Questions:

• What laws must I follow when hiring new employees?
• When I hire someone, do I have to use a written employment contract?
• Do any special rules apply if I'm hiring a teenager?
• Can I take an applicant's disability into account when I'm hiring?
• Can I ask where an applicant was born or whether he or she is a U.S. citizen?
• I want to know whether applicants have ever been fired or stolen from a prior employer -- can I require them to take a lie detector test?
• What should I do before hiring my first employee?
• What first-day paperwork requirements do I need to handle with new employees?
• How far can I go in running background checks?
• What is a job description?
• Can I check an applicant's credit report?

Answer:

What should I do before hiring my first employee?

There are a number of legal and practical steps you should take when hiring for the first time. For example, you will need to get an employer ID number for tax purposes, register with your state's labor department, and post required notices. Among the practical matters to take care of are setting up payroll withholding, getting insurance, and getting started on good personnel practices, such as setting up employee files and drafting policies. For more information, see Nolo's article Hiring Your First Employee: 13 Things You Must Do.