If your income is entered in Box 7 of Form 1099-Misc, you must enter your income on Schedule C. You are not treated as an employee if you do not receive a W-2. While it may not seem like you own your own business, that is how the IRS treats this income.
Box
7. Shows nonemployee compensation. If you are in the trade or business of
catching fish, box 7 may show cash you received for the sale of fish. If the
amount in this box is SE income, report it on Schedule C or F (Form 1040), and
complete Schedule SE (Form 1040). You received this form instead of Form W-2
because the payer did not consider you an employee and did not withhold income
tax or social security and Medicare tax.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1099msc.pdf