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Four advantages you won't get with a US W2

Leaner books. Lighter overhead. Same caliber of work.

A W2 employee is an obligation that lasts long after the work ends. A Trusty contractor is a partner you pay for output. Here's what that structurally changes for your business.

01

True 1099 Classification

Trusty team members are engaged as independent contractors. Not US employees. You pay a single, predictable monthly invoice. No W2 setup, no state unemployment filings, no workers' comp carrier, no I9, no EVerify.

  • One invoice, one wire, one line item on your P&L
  • No state by state registration if your team lives in different places
  • Year end 1099 handled by Trusty, not by your controller
  • Written statements of work so IRS classification stays clean
02

No Benefits Burden

Health insurance, dental, vision, 401(k) match, life, disability, PTO accrual, parental leave. None of it is on you. The 20 to 35% benefits load that sits on top of every US salary disappears from your cost structure entirely.

  • No open enrollment, no broker meetings, no COBRA admin
  • No 401(k) plan sponsorship or Form 5500 filings
  • No PTO accrual liability sitting on your balance sheet
  • No surprise health premium increases at renewal
03

Zero Employer Side Tax Withholding

No employer FICA, no Medicare match, no FUTA, no SUTA, no state level payroll tax. The 7.65% employer match on Social Security and Medicare alone is money that stays inside your business instead of flowing to the IRS on top of wages.

  • No 941, 940, W2 / W3, or state withholding filings
  • No quarterly payroll deposits to the IRS or EDD
  • No payroll service fee stack (Gusto, ADP, Paychex) per head
  • No garnishment handling, no withholding election paperwork
04

Real Advantages to Business Owners

The numbers compound quickly. A $60,000 US salary costs closer to $78,000 once you add benefits and taxes. The equivalent Trusty hire runs $12,000 to $20,000 all in. That's six figure annual savings per head. Savings you can reinvest in growth, margin, or the next hire.

  • Scale up or down without severance, unemployment claims, or HR risk
  • Reallocate savings into ads, inventory, or a second hire. Not overhead
  • Cleaner cap table and cleaner books when you're fundraising or selling
  • Faster trial hires. 72 hour start, 6 month free replacement if it isn't working
The side by side math

What a US hire actually costs you.

Most owners budget the salary and forget the load. Here's what a $60,000 base really costs by the time it leaves your account. Vs. The same role staffed through Trusty.

Line Item
Trusty Contractor
US W2 Employee
Base compensation
$21,456
$60,000
Employer FICA & Medicare (7.65%)
$0
$4,590
FUTA + SUTA (avg.)
$0
$720
Health / dental / vision premiums
$0
$8,400
401(k) match (4%)
$0
$2,400
Workers' comp & disability
$0
$900
PTO accrual liability (3 weeks)
$0
$3,460
Equipment + software stipend
Included
$1,800
Fully loaded annual cost
$21,456
$82,270
You keep
$60,814 / year / hire

Illustrative example based on a mid market administrative / operations hire. Actual savings vary by role, geography, and benefits package. Trusty is not a law or tax firm. Consult your CPA on classification in your specific situation.

How it stays clean

Classification, done right.

We don't play games with worker classification. Every Trusty engagement is structured so that independent contractor status holds up on both sides of the Atlantic.

A

Written Statement of Work

Every engagement starts with a scoped SOW. Deliverables, hours, milestones, term. That paper trail is what separates a contractor from a misclassified employee in every jurisdiction we operate in.

B

Talent Works Through Trusty

Contractors invoice Trusty. Not your business. Trusty handles local registration, local tax residency, and cross border compliance. You get a clean US domiciled vendor relationship with one entity.

C

You Direct Output, Not Schedule

You tell your Trusty team member what the outcome is. They own the "how." This structural line between direction of output versus direction of method is the core of proper 1099 classification, and we coach owners on staying on the right side of it.

What would you do with an extra six figures?

Every hire you move to Trusty pays for the next one.

A single senior role swapped from W2 to Trusty frees up $50K to $70K a year in owner cash. That's the seed capital for a new marketing channel, a second product, a pricing test, or three more hires. This is how lean companies compound.

Reinvest in Growth

Put savings into paid acquisition, content, or sales headcount.

Cleaner Financials

Simple vendor spend instead of payroll + benefits + tax complexity.

Higher Margins

Labor as a variable, not a fixed liability. Stronger unit economics.

Exit Ready Books

Lean operating cost structure is what acquirers pay a premium for.