• In terms of hiring, under the current laws in Canada and the US, the government considers Freelance Executive Admin Assistants and Virtual Assistants to be Independent Contractors. As such, for the business owner there are no payroll expenses, no paid vacation time, no benefits, no bonuses etc.

• You pay only for “time on task” or by project.

• You do not need to purchase additional office equipment, furniture or computers.

• The Independent Contractor will help you stay focused and on schedule – freeing up your time to concentrate on building your business

• The Independent Contractor can handle your seasonal or periodic projects and this is very convenient when your current staff gets overloaded or during holidays.

• You are not limited to the usual 9-5 hours— most  Independent Contractors keep very flexible schedules.

• The Independent Contractor will work with no supervision - you can depend on having your tasks completed on time, every time!

• The Independent Contractor is available to handle a wide variety of tasks from web design to event planning.
   

• "While it is true no one factor is determinative of the nature of a working relationship...the following factors tend to indicate an independent contractor arrangement:
   

  • A contract indicating a hirer/independent contractor relationship

  • No exclusivity of employment i.e., the worker may provide services to more than one hirer;

  • Remuneration is by reference to the sales or the billings of the worker a percentage amount;

  • Submission of an invoice by the worker to the hirer for payment for services rendered;

  • The worker charges GST;

  • The worker is not paid if no services are rendered;

  • The worker pays for any expenses he/she incurs during the performance of his/her work such as paying rent for the use of office space or equipment;

  • The worker owns the tools and equipment required for the job;

  • The absence of any restrictions on the hours of work and vacation time;

  • No vacation pay or bonuses;

  • The worker is not required to report to the hirer's premises;

  • The worker is not required to perform the services personally; he/she may subcontract to a third party;

  • The hirer does not supervise the worker's activities;

  • The contract between the worker & the hirer is for a limited period of time;

  • The contract is between the hirer and the corporation and the worker is an employee or independent contractor of the corporation."

*http://careerlaw.ca/Independent_Contractors