So, you've started a business all by yourself. That is no small feat. You have chosen an awesome company name, your tax documents are all in order, and your website has been generating lots of traffic. Now, your business is booming, and you're up to your nose in work! It might be time to hire your first employee. That will also be no small step, and there are many considerations to, well, consider. Here's a checklist to keep in mind:

1. Protected Classes/Attributes: During the hiring process, before you select your first employee, understand what a protected class or attribute is. When selecting your employee from the applicant pool, there are certain attributes upon which an employer cannot base their decision. As general examples, an employer cannot refuse to hire someone because of the applicant's race, skin color, or sex. That same employer could, however, decide not to hire somebody because the employer doesn't like the applicant's neon green shirt. The applicable characteristics upon which an employer cannot base its decision will be listed in federal statutes (such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), and many other federal laws), as well as any applicable state law concerning anti-discrimination. It is also important to understand whether your company is a "covered employer," which determines if a certain statute even applies to your business....

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