Why your 1099 is taxed the way it is
Who pays the 15.3% for Social Security and Medicare, why it's all on you now, and how much higher a 1099 rate has to be to beat a W-2 offer.
eBook · Building Wealth Beyond Medicine™
You took the 1099 contract. Now run it like a business.
1099 Business Setup is the plain-English guide for travel, locum and per diem clinicians who want to keep more of what they earn, protect what they own, and walk into their CPA's office with sharper questions.
Secure checkout. Your download link arrives by email; if you don't see it, check your spam or Promotions folder.
54pages, PDF
11chapters plus a setup checklist
2026key numbers and dates
1real first-year case study
After you read it
Stop guessing. Know exactly how your 1099 money works.
What you can actually write off
Travel, stipends, your tax home, health insurance and the HSA. What's deductible, what people wrongly assume is, and how to keep the proof.
LLC, S-Corp or PLLC
What each one does, which you actually need, and why most travel PAs don't need a PLLC.
Where to form, and working in more than one state
Why your home state usually wins, and what changes when your assignments cross state lines.
The five steps to S-Corp
LLC, EIN, bank account, Form 2553, payroll. In order, with the election deadline many first-year owners miss.
How to pay yourself
The reasonable salary method: how to set your salary, take distributions, and see how it affects retirement room and the QBI deduction.
Year two and beyond
Quarterly estimates and the safe harbor, uneven or seasonal income, simple bookkeeping, and when to revisit your setup.
The mistakes that draw IRS attention
Common errors and audit triggers, including the "looks like payroll" trap, so you can avoid them from day one.
From the book's worked example
~$6,245
Less payroll tax on $120,000 of profit.
Chapter 6 walks through the same $120,000 as a sole proprietor and as an S-Corp paying a $70,000 salary: about $16,955 in self-employment tax versus $10,710 in payroll tax, before S-Corp running costs of $1,500 to $4,000 a year. The case study in Chapter 7 does the same for a provider's whole first year. Then you run your own numbers with the paycheck tracker layout in Chapter 9.
Illustrative only. Your numbers, state and situation will differ.
Look inside
Built to be used, not just read.
What's inside
From contractor to owner.
Start with "Is this book for you?", then go chapter by chapter, or jump straight to the part you need this week.
- 1Understanding your 1099 status
- 2What can you actually write off?
- 3LLC vs. S-Corp vs. PLLC
- 4Choosing your state (and working in more than one)
- 5Making the election
- 6Paying yourself: the reasonable salary method
- 7Case study: one provider's first year
- 8Year two and beyond
- 9Your S-Corp paycheck tracker
- 10Common mistakes and audit triggers
- 11Resources and staying current, with 2026 key numbers
- +Your setup checklist
Who it's for
PAs, NPs and physicians paid on a 1099.
Paid on a 1099
Nothing withheld and a 1099 at year end? This book is written for you, whether it's locum tenens, per diem or contract work.
W-2 plus 1099 shifts
Picking up 1099 work on the side? It applies to that income, and Chapter 6 has a section just for you.
Weighing a 1099 offer
Still on W-2? Read it before you sign, so you know what the 1099 rate has to cover. The tax home section applies to you either way.
Meet the author
"I didn't start with confidence. I built it."
Fedna Morency, PA-C, has been practising since 2014 and working as a travel (locum tenens) PA since 2018, interviewing for a new position every three to six months. This guide is what she learned structuring her own 1099 healthcare business, written so other clinicians don't have to piece it together alone.
2018Travel PA since
2024NCCPA Ambassador
2014PA-C since
Testimonials
What PAs say about working with Fedna.
"My income per hour has nearly doubled compared to my old W-2 job, plus 1.5x my hourly rate for overtime."PeterW-2 to travel
"I have now become 1099. I loved the financial guest speakers and the recruiter presentation."SyleenaCourse graduate
"She did a wonderful job coaching me on salary negotiation and making my transition smoother."Vesna Sweet, PA-CStaff to locum after 12+ years
"Fedna asked some thought-provoking questions about my offer. I realised the salary was one thing, but I was missing a laundry list of important requests. I went back with her advice and the requests were approved after a quick meeting."Mejerry Philius, PA-CContract review
How you get it
Three steps. Then start reading.
- Pay securely
Checkout takes a minute, through Stripe. Use an email address you check often.
- Check your email
Your download link is sent to that address. Not there? Look in your spam, junk or Promotions folder.
- Read, then make your plan
Work through it chapter by chapter, then take your questions to your CPA.
1099 Business Setup: From Contractor to Owner
$27
54-page PDF. Read it on any device and print the setup checklist.
Your download link arrives by email. Check spam or Promotions if you don't see it. No email? Write to hello@thetravellingpa.com.
FAQ
Before you buy
How do I get the eBook?
After you pay, a download link is emailed to the address you used at checkout. If it isn't in your inbox, check your spam, junk or Promotions folder. Still can't find it? Email hello@thetravellingpa.com and we'll sort it out.
What format is it?
A 54-page PDF. It opens on your phone, tablet or computer, and the setup checklist in the appendix is made to be printed.
Is this tax or legal advice?
No. The guide is educational and reflects Fedna's own research and experience structuring a 1099 healthcare business. Fedna is not a CPA, attorney or financial advisor. Entity, payroll and tax rules vary by state and situation, so use the book to understand your options and ask better questions, then confirm decisions with a licensed CPA or attorney.
Do I need an S-Corp?
Not necessarily. The book explains when an S-Corp makes sense, what it costs to run (about $1,500 to $4,000 a year), and when to revisit the decision if your income changes.
I'm on a W-2. Is it still useful?
Yes, as background, and the tax home section in Chapter 2 applies to you. It's especially useful if you're comparing a W-2 offer with a 1099 offer.
Are the numbers current?
It includes 2026 key numbers and dates, and shows you where to check for updates each January.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Fedna Morency is not a licensed CPA, attorney, or financial advisor. Tax law changes and varies by individual circumstance and state. Consult a licensed CPA or attorney before making entity, tax election, or payroll decisions for your business.