A Better Class of Serpent

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As for the paperwork, that was probably the hardest part during his years as a teacher. It was only last year that he found an underutilized solution. He hired a local staffing agency to do his payroll. Unlike normal payroll services, the staffing agency also takes care of his workers’ comp fees and taxes. Contrary to the traditional use of a staffing agency, Dillingham finds his own employees, many of them former students from his days as a teacher.

Dillingham says he pays about $11 an hour per employee, each of whom receives $8.50 per hour. The staffing company, Blue Ribbon, keeps the difference and takes care of the details.

It was only through word of mouth that he discovered the comprehensive payroll option. His tax accountant first suggested it, and after talking with other people with similar setups, he decided to get started. “I thought I would just try it,” he says. “I know other people have used the service and liked it.” He estimates that it saves him about six hours per month.  

Nowadays, Dillingham feels he has found the right balance, and he’s busy packing. The snakes are fed, the employees are covered and he’s about to head off for a week-long camping trip to admire the reptile-filled deserts of Death Valley.

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