Not looking for anything shady just legitimate ideas.   

I got it through a real estate broker and he made it a legitimate deal for me.

Can you start the rumor that there are still ghosts from the previous establishment, that are haunting the venue?

Are they trying to screw me out of $250 or is this a legitimate cost?

also if people do want to get a meetup/networking thing going I would be happy to look for a venue

I like this route, because, as I understand it, corporate veils are largely ineffectual in small businesses because they do not do the maintenance to keep them legitimate. 

So, if your friends contract is with only one, no, its not a legitimate contract.  

Yes, legitimate Contractor repair estimates can help justify your price, and I always suggest sending them in With the executed purchase contract/short sale package to the bank. 

The clients I serve are generally more service and advice focused but sure from time to time I'll entertain price matches if the quote is legitimate and it makes business sense to do so.

Essentially, you would lose many of your legitimate deductions, simply by omitting paperwork from your initial Form 1040NR that needs to be filed for the first year of operations.I would recommend finding yourself a tax accountant that's knowledgeable about the field of taxation of nonresident aliens.