How to Motivate 1099 Employees
Building Performance and Loyalty Without a Traditional Org Chart

Independent contractors (1099 employees) are becoming a core part of modern business models-from field technicians and brand ambassadors to gig workers and service pros.

But because 1099s technically “work for themselves,” it’s easy to assume they don’t need or want motivation. That’s not true.

The best 1099s want to do great work-but they still need the right systems to stay engaged, driven, and loyal to your brand.

Here’s how to do that-without compromising their independence.

1. Give Them Autonomy, but Not Isolation

Contractors value flexibility-but that doesn’t mean they want to feel disconnected.

Let them:

• Set their own schedules

• Prioritize their own workload

• Operate without micromanagement

…but also:

• Communicate clearly and consistently

• Offer support when needed

• Include them in wins, updates, and goals

Think: independent, but not invisible.

2. Show Them the Path to More Opportunity

Even without promotions or raises, 1099s care about progress. Make it clear what leads to:

• More job offers or better routes

• Priority shifts or premium clients

• Public recognition or bonuses

Help them connect high performance to real outcomes.

3. Make Recognition Part of the System

One of the fastest ways to lose a great 1099 contractor? Letting their best work go unnoticed.

Even small gestures matter:

• “You handled that client perfectly today-thank you.”

• Team-wide shoutouts for top performers

• End-of-week leaderboard recaps or badges

Recognition reinforces what’s working and builds loyalty-even without traditional career ladders.

4. Use Simple Incentives (When Appropriate)

While 1099s aren’t salaried employees, many still respond well to performance-based incentives.
These can include:

• Extra bonuses for top-tier jobs

• Gift cards or tips for great customer experiences

• Loyalty-based perks (equipment upgrades, priority access)

Just keep it optional and clear-contractors should feel appreciated, not managed.

5. Leverage Cheers to Capture Customer Praise

With Cheers, contractors can carry NFC-powered badges that let customers give reviews, tips, or referrals on the spot.

This solves a huge problem: most 1099s do great work-but there’s no system to connect that effort back to the business.

With Cheers, you can:

• Track which contractor earned which review

• Reward top performers

• Create transparency without surveillance

It gives your 1099s proof of performance, which builds their confidence, their pride-and your trust in who’s really driving results.