Nobody wants to pay more in taxes than they have to. But if you’re not keeping track of certain expenses throughout the year, you might be leaving money on the table. And honestly, who has time for that?

Most business owners know about the big, obvious deductions. But there are a lot of smaller ones that slip through the cracks. Here are a few worth double-checking before you file. 

1. Subscriptions and Memberships (Yes, Even That $9.99 Monthly Fee)

Paying for industry newsletters, community access, online networking groups, or even a business-related Patreon? If it directly supports your work, it’s likely deductible.

So yes, that social media strategist’s private content you subscribed to? Go ahead and include that on your list.

2. Courses, Certifications, and Continuing Education

If you’ve taken a course to learn something new (or brush up on skills you already use), you may be able to deduct the cost. That includes workshops, certifications, and sometimes even travel costs if you had to go in person.

Learning for your business = tax deduction.

3. Unpaid Invoices (aka Bad Debt)

If you’ve ever had a client ghost you after the work was done (side note - definitely make sure you have a legal contract in place to keep this from happening!)  you might be able to write off that unpaid invoice as bad debt. This can also apply to money loaned to vendors or clients that never got paid back.

It’s not a fun deduction, but at least it’s something.

4. Client Gifts (Within Reason)

You can deduct up to $25 per person, per year on gifts for clients, partners, or referral thank-yous. It’s not a huge amount, but if gift-giving is part of your client experience, those little write-offs add up.

5. Hiring Your Kids (Legitimately)

If your kids are helping you in the business (think packing orders, posting on socials, organizing your office) and it’s real work, you might be able to pay them and deduct it. Done right, this lowers your taxable income and gives them some earnings too. 🙌

(Definitely check with your CPA to make sure it’s done by the book!)

6. Coworking Space Fees

If you rent a desk or office at a coworking space, that’s a deductible business expense. Don’t forget to include extras like meeting room rentals, printing fees, or lockers if you pay for them separately.

7. Payment Processing Fees

Most people know about Stripe or Square fees... but don’t forget about the little ones! Venmo, PayPal, bank transfer fees - those count too. If it costs you money to receive money, that fee is deductible.

8. Business Insurance Premiums

Paying for general liability insurance? Professional indemnity? Cyber coverage? Those insurance premiums are fully deductible!

9. Refund-Related Fees

Here’s one a lot of people miss: If you give a refund to a client but still get charged a processing fee by your payment provider, that fee is deductible.

10. Travel That’s Actually Business-Related

Even if you didn’t go to a full-blown conference, travel for networking events, in-person client meetings, or location scouting can still count. Flights, hotels, rental cars, mileage, and even a portion of meals can be deductible if the travel was for work.

(Just keep your receipts and jot down the purpose of the trip. Future you will thank you.)

Keep More of What You Earn 🥳

Some of the most helpful deductions aren’t the big flashy ones. They’re the everyday expenses that quietly support how you run your business.

The key is tracking them regularly and knowing what to look for. And if you're not sure whether something qualifies? That’s exactly where a good bookkeeper or tax pro can help 🙋‍♀️