The manner in which a Service Provider is paid is a very big issue. It should go without saying that your subcontractors are the lifeblood of your business, and you need them to survive. They should be paid on-time and in-full, every time. Stretching out a subcontractor only leads to bad publicity. These guys know who’s paying on time and who isn’t. The word gets around. Good and bad. Some companies have service providers waiting in line to come work for them, simply be

Be very careful in your treatment of independent service providers while they are plowing snow for you. You do not want them to be misconstrued as being “employees” as compared to actual “subcontractors”. While you can give them direction – that direction should be limited to what your customers’ expectations are as far as a finished product after the plowing is completed. You must not restrict them from plowing for themselves or other contractors (if you treat them right