This past week I was asked a question in email that rather surprised me. At first I thought that the question was an odd thing for someone to wonder about, but when I thought about it some more, it came to me that maybe it is something that folks who know me, or who read what I write here are curious about.

For that reason, I decided to answer the question here. If you have wondered, here is the answer, if you haven't, it's a short post, so perhaps I've not wasted too much of your time.

I'll not re-state the question, but the answer is, yes. A dominatrix does need, and should use professional services just as most everyone else in the country does.

It is important to remember that professional domination not a violation of Washington State law. There is nothing unlawful about what I do in my studio, and therefore my professional domination is not a part of the underground economy.

I use a Certified Public Accountant for my taxes and bookkeeping just as so many other Washington businesses do. I've actually got three Attorneys, two who specialize in Real Estate and one who specializes in the kinkier side of life.

My studio was built by a real contractor, a real electrician, and a real plumber. Luckily those fellows were kinky as well, so could easily understand what needed to be done and why.

Like any real estate holding my studio was purchased with the help of a bank, and I utilized all of the people and services that make such financing possible.

Unquestionably it would be possible to provide domination services via the underground economy, just as it is possible to provide just about any good or service in such a way. To do so would not though be smart. The underground economy is a dangerous place, legally and otherwise, dangerous for those who sell within it and dangerous for those who buy within it.

My taxes are paid honestly and fully each year with the help of a CPA thereby guaranteeing that I will never be accused of tax evasion. My own privacy, and the privacy of everyone I play with is assured by my attorney who makes certain that no line is ever crossed into illegality. If my studio falls over or burns down because it was built improperly, contractors bonds assure that my loss will be recovered. In my view, one is always better off engaging properly in business, in dealing honestly with the taxman and the regulators than in trying to somehow cheat. That cheating never seems to work out well in the end, the truly valuable lesson each of us should have learned from Martha Stewart.