Ask any worker you plan to hire as an IC to provide the following documentation:
copies of the IC’s business license if required and any professional licenses the IC has, such as a contractor’s license
certificates showing that the IC has insurance, including general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance if the IC has employees
the IC’s business cards and stationery
copies of any advertising the IC has done, such as a Yellow Pages listing
a copy of the IC’s White Pages business phone listing, if there is one
if the IC is operating under an assumed name, a copy of the fictitious business name statement
the IC’s invoice form used for billing
a copy of any office lease
a photograph of the IC’s office or workplace
the IC’s unemployment insurance number issued by the state unemployment insurance agency (only ICs with employees will have these)
copies of 1099 forms issued to the IC by other companies for which the IC has worked
the names and salaries of all assistants that the IC will use on the job
the names and salaries of all assistants the IC has used on previous jobs for the past two years and proof that the IC has paid them, such as copies of canceled checks or copies of payroll tax forms
a list of all the equipment and materials the IC will use in performing the services and how much it costs
proof that the IC has paid for the equipment, such as copies of canceled checks, is very helpful
the names and addresses of other clients or customers for whom the IC has performed services during the previous two years (but don’t ask for the identities of any clients the IC is required to keep confidential), and
if the IC is a sole proprietor and will agree to do so, copies of the IC’s tax returns for the previous two years showing that the IC has filed a Schedule C, Profit or Loss From a Business.