How to qualify as being open for business?

[Truth]

You all are so helpful! And I have yet another question!
I'm wondering if I hire an independent contractor to do a couple massages on my site (even though I am not yet finished with school or taken my boards) can I legally be considered as having started the business in 2006 if I hired the IC? (I don't need an actual business licence unless the business makes over $100K)

I graduate mid Dec and won't be able to take the national exam until late January 2007 however I have purchased and prepared everything to the point where I could open now if I were licenced. (I did all this so early because I am having a baby at the end of Dec too and wanted to be able jump right in after my maternity leave.)

I'd love to be recognized as being open in 2006 in order to deal with a lot of my business purchases from April 2006 on in the 2006 year. Of course I can wait until 2007 but I am just curious if there is another possibility like the one I mentioned above to get it out of the way this year.

Thanks so much!! You guys are the BEST!! I have learned more from reading the posts on here than my entire time in MT school!

 

[shevy]

I would think that having any income - either by you, if license isn't required, or thru an IC would constitute being in business. Remember, you don't HAVE to make a profit the first year...

I remember hearing that to write off your table as a biz expense, have it purchased by someone else (spouse/friend/sig other) so that you can use it during your student practice & when you 'go into busness' you buy it from them the year you can take it as a deduction...