We model wages to children or spouses, the deduction, and the payroll tax outcome — when it works and when it does not.
06
Growth-stage planning
We build the hiring sequence — when the first employee pays off, when the fifth makes sense, how the entity structure shifts with payroll load.
WHAT YOU LEAVE WITH

What a consult delivers

You get concrete outputs, not a conversation. Here is what we hand you.

01
A loaded cost model per role
A written breakdown of what each hire costs all-in, including the payroll tax burden and workers comp impact on your current policy.
02
A payroll tax calendar
Your deposit schedule, filing deadlines, and state obligations mapped to your actual pay cycle — no more guessing what is due when.
03
A hiring sequence with break-evens
The timeline of when each role turns profitable, based on your job pricing and overhead, so you know which hire to make next.
04
An honest read on whether to hire at all
Sometimes the math says subcontract, automate, or raise prices first. We tell you straight if the numbers do not support the headcount.
How it works

How it works

1

Send your numbers

You share current payroll reports, job cost summaries, workers comp statements, and your growth plan. We review before we talk.

2

We map the full cost

Our team models each scenario — the hire, the reclassification, the compensation shift — and builds the tax filing that matches your new structure.

3

You decide, we execute

You choose the path. We set up payroll, file the returns, and keep the books current. You run the crew; we handle the back office.

How the fee works

A flat fee, quoted up front.

We quote a flat fee after the first review. The number depends on four things:

01Your current headcount — solo, small crew, or multi-crew operation
02Your entity type — sole prop, LLC, S-Corp, or partnership
03Payroll complexity — simple W-2, multi-state, or mixed contractor payments
04Books condition — current and clean, or catch-up needed first
✓After the free review, we quote you a flat number — before any work starts. No surprises.
IS THIS YOU?

Find your situation

Each spoke below covers a specific decision point in hiring and payroll for trade contractors. Click through for the mechanics, then come back to book the review.

You are losing crew members and need to know the real cost of→ You want to put family members on payroll and need the tax outcome→ You are choosing how to compensate new hires and need the structure→ You need a clear pay progression to retain field crews long-term→ You are deciding between W-2 employees and 1099 subcontractors→ You need workers comp costs built into your labor pricing→ You are solo and need to know when the first hire breaks even→

Not sure which fits your situation? Book the free review and we will sort it in conversation. Bring it to the free review →

Common questions

Do you run payroll or just advise on it?
We run payroll and handle payroll tax deposits and filings. This is not advice-only — we execute the withholding, quarterly reports, and year-end forms.
Can you work with our existing payroll provider?
Yes. We review the setup for tax accuracy and can take over processing if the structure needs changing. We do not require you to switch systems.
What do I bring to the first review?
Your current payroll reports, workers comp statements, recent job cost summaries, and a sense of your hiring timeline. We review these before we meet.
How long until I get the cost model?
We deliver the loaded cost breakdown within one week of receiving your complete numbers, often sooner for simpler operations.
Do you handle multi-state payroll?
Yes. We file in all 50 states. Multi-state adds complexity to the setup, which we factor into the flat fee quote.
What if the numbers say do not hire yet?
We tell you. The review is free and we quote the engagement only if the work makes sense. Sometimes the right answer is raise prices or subcontract first.
Do you set up the payroll system or just file taxes?
We do both. We set up or clean the payroll structure, run regular pay cycles, and handle all associated tax filings.

Book the free labor-cost review

We look at your crew size, payroll structure, and growth plan. You leave with the loaded cost per hire and a flat fee for the engagement. No charge for the first conversation.