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What’s the difference between an independent contractor and an employee?

Hint: it’s not what you write in the contract.

In this episode of How to Keep Your Day Job with the Morning Star Consultants, Lisa and Staci unpack one of the most misunderstood — and most expensive — mistakes organizations make: worker misclassification.

Because here’s the truth:
If you control their schedule, direct their work, supply their tools, and integrate them into your operations… calling them a “contractor” doesn’t magically make it so.

In this episode, we break down:

• The real test used to determine worker status
• Why invoices don’t equal independence
• The financial risks of getting it wrong
• Governance blind spots boards often miss
• How to structure working relationships properly

This conversation is practical, honest, and maybe just a little sarcastic — because sometimes the gap between what organizations say and what they do is… significant.

If you run a business, sit on a board, hire consultants, or think you’ve found a clever workaround to payroll obligations, this episode is for you.

Because in the end:

It’s not what you call them.
It’s how you treat them.

📬 Contact Us

Want support building systems that actually work for your organization?

🌐 Website
https://morningstarconsultant.com/
📧 Email
info@morningstarconsultant.com
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/morningstarconsultive/
📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/morningstarconsultive
🔗 LinkedIn (Company Page)

LinkedIn: Morning Star Consulting | LinkedIn

If you’re choosing to operate as an independent contractor, start with the right financial foundation — clear bookkeeping, tax planning, and compliance systems matter.

Morning Star collaborates with Ahmed Elsayed, founder of Right Solutions Inc., an accounting and tax services firm supporting small and medium-sized businesses, non-profits, and charities. Ahmed provides bookkeeping, payroll administration, and tax services with a strong compliance lens.

If you reach out, mention Morning Star to receive preferred pricing.

Contact Information

Right Solutions Inc. – Accounting & Tax Solutions
📧 ahmed@right-solutions.ca

📞 416-520-0544

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This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by any company, employer or agency. By accessing this Podcast, you acknowledge that Morning Star makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered individual professional advice, nor is any guest or presenter speaking for any entity where they are not the sole proprietary.

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Structure Over Stress is a practical, plain-language podcast for self-employed Canadians who want fewer financial surprises and more control over their business.

Hosted by Lisa Goss of Morning Star Consultive Services and Ahmed Elsayed of Right Solutions Financial, Tax & Accounting, this podcast breaks down what most people are never taught - how business structure, tax planning, and financial systems directly impact stress, cash flow, and long-term security.

Each episode tackles real issues like:

• Self-employed vs incorporated — and when it actually matters
• The “CPP shock” no one budgets for
• What CRA allows, what it disallows, and what it audits first
• Deductions vs capital assets (and why that distinction matters)
• Why messy systems create tax risk — and how to fix them
• How structure, systems, and compliance create financial safety

This is not hype, shortcuts, or “write-offs gone wild.” It’s honest conversations grounded in real practice, Canadian tax rules, and governance-level thinking.

Educational, not advice. Practical, not scary. Built for people who want their business to support their life — not run it.

Ahmed Elsayed is the founder of Right Solutions Inc., an accounting and tax services firm supporting small and medium-sized businesses, non-profits, and charities. He specializes in bookkeeping, payroll administration, and compliance-focused financial operations. Ahmed collaborates with Morning Star Consultive Services as a contract consultant, supporting strong financial systems and statutory compliance. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics & Management, a Certificate with Honours in Applied Accounting, the Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) designation, and is completing the CPA pathway.Right Solutions Inc.

Contact Information:

Right Solutions Inc. - Accounting and Tax Solutions

📧 Email: ahmed@right-solutions.ca

📞 Phone : 416-520-0544

This podcast is for general education and planning purposes only. It does not constitute legal, accounting, or tax advice. Individual circumstances vary, and listeners should consult their own professional advisors regarding their specific situation.

📬 Contact Us

Want support building systems that actually work for your organization?

🌐 Website
https://morningstarconsultant.com/
📧 Email
info@morningstarconsultant.com
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/morningstarconsultive/
📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/morningstarconsultive
🔗 LinkedIn (Company Page)

https://www.linkedin.com/company/morning-star-consultive-services/

Support the show

This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by any company, employer or agency. By accessing this Podcast, you acknowledge that Morning Star makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered individual professional advice, nor is any guest or presenter speaking for any entity where they are not the sole proprietary.

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As the year comes to a close, we’re pulling back the curtain on a powerful — and often under-used — tools inside non-profits, charities, and small organizations: Microsoft Teams.

In this year-end episode, Lisa and Staci talk candidly about why Teams is more than just “another platform,” and how, when used well, it can quietly transform how organizations communicate, document decisions, protect institutional memory, and work sustainably — especially on tight budgets.

We cover:

• Why Teams is often underutilized (and misunderstood)
• How to structure Teams so it actually supports your work instead of creating noise
• Practical guidance on Teams vs. Zoom — and when each makes sense
• Simple, realistic ways to improve consistency, clarity, and collaboration
• How good systems reduce burnout, risk, and year-end chaos

This episode is also a reflection on the close of the year at Morning Star — what we’ve learned, what we’ve seen across the sector, and why strong foundations matter more than ever heading into a new year.

Whether you’re wrapping up your fiscal year, preparing for board transitions, or simply trying to start the next chapter with more clarity and less overwhelm, this conversation is about working smarter, not harder — and building systems that last.

✨ Practical. Honest. Grounded in real organizational life.

✨ Designed for charities, non-profits, and mission-driven teams.

📬 Contact Us

Want support building systems that actually work for your organization?

🌐 Website
https://morningstarconsultant.com/
📧 Email
info@morningstarconsultant.com
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/morningstarconsultive/
📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/morningstarconsultive
🔗 LinkedIn (Company Page)

https://www.linkedin.com/company/morning-star-consultive-services/

Support the show

This podcast is not associated with or endorsed by any company, employer or agency. By accessing this Podcast, you acknowledge that Morning Star makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered individual professional advice, nor is any guest or presenter speaking for any entity where they are not the sole proprietary.