New to this business and questioning IC status.

When a MS is not allowed to set his/her rate for a shop because the shop rate is established by the MSC, doesn't that indicate the MSC has a right of an employer?
Same questions pertaining to structuring a shop or shops... Instructing a MS on how to do a shop (including test taking/qualifying MS), when to do a shop (time), specifics of finalizing a shop (shop reports), termination of MS because of performance numbers, etc. all seem like rights of an employer.
If MSC has so much control of an assignment, aside from MS picking which shops to take, it kind of seems more like an employer-employee relationship.

Maybe someone could clear this up a bit.

No. According to the IRS if you can do the shop at any time during the required timeframe in a manner you choose within certain established parameters, then you can be called an IC. However, if, for example, an MSC said you have to do the shop at 9:00 a.m. and leave at 10:30 a.m. that would constitute control over how and when you do the job. This has been a big issue in another business I run. Look up the IRS rules to see how they determine the difference between and IC and employee.

Certainly there are gray areas to the IC/MSC relationship.

A big difference is that if you see that the shop must be done on Monday, 2/13/2012 between 1PM and 2PM and that you must make a purchase that will be reimbursed up to $2 if you produce an acceptable report in a predetermined amount of time you have the right to take or not take the shop. In theory you even have the right to look through the instructions and read over the report and still reject a shop you agreed to, though that is generally poor form. If you were an employee or not an IC you never would have had the choice of whether or not to do the job in the required time frame and location.

Thank you all for previous replies.

Is it possible to review the shop instructions before agreeing to doing the shop (in order to evaluate the shop)?

UnderCover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you all for previous replies.
>
> Is it possible to review the shop instructions
> before agreeing to doing the shop (in order to
> evaluate the shop)?


Yes and No. LOL...sorry it doesn't help. Some MSCs yes...some No. It is all in how they set up their systems. I know I have dove into a job on the preview of the instructions and it was way more detailed and stricter than mentioned.

So any MSCs out there peeping...It would be great if you could list the true information for the shops, the rules in the entirety (kids/no kids is a biggie for me), and a true location address not just a city. In major areas a city name does not give an idea, the location could be 20 minutes away or an hour depending on where in the city. Thanks all!

SecretAgentMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> UnderCover Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thank you all for previous replies.
> >
> > Is it possible to review the shop instructions
> > before agreeing to doing the shop (in order to
> > evaluate the shop)?
>
>
> Yes and No. LOL...sorry it doesn't help. Some MSCs
> yes...some No. It is all in how they set up their
> systems. I know I have dove into a job on the
> preview of the instructions and it was way more
> detailed and stricter than mentioned.
>
> So any MSCs out there peeping...It would be great
> if you could list the true information for the
> shops, the rules in the entirety (kids/no kids is
> a biggie for me), and a true location address not
> just a city. In major areas a city name does not
> give an idea, the location could be 20 minutes
> away or an hour depending on where in the city.
> Thanks all!

Thanks "Mom"
It seems a MS gets demerits for cancelling a shop but if a MS doesn't get all the shop info before accepting, a MS would not really be making an informed decision before taking an assignment, especially if it turns out to be in a questionable location (for mom with kids for example)... MS safety is priority.
Appreciate your reply.