Use case

Hiring your first employee

Bringing on your first employee is a milestone — but it also triggers legal obligations most first-time employers don’t anticipate. From employment contracts and confidentiality agreements to mandatory federal withholding forms, there’s a short but important stack of paperwork that protects both your business and your new hire from day one. Get it right before their first day.

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Employment Agreement

Self-Employed Independent Contractor Employment Agreement - General

Formulate clear expectations and responsibilities between a company and a contractor, ensuring compliance and protecting confidential information.

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Employment Agreement

Employment Agreement Between a Medical Esthetics Company and Medical Director with Noncompetition and Confidentiality Provisions

Create a formal employment relationship with noncompetition and confidentiality clauses for a medical director.

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Employment Agreement

Physician's Assistant Employment Agreement

Secure a clear employment relationship with a physician's assistant through this essential agreement outlining duties and compensation.

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Employment Agreement

Employment Agreement of Executive Chef

Secure the terms of employment for an executive chef, detailing responsibilities, compensation, and benefits.

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Employment Agreement

Employment Agreement with Truck Driver to Pull Refrigerated Trailers

Create a detailed employment agreement for truck drivers delivering refrigerated goods, ensuring compliance and outlining roles and responsibilities.

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Independent Contractor

Self-Employed Independent Contractor Agreement Between an Owner / Operator Truck Driver and Common Carrier Company or Organization

Set clear terms for the relationship between a truck driver contractor and a carrier, ensuring mutual responsibilities and insurance coverage.

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Independent Contractor

International Independent Contractor Agreement

Essential for defining the terms of engagement between a corporation and an independent contractor, protecting both parties' rights and responsibilities.

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Independent Contractor

Independent Contractor Agreement Between Licensed Counselor and Therapist and Licensed Counselor and Therapist Practicing as a Solo Practitioner

Establish a professional relationship between a licensed therapist and an independent contractor therapist, detailing duties and compensation.

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Hiring Package

Ohio Employment Hiring Process Package

Get all necessary forms for a smooth hiring process in one convenient package.

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What most first-time employers miss before day one

A written contract is your only protection if the relationship sours

Without a signed employment agreement, disputes over duties, compensation, notice periods, and termination reasons become your word against theirs. Even in at-will states where employment can end at any time, a contract establishes documented expectations — and can protect you from wrongful termination claims.

Federal law requires specific onboarding paperwork — before work begins

Every new hire must complete an IRS Form W-4 (for tax withholding) and a Form I-9 (to verify work eligibility) before or on their first day. The I-9 must be retained for at least 3 years. Failure to complete these forms exposes your business to federal fines.

NDAs and IP agreements must be signed before employment begins

Courts generally won’t enforce non-disclosure or non-compete agreements signed after an employee starts working without new consideration. To protect your trade secrets, client lists, and proprietary processes, have the employee sign before their first day.

Get your first hire papered correctly in 3 steps

Step 1

Select your employment documents

Choose your state and job type to get the right employment agreement, NDA, and any state-required forms. Requirements differ significantly — California, for example, bans most non-compete agreements entirely.

Step 2

Fill out with our online editor

Enter the employee’s name, role, compensation, start date, and any specific terms. Our editor guides you through state-specific required clauses and flags anything that could be unenforceable in your state.

Step 3

Sign before the first day

Have all agreements signed before the employee’s start date. Keep originals on file. Present the W-4 and I-9 for completion on day one, and retain the I-9 in a secure separate file per federal requirements.

Employment contracts and offer letters do not require notarization in any state — signatures from both employer and employee are sufficient. Both parties should retain a signed copy. IRS Form W-4 and USCIS Form I-9 must be completed per federal requirements but do not need notarization.

FAQs

Yes — even in at-will states, a written employment agreement is valuable. It documents compensation, job duties, benefits, confidentiality obligations, and the notice period expected on both sides. Without it, a departing employee could claim unpaid commissions or dispute the terms of their termination.

Not sure which forms you need?

Search our full library of employment and HR documents — at-will agreements, independent contractor contracts, NDAs, offer letters, and more. Filter by state to get the version that’s legally valid where your business operates.

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Glossary of terms

At-Will EmploymentThe default employment standard in most US states, meaning either the employer or employee can end the relationship at any time, for any legal reason, without advance notice. An employment agreement can modify at-will terms by adding notice periods or cause requirements for termination.

Form W-4The IRS form every new employee completes to tell the employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. The amount withheld depends on filing status, number of dependents, and any additional withholding the employee elects.

Form I-9A federal form required to verify that a new employee is legally authorized to work in the United States. Employers must verify identity documents and retain the completed I-9 for 3 years from hire or 1 year after termination, whichever is later.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)A legally binding contract in which an employee agrees not to share confidential business information — trade secrets, client lists, proprietary processes — with third parties, both during and after employment.

Non-Compete AgreementA contract clause restricting an employee from working for competitors or starting a competing business for a defined period after leaving. Enforceability varies significantly by state — prohibited in California and several others.

Independent Contractor AgreementA contract used when hiring a freelancer or contractor rather than an employee. It defines the scope of work, payment, and deliverables, while establishing that the worker is responsible for their own taxes and benefits.

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Hiring your first employee

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What most first-time employers miss before day one

Get your first hire papered correctly in 3 steps

Notarization guidance

FAQs

Do I need an employment contract if I’m in an at-will state?

What’s the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?

Can I include a non-compete clause in my employment contract?

What mandatory forms must every new employee complete?

Not sure which forms you need?

Glossary of terms

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