Answering "Yes" to which of the following questions would indicate that a worker is probably an independent contractor?

Answering "Yes" to the question about whether the worker can make a profit or loss as a result of the work, apart from the money earned for the project, is indicative of an independent contractor. This characteristic is crucial in distinguishing independent contractors from employees.

Independent contractors typically bear the entrepreneurial risk associated with their work, meaning they have the potential to earn more if their business flourishes or incur losses if it does not. This aspect highlights their autonomy in managing their business and financial outcomes, which is a defining feature of independent contractors. In contrast, employees do not have the same level of financial risk or control over their profit margins, as their income is usually a fixed salary or hourly wage set by the employer, without direct correlation to project profitability.

In the context of the other questions, while being able to set their own hours can suggest independence, it isn't as definitive as financial liability. Similarly, receiving materials and tools from an employer or employee benefits would typically indicate an employee relationship rather than that of an independent contractor. Thus, the ability to profit or incur losses is a key factor in differentiating between these two types of work arrangements.