Is it time for you to hire people into your business? Are you sitting on the fence between whether to use a 1099 contractor model or the W2 employee system for your staff? What are the central differences between them, and which one is better suited for your business goals?

In this podcast snippet from the Group Practice Boss Conference 2025, Andrew Burdette demystifies the W2 model.

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Meet Andrew Burdette















Andrew founded Mindful Counseling PLLC in Asheville, NC shortly after completing his graduate program in clinical mental health counseling. At the start of the pandemic, he pivoted to an online solo practice, and in 2022, began to grow a group practice. He most enjoys helping clients and colleagues identify what ignites their passions and assisting them in creating a life rooted in authenticity. Andrew approaches his business development with alignment in mind and enjoys the integration process connecting the many puzzle pieces and systems required to run a successful practice.







Visit Andrew’s website and Apply to work with him.











Email him at andrew@practiceofthepractice.com

In This Podcast



* Realities about the 1099 model 

* Cost effectiveness between 1099 and W2 

* You get to create a culture with W2



Realities about the 1099 model 



If you are doing 1099 properly, everyone works for themselves and really functionally what you have is a franchise [with] people under your brand name, and functionally they are working independently, doing their own business … They don’t work for you, they work under your umbrella and brand name, but that’s really it. (Andrew Burdette) 



There are two central truths to the 1099 model that you will need to be mindful of when it comes to working with this employee structure type: 

1 – They don’t work for you; they work for themselves under your business brand umbrella 

2 – They are independent contractors, which means that they don’t have a strong incentive to stay in your business if they find better opportunities elsewhere

What this means is that you may have a high turnover rate of clinicians. If you want to build something that lasts and works coherently as a system, the W2 route is best. 

Cost effectiveness between 1099 and W2

It may seem on the surface that 1099s are the more inexp...