2025 Katzscan Newsletters

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Katzscan: Your truly independent contractor.

An insightful article by John Kellenberger, General Counsel of Keystone Lines, in the February 2024 issue of Inbound Logistics magazine regarding the hot topic of independent contractor or employee. The issue centers around the March 11, 2024 change to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by the Department of Labor (DOL). 

According to Mr. Kellenberger, the new rule, or the change to the existing rule, muddies the waters in regards to how independent contractors are considered, potentially making them classified as employees. As stated in the article, this would be disruptive to many supply chain relationships that rely on independent contractors, such as those in logistics like brokers and motor carriers. 

When I began my life as an entrepreneur in January 1996 – amazing as I start my 29th year – I cannot say that I really knew what I was doing as a business owner, even as the owner of a company of one. Thankfully my longtime accountant, (“Aunt Shirley” – you know her if you are a reader of my newsletters – who also created my company name, and who sadly passed away in August 2024 just three weeks shy of what would have been her 96thbirthday), guided me well. But I was aware of two important beliefs which I continue to follow to this day.

The first is to always answer the question as to why someone would want to hire me. I continue to take educational courses as time allows. As a US national and international speaker (60+ presentations), online and print content writer (50+ articles), the author of two peer-reviewed journal articles, and the author of three business books with two published by a leading academic publisher, I think that, along with my extensive experience, I’ve established my credibility as an expert in my field. 

The second is that I set out to be a truly independent solution consultant. I am not a reseller of any products or services. I am not contractually bound to nudge a client company towards any particular software or hardware product. As a technical and functional expert, I advise my clients to the solutions that are in their best interest, not mine. 

My company is a Florida C-corporation, not an S or LLC. (I don’t think that LLCs existed when I started my business.) Shirley and I talked about how we wanted to set up the company, and I just wanted to do things as “business-like” as possible, and a C corporation made the most sense to me, and it still does. I carry my own health and liability insurance policies.  

So, when companies hire Katzscan, they are truly getting an independent contractor, in terms of both the business relationship and the perspective on the solution for the problem to be solved.  

I’m still a company of one, because I know that companies that hire Katzscan really want me, which remains a great compliment. In the age of AI fakes, I’ve staked out a solid reputation, so you can have confidence that when you are hiring me you are really, actually getting me. With a robust website and LinkedIn profile, you will already know a lot about me before we have our first conversation.