50+ Small Business Tax Deductions You Might Be Missing (& How to Track Them)

Last weekend, my friend threw an incredible Halloween party—complete with a taco bar, an amazing DJ, and the kind of vibe that makes you never want the night to end. The next day, she texted me: "Ugh, that was so fun but SO expensive."

My immediate response? "Girl. You own a business. That was literally a networking event. WRITE IT OFF."

Cue the mind explosion. 🤯

Here's the thing: so many business owners are paying for things that could be legitimate tax deductions, and they don't even realize it. They're literally leaving money on the table every single year.

💡 What Does "Write It Off" Actually Mean?

In case you're wondering, a tax write-off (also called a tax deduction) is when you subtract business expenses from your income, which lowers the amount you owe in taxes.

So if you spent $500 on that networking event, you don't pay taxes on that $500 of your income. The more legitimate business expenses you have, the less taxable income you're left with. Pretty straightforward, right?

I learned this concept early. My parents and their friends were all small business owners, and I often watched them write off dinners together. If it helped the business in any way, it went on the card. That's just how entrepreneurs operate—and now it's become second nature to me too.

💳 My Simple 3-Step System for Tracking Business Expenses

Here's exactly how I do it:

Step 1: Use ONE dedicated card for all business expenses

It doesn't have to be an official "business" credit card. I just use my personal AmEx Platinum for all my business expenses. Yes, my personal card. The key is having ONE card that you use exclusively for business so you're not mixing personal and business purchases. This makes tracking infinitely easier. It also makes it easier to review your expenses periodically and cut expenses you don’t need.

Oh, and that AmEx Platinum annual fee? I write that off too, since I use the card for business.

Step 2: Download your transactions when tax season comes

Come tax time, I literally just review one statement instead of hunting through multiple accounts trying to remember what was personal versus business. I download my list of transactions from my business card as a spreadsheet or PDF—most credit card companies make this super easy.

Step 3: Send everything to your accountant for review

I send my transaction list to my accountant. He reviews everything I've qualified as a business expense to make sure it's legitimate—and it almost always is. Having everything in one place makes his job easier and keeps my costs down, too.

The key to this entire system? Clear records. If the IRS ever audits you, you need to be able to explain why you qualified an expense as a business expense. That's why keeping everything on one card is so powerful—you have a clear paper trail, and you can easily demonstrate the business purpose for each transaction. It's not just about claiming the deduction; it's about being able to defend it if you're ever asked.

✨ Common Business Expenses You Can Probably Write Off

Here's what I regularly write off, and you probably should too:

💻 Technology & Tools:

• Laptops, computers, tablets, and phones used for business

• Software subscriptions (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva Pro, project management tools, CRM systems, etc.)

• WiFi and internet bills (you can write off the portion used for business)

• Cell phone bills (again, the business portion)

• Airplane WiFi when you're working during flights

• Website hosting and domain fees

• Email marketing platforms

• Scheduling tools and automation software

• Cloud storage subscriptions

📚 Professional Development & Education:

• Conferences and professional events

• Online courses and training programs

• Coaching and mentorship programs

• Industry certifications

• Books and educational materials related to your field

• Workshops and seminars

• Professional membership dues

🤝 Networking & Relationship Building:

• Networking events, mixers, and industry parties

• Coffee meetings and meals with clients, colleagues, or potential collaborators

• Gifts for clients and colleagues (holiday gifts, thank you gifts, celebration gifts)

• Client appreciation events or dinners

👥 Business Services:

• Accountant and bookkeeper fees

• Legal fees, filing fees, and annual report fees

• Virtual assistant services

• Graphic designers and brand designers

• Photographers and videographers

• Copywriters and content creators

• Web developers

• Social media managers

• Any other contractors or freelancers you hire

📣 Marketing & Advertising:

• Social media ads (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)

• Google Ads

• Sponsored content or influencer partnerships

• Print materials (business cards, flyers, brochures)

• Promotional items and branded merchandise

• Email marketing platform fees

• SEO services

• PR services

🏢 Office & Operations:

• Co-working space memberships

• Home office expenses (if you have a dedicated workspace)

• Office supplies and equipment

• Office furniture 

• Shipping and postage

• Bank fees and credit card processing fees

• Business insurance

• Parking for business meetings

• Mileage when driving for business purposes

• Tolls and parking meters

📸 Content Creation:

• Props and materials for photo shoots

• Video equipment and lighting

• Microphones and audio equipment

• Editing software

• Stock photos and music licenses

• Studio rental fees

The general rule I follow is this: if it helps your business, it can usually qualify as a business expense. Especially the obvious things that directly impact your business—learning and professional development, networking, advertising, business services, and tech tools you need to operate.

Obviously, you should consult with your accountant to make sure everything applies to your specific situation.

⚠️ The Trickier Expenses: Clothing and Vacations

Now, fair warning—there are some complicated rules around certain expenses. Things like clothing and vacations can be trickier to justify as business expenses, so you have to be more careful with those.

For example, if I'm doing a photo shoot for my business and need to get my hair done, that's something I would qualify as a business expense. But getting my hair done on an everyday basis? Not so much.

Same thing with vacations. You can write off part of your vacation if you're also doing business networking, attending a training or conference, or shooting content while you're there. But you can't write off the entire trip if it's mostly personal. You have to prove the business purpose.

The IRS has specific guidelines on these types of expenses, which can become nuanced quickly. Check out the IRS guidelines for your particular situation and talk to your accountant before you start writing off anything in these gray areas. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to audit-proofing your business.

🎯 Your Action Plan

This mindset shift has saved me so much money and made tax season way less stressful. Here's what I want you to do:

Pick one credit card to use exclusively for business expenses this week if you don't already have one. It doesn't need to be a special business card—just use a personal card that you dedicate to business only. Start being intentional about what you're categorizing as business expenses. Track everything—your future self at tax time will literally thank you.

Seriously, stop leaving money on the table.

What's one business expense you didn't realize you could write off? Drop a comment below—I love hearing what surprises people!

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By the way this blog post is actually a form of attorney advertising. While I'm here to share some helpful info, please remember it's not personalized legal advice. For anything specific to your situation,schedule a free consult call here.  And, reading this blog post doesn't mean we've got an attorney-client relationship going. To team up officially, we'd need to sign a written agreement. Hope that's clear, and feel free to reach out with any questions!