The ability to own part of the company (via stock) at market discounts and in some cases, gifted to you for accomplishments, the ability to get our entire $16k broker commission split cap back via stock from performance, and several other financial reasons is what led us down that road.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth....The minimum amount that you can earn as a contractor before having to pay Self Employment tax is $400. 

I am currently in a situation that a young girl who is living here going to school and working has no credit, and her parents gift her a large sum of money every month.

Purchase price: $120,000 Cash invested: $400,000 Sale price: $300,000 5,000 SQFT 2 Story Historic Brick Building. 2 Apartment newly renovated. 1 Gift Shop, 1 Restaurant w/ Bar, 1 Office area, All Restaurant and Equipment included plus tables and POS system.

They they are going to "gift" us back cash in their equity payout for those renovations.

Although some people think it's creepy/morbid to get life insurance for your kids at young age...I'm now seeing the benefit of passing on such a gift...though arguably, that same money could have been invested into a rental upon his birth as @Brandon Turner has written and talked about a lot...still...for those people who can't qualify for rental home loans when their kids are young...investing into certain whole life policies beats a savings account in my opinion. 

Are you the guy who invented “I’m not buying the weed, I’m gifting you the weed and you are gifting me money, it’s two separate transactions!”

Your dad has to gift you the equity in lieu of a down payment.

If you have family with some funds available you may be able to get funds from them , but the bank will want to see the funds as a gift and not a loan...

as opposed to a "gift" per se.