> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bolto.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hiring Overview

> Hire with Bolto — offer letters, adding employees and contractors, contractor conversion, and I-9 verification.

Bolto covers the hiring workflow from offer to first day: send a signed offer letter, add the person as an employee or contractor, and complete employment-eligibility verification — all in one place.

***

## The hiring workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Send an offer letter">
    Create an offer from a W-2 or contractor template, customize it, and send it for e-signature. See [Offer Letters](/hiring/offer-letters).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add them to Bolto">
    Once the offer is signed, add the person as an [employee](/payroll/adding-employees) or a [contractor](/contractors/adding-contractors). They receive an invitation to complete their own onboarding — personal details, tax setup, and payment information.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify employment eligibility">
    For W-2 employees, Bolto manages Form I-9 end to end — the employee completes Section 1, you review and sign Section 2. See [I-9 Verification](/hiring/i9-verification).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Adding the person to Bolto is a separate step after their offer is signed — a signed offer letter doesn't automatically create the employee or contractor record.
</Note>

***

## Employee or contractor?

* **W-2 employee** — someone you employ directly on US payroll, with tax withholding, benefits eligibility, and W-2 reporting. Requires [Bolto Payroll](/payroll/overview).
* **Independent contractor** — someone who invoices for their work, in the US or internationally. See [Contractors](/contractors/overview).

Started someone as a contractor and want to bring them onto payroll? Bolto has a dedicated flow for that — see [Converting a Contractor to an Employee](/hiring/converting-contractors-to-employees).

***

## Who can do what

| Capability                            | Owner | Contractor Manager | Viewer    |
| ------------------------------------- | ----- | ------------------ | --------- |
| Offer letters (create, send, void)    | ✅     | ❌                  | ❌         |
| Add employees / convert contractors   | ✅     | ✅                  | ❌         |
| Add contractors                       | ✅     | ✅                  | ❌         |
| I-9: initiate, review, sign Section 2 | ✅     | ❌                  | View only |

***

## Hiring guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Offer Letters" icon="file-signature" href="/hiring/offer-letters">
    Templates, e-signature, and offer statuses from draft to signed.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Adding Employees" icon="user-plus" href="/payroll/adding-employees">
    Add W-2 employees and guide them through self-onboarding.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Adding Contractors" icon="globe" href="/contractors/adding-contractors">
    Contract types, invitations, and contractor onboarding.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Converting a Contractor to an Employee" icon="arrows-rotate" href="/hiring/converting-contractors-to-employees">
    Move a US contractor onto W-2 payroll in one guided flow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="I-9 Verification" icon="id-card" href="/hiring/i9-verification">
    Employment-eligibility verification, deadlines, and reminders.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>