Self Employment or LLC?

[Jocelyn Fotiadis]

I was recently laid off from a job because of downsizing, and one of the Chinese vendors that I worked with at my position offered me a job working as a representative for them in the USA. I was managing a product development department for a giftware company.

I want to be employed as a consultant, rather than an employee of the company to leave open the option of doing this for other companies in the future and need some advice.

The Chinese company is offering a 1 year contract. I am not sure where to begin. If I am self employed, what are the steps I need to take? Also, i may need help with this undertaking, by hiring freelance designers to help me in this endeavor. Do I establish an LLC in order to do this, and if so how do I go about this? The Chinese company also offered to pay the freelancers, so that I don't have to do a payroll, but they are also novices to employing anyone internationally.

They are flying my to their offices in China on Sunday and want to discuss this opportunity, and this is happening rather quickly, and before I get there I want to have a plan, and need some serious guidance. Any help, links, advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am located in Hillsborough, New Jersey and the company is located in Ningbo, China.

Thanks in advance!
Jocelyn

[domore]

I sent you a PM.