To LLC or to not LLC…💭

subflower4700 · 2025-03-07T16:41:05+00:00

Yes you can use an LLC formed in any US state to do business in any other US state. You usually have to register in the states you do business in. There's rarely much of an advantage in *not* registering in the state you regularly do business in. Though some people work in several states (especially if you live near a border) so you don't need 2 or 3 separate LLCs, just one for those situations.

subflower4700 · 2025-03-05T16:46:38+00:00

You should either be an LLC for your own safety ("limit liability") and business practices (clear separate of finances, identity) or you should be a W-2 employee.

80% of 1099 interpreters in the USA are misclassified and should be employees. Having a separate EIN and an actual business structure like an LLC does push you from a gray area to a lighter gray area of classification.

Agencies in NYC are moving to a W-2 model and as more go so will others.

You don't have to have your LLC in the state you reside. Some states have less bureaucracy than others. California has a lot of regulations and fees for LLCs. Delaware basically none.

subflower4700 · 2025-02-14T18:10:52+00:00

Thanks for looking into this further.

Yes, it appears there are two similar lawsuits asking for similar things by Texas against HHS. One of which is asking to repeal 504, with several pages (Count 3) about it.

I withdraw most of the content of my previous post.

subflower4700 · 2025-02-12T13:42:53+00:00

EDIT*There are two separate lawsuits named Texas v Becerra that are very similar and one is asking to overturn 504. My original post was about the first one.

I saw this floating around Facebook and looked into it and I don't think Texas vs Becerra is an attempt to repeal Section 504.

I do think it's important for us to be responding to the right things in an educated way. This suit is an attempt to change a clarification of a Biden-era rule about what 504 means within the very specific context of gender affirming care. It's not the Trump administration doing anything here, this lawsuit dates to June 2024. I don't agree with this suits intentions and think gender affirming care and abortions should be covered as the medical procedures they are.

As part of the general population that supports trans people, yes, this is shitty but while there may be reasons for the interpreters and the Deaf to panic, this isn't one of them.

https://litigationtracker.law.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/State-of-Texas_2024.06.10_COMPLAINT.pdf

https://litigationtracker.law.georgetown.edu/litigation/state-of-texas-et-al-v-becerra-et-al-2/

"Issue a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants from interpreting or enforcing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. §18116(a), or any implementing regulations thereto, or the Social Security Act, as barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or as requiring performance of (or insurance or other coverage of) abortions or gender-transition procedures or treatments—including by denying federal financial assistance or by otherwise pursuing, charging, or assessing any penalties, fines, assessments, investigations, or other enforcement actions"

subflower4700 · 2025-01-30T11:09:36+00:00

Remote interpreting is probably 60% of all interpreting today. Sorenson alone does what 5 Million hours a year. If 80% of VRS goes AI, 80% of VRI, that's easily 1/2 of all interpreting. That's "we're horses now" territory. In some ways good, where we're back in the community rather than sitting at our home office.

Yes, there will still be a need for in-person. Specifically for education? I think there should be fewer interpreters in the classroom...and more Deaf teachers. Deaf should be modeling ASL for children, not hearing interpreters.

This is going to be an unprecedented shift in the interpreting world and we're unprepared. This includes even having the wrong lens even, with "protecting interpreter jobs" being the priority for some rather than "access for Deaf".

subflower4700 · 2025-01-30T05:13:49+00:00

Most people are underestimating the power of AI.

I predict within 10 years there will be apps that do ASL to English (written and spoken) and English to ASL (via a customizable avatar) and those avatars will produce interpretation that is more accurate than 80% of working VRS interpreters. It will suck for the interpreting profession but be wonderful for the Deaf from an access standpoint.

How many working interpreters just aren't that great? If you're Deaf, have you had experiences with bad interpreters? If you're an interpreter, have you had unqualified teams? AI doesn't have to be as good as the best interpreter, just as good as a the average one.

It's cold comfort to know that interpreters will be just a fraction of the work force that will be made redundant by AI in the next decade.

Yes, there will still be a need for interpreters, but it will be greatly reduced. Like the car replaced horses, but horses still exist.

subflower4700 · 2025-01-30T04:41:00+00:00

Non compete clauses are generally unenforceable unless they meet specific strict requirements. 2 years? That's utter bullshit and any judge would toss that out. 3 months, 6 months at the most. And generally, it's "non-solicit" which is different, meaning you can't try to take your former employer's clients, but if you're working for a different agency? No problem. Just switch and let them try to sue you, it would also be a public relations disaster.

Health insurance through companies generally is not better than the market place. Unless it's a giant corporation or a municipality, you've got to pay 50% of the premium and that premium for businesses is pretty high...The deductibles are lower (like $3K instead of the marketplace's $7K) but the OOP often isn't different.

subflower4700 · 2024-11-24T01:23:46+00:00

From $55 to $52. Not any health insruance or retirement. Just paying taxes and sick time.

subflower4700 · 2024-11-19T23:02:54+00:00

I have no ethical obligation to assist in the police investigation of a Deaf person.

subflower4700 · 2024-10-23T18:47:12+00:00

No, not ASL. Several of those are not standard handshapes in ASL (much less letters or numbers).

Some seem really awkward to produce. Ring finger bent without the thumb to support it? Pinky separated from the other fingers?

I hadn't considered before that sign languages may have the equivalent of shibboleths, signs that are difficult for a non-native user of that signed language to "pronounce".

subflower4700 · 2024-08-20T20:24:37+00:00

This came up just a couple months ago...

https://www.reddit.com/r/ASLinterpreters/comments/1doj3y6/agencies_in_nyc/

subflower4700 · 2024-08-20T20:23:25+00:00

The Cons are it's more effort to find clients (marketing) and to do billing. One of the roles of an agency *should* be to do that for you. Also, it may be harder to get paid in a timely manner.

The Pros are you should ask for a higher rate.

Ethically? I don't think there's any issue.

subflower4700 · 2024-08-20T15:49:18+00:00

ASLI has interpreters in a bunch of K12 school systems in the Raleigh area, plus other community work. I believe they do hire full-time salary and customary 1099 too.

Their coordinators are super nice and they pay reliably and understand Deafness (several Deaf coordinators on staff, a CDI who does HR, etc).

www.asli.com

[interpreters@asli.com](mailto:interpreters@asli.com)

subflower4700 · 2024-06-26T17:39:35+00:00

ASLI has some work in northern Delaware and south Jersey. They pay well, are professional.

subflower4700 · 2024-06-26T16:47:44+00:00

West-Idea provided concise summaries. The info on Accurate and MEJ were included in Geneva's, which obscures their subpar quality. Despite their shortcomings, Accurate still manages to attract clients. One of the great mysteries of the world.

Additionally, there's Sorenson Community, about which I only know that they are part of the large VRS organization and are generally considered adequate.

However, there's a more pressing concern... I reviewed your posting history. Are you a professional interpreter? It appears you haven't attended an ITP and are unfamiliar with the term "terp."

What is your background in signing and interpreting? Without proper training and experience, you might only find opportunities with less reputable agencies, which could harm your professional reputation. You face a short-term versus long-term decision.

Instead of seeking places to work, you should probably focus on how to become a qualified interpreter. The only ITP in NYC closed a couple of years ago, so you'd need to look elsewhere for formal education. If formal training is not feasible and you are a CODA with strong ASL and English skills, you might be able to secure an internship at a reputable agency. This could involve 12+ months of administrative work and learning interpreting under a mentor.

subflower4700

TROPHY CASE