Cue the scary music–it’s that time of year again. No, we’re not talking about the busy holiday season where you can barely get breakfast in before your clients come flooding in the door. No, we’re not talking about summertime when everyone and their mother is swarming your shop to get their hair chopped. And, no, we’re not talkin’ about the new year, where that whole “new year, new me” vibe is being tossed around.

We’re talking about the season most people tend to dread–we’re talkin’ tax season. 

We don’t blame you for being 100% uninterested in working through your taxes. Unless you actually enjoy doing your taxes, we’re willing to bet that come tax time in April; the dread really starts to kick in. 

But you know what? 

There are some fun elements to tax season, and to us, those are the write-offs. As a cosmetologist, you actually have tons of tax write-offs that can help you save on your taxes. Yep, we said save!

But where can you start, and how can you tell what counts as a write-off or not? This blog has got your back! Take a peek and see what you can start counting as tax write-offs!

The Top Cosmetology Tax Write-Offs to Consider 

Rent, Utilities, & Expenses for Your Shop 

Renting, owning, or somewhere in between–it doesn’t matter what your status might be; if you’re paying for a space in some form, it’s likely those payments can be written off.

Think about all your shop-related expenses–your maintenance bills and your utilities, for example. All of these things could apply as tax write-offs. The best bet is to always double-check with your accountant to see what applies, what doesn’t, and what could save you some money. 

All Your Tools–Physical, Digital, & Beyond 

Your shears, your aprons, your hair dyes, your foils–all of these things can count as tax write-offs for you. Physical tools are a pretty simple write-off–if you use them in your salon or shop, then you can likely write them off.

But did you know that this applies to your digital tools, too? Yep, think about all your marketing products–your CRM, your booking software, your digital content strategy, and your tools to shoot Instagram content.

All the physical and digital things you need to make your business happen–from a marketing standpoint and beyond–are usually considered legal write-offs! Team up with your accountant and think hard about this one; there’s tons of stuff in your daily practice that you can likely write off on your taxes. 

Cosmetology Liability Insurance 

Beyond the mere fact that you need cosmetology liability insurance to protect your career, cosmetology liability insurance is, in fact, a tax write-off. And that’s because paying for that insurance is a business expense. 

Even if those insurance premium payments feel a little painful the whole year through, just know you can write those off as a business expense come tax time! That means you can rest easy knowing your cosmetology liability insurance is protecting you all throughout the year and also saving you some dough come tax season! 

Products, Supplies, & Staffing Needs

All those retail products on your backbar? Tax write-offs. 

The computers you use at the reception desk to help check clients out? Tax write-offs. 

The paper for your printer, the furniture for your staff room, the vacuum cleaner that keeps your shop lookin’ clean? Yep, you guessed it, all tax write-offs. 

Obviously, we always recommend working with your accountant to see what applies and what doesn’t. But odds are, if you’re buying products, supplies, or tools for your staff and business, you’re in the clear to count those as write-offs. 

Education, Certifications, & Licenses 

Who knew that continuing education and getting extra certifications could pay off like this? 

Obviously, investing in your education and continuing to broaden your skills has career (and profit) benefits, but it also has tax benefits. 

Cosmetology-related courses, certifications, and licenses are all subject to tax write-offs. That means you can further your education, add new skills to your service list, and become a more proficient cosmetologist, all while counting those classes and licenses as tax write-offs. See? It pays to be educated, you guys!