Taxes for Small Cleaning Business

'Ordinary and Necessary' Business Expenses The IRS allows businesses to write off “ordinary” expenses, meaning costs that other business owners in your industry typically pay for in order to operate. At the same time, “necessary” expenses are those that are required when it comes to providing services and otherwise running your business. For example, business licensing and cleaning supplies are ordinary and necessary expenses associated with running a cleaning service business. Buying tickets to a local concert is not. In any case, you must prove to the IRS that each expense is business related and qualifies as a tax write-off. This guide will help you determine what those expenses are. 10 Tax Deductions for Cleaning Service Providers If you operate a cleaning business, you may be able to save money on your taxes depending on the costs you accrue in the course of doing your work, and the contributions you make throughout the year. Many business owners fail to take advantage of these deductions simply because they are unaware that they exist. That’s why we’re here to share the knowledge. Take note of the following deductible expenses to save your business a hefty sum come tax time. 1. Operating a Home Office If you run a home-based cleaning company, the IRS allows you to claim a portion of your housing expenses as a home office deduction. This number is calculated by dividing the square footage of your home office space (which you use exclusively for work) by the total square footage of your home. Starting a home-based cleaning business has many perks. For one, you can minimize your costs by operating from a home office rather than leasing a space. You also have the convenience of running your business out of your home, which means no commute. And, finally, you get some dandy home office-related savings on your taxes. 2. Administrative Expenses Being self-employed often means juggling many different responsibilities in your business, including administrative work. But if you’re in a position to hire an office assistant or outsource services, then you may be able to write off these costs as well. Any business-related costs that have to do with office work, the software you use in your company, or keeping your company running smoothly may qualify as a tax write-off. In fact, there is an extensive list of business write-offs to consider if you operate as a limited liability company (LLC). 3. Materials and Equipment Your cleaning service business likely provides a wide range of services, which likely require a wide range of cleaning products and equipment. Since these materials are a required expense in your business, you’re usually able to write them off. Some tax-deductible equipment, products and materials can include:

• Cleaning chemicals

• Rags

• Brooms and mops

• Vacuum cleaners

• Spray bottles

• Buckets

• Company vehicle(s)

It’s best to keep a detailed account of all of these expenses, ideally with receipts, in order to calculate your deductions come tax time. Small business accounting software can assist you in recording these costs so you don’t have to do so by hand. 4. Contractors Many self-employed business owners operate solo, while others hire contractors. If you’ve hired help, you might be able to write off this expense. Independent contractors typically operate on a per-contract basis rather than as full-time employees. You must provide contractors with a Form 1099-MISC so they can file their own tax return. You’ll then provide the IRS with a Form 1096 to show how much you paid them for their services. 5. Travel-related Expenses Whether you provide services close to your home or work across your state, it’s likely that you’ll be required to travel in order to get to the job site. Lugging a bunch of cleaning materials across town is no easy task, so having a company vehicle is a reasonable expense as well. You can write off the cost of your company vehicle, including licensing and insurance. You can also write off fuel costs, toll fees, parking fees and more. It helps to use a mileage tracking app so you can easily calculate your miles and travel-related expenses. 6. Advertising and Marketing New clients, unfortunately, don’t grow on trees, so marketing your business is an essential task when it comes to keeping your schedule full. Fortunately, you can write off marketing services and advertising expenses as well, saving you money in the long run. When it comes time to fill out your tax return, you’ll have the opportunity to note your marketing-related expenses. These expenses might include:

• Marketing services

• Online advertising

• Social media marketing services

• Print ads

• Billboard advertisements

• Networking events

• Marketing tools and software

7. Business and Liability Insurance Self-employed business owners can deduct insurance premiums of any kind, including health and dental insurance. This also includes business insurance and liability coverage. Vehicle insurance can also be deducted if the vehicle is being used for work-related travel and the owner chooses to report actual expenses, not just the standard mileage. 8. Bank Charges An often overlooked expense, bank fees are another cost that can be written off on your business taxes. Of course, you will want to keep a close eye on your work account(s) in order to accurately calculate your bank fees. It often helps to use accounting software or employ the help of a professional accountant to calculate your total bank fees. 9. Accounting Fees Filing a business tax return—and managing your business finances in general—can be complicated. Fortunately, hiring a professional accountant or using automated accounting software can prevent loads of headaches and help you maximize your tax deductions. As a self-employed business owner and cleaning company owner, there will be lots of things to consider when it comes to managing your finances. The right software can make it easy to calculate your expenses, track your income, send invoices and much more. The accounting fees associated with this software are minimal compared to the savings you’ll uncover come tax time. 10. Business Phone, Fax and Internet Having a business phone and an internet connection are essential to running a successful home office. It’s important to have at least one line of communication open in order to stay in touch with clients, market your business and send invoices for your services. Fortunately, you can write off communication-related expenses too. This applies even if you use your personal phone for business purposes, so take note of this when it comes time to file your tax return. Also consider any company-issued phones for employees. These costs can certainly add up. Take Advantage of Tax Deductions in Your Business Operating a cleaning company can certainly be fulfilling, yet it comes with many of the responsibilities associated with running any other type of business. Filing taxes is just a part of being a responsible business owner. Fortunately, you can save money on your taxes by considering your tax-deductible expenses. By now you’ve discovered some of the most common deductions to take advantage of in your cleaning business. The key is to keep a detailed record of all your business expenses so you can save a sizeable sum come tax time—and prevent loads of stress in the meantime.

Article Written by Freshbooks

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