To Beauty Business Expense or to Not Beauty Business Expense?  
Your Beauty Biz Expense Breakdown

The best part about running a beauty business? You get to make money doing what you love. The (arguably) worst part about running a beauty business (or any business, for that matter)? 

Constantly ping-ponging back and forth between the “ to business expense or not to business expense” question.

It’s no secret that the world of taxes has the potential to be complicated, confusing, and just plain overwhelming. And this is especially true when it comes to figuring out what counts as a business expense when so much of what we purchase for our businesses doesn’t feel so business-y. 

As much as we wish there were, there’s no specific hard or fast rule about what counts as a business expense and what doesn’t. That’s what makes it so confusing, right?

Generally, the rule is this–if you’re purchasing or making payments on something that’s directly beneficial or will be used specifically for your business, it’s likely you can write it off. Are there exceptions? Absolutely. Is it an exact science? Man, we wish! But there are some things you can typically count as business expenses within the normal span of your business. 

So, we have to ask–do you know what counts as a business expense for your beauty biz and what doesn’t? 

Don’t sweat it either way–this blog is meant to be that shining light that helps you answer that question. 

Beauty Business Expense Breakdown: What to Expense for Your Beauty Business 

Spoiler alert, this blog can’t possibly answer every single business expense question you’ve got. We highly recommend chatting with a pro about business expenses to sure everything is by the book. Still, we think these suggestions are almost-always-if-not-entirely-always safe to write off as business expenses when it comes to tax time. 

So, take a peek, tell us what you think, and get to business expensing! 

Products, Tools, & Equipment

If you’re purchasing something that’s going to directly contribute to how you do business (like, you know, providing your clients with services they pay for), it’s highly likely you can count those things as business expenses. And yeah, we’re talkin’ straighteners, salon products, booth supplies, chairs, shears, blowdryers, curling irons, bleach, toner, etc. The list goes on and on! 

This can even include products for the shop you don’t automatically assume. Toilet paper for the salon? Business expense. Paper for the printer? Business expense. Towels and linens for customers? Absolutely. 

If it’s a product, a tool, a kit, or a piece of equipment that’s going to be used for your business, you better believe it counts as a business expense. 

Software, POS, & Subscriptions 

It’s probably easy to see the connection between beauty products and tools as your business expenses. But did you know admin stuff–like subscriptions, POS services, software, etc.–all count as business expenses, too? If you’re paying for cloud storage, that’s a business expense. If you’re using a phone for business, that’s a business expense. Did you just invest in a brand-new POS product? Booking software? Calendar subscriptions? All of these things–and so many more–count as business expenses.

Remember that question, “does this help my business function?” If you can answer that with a resounding yes, odds are you can likely write it off.  

Uniforms & Protective Garments 

Working in a salon, shop, or spa is messy work. Often, that requires specific uniforms or protective clothing that are your “work clothes” (and, you know, usually it’s all black). 

Uniforms and protective garments that you wear for work absolutely count as business expenses. Ask yourself–do you need these things to do your job well and safely? Of course. Would you buy these items for yourself if you weren’t using them for work? Probably not. 

So, ask yourself again–why wouldn’t you count these as business expenses? 

Marketing Tools & Subscriptions

Need a camera to take customer before and after shots for your social media campaigns? That’s a write-off. Did you just invest in a content marketing calendar software for planning your digital marketing strategy? You better believe that’s a business expense.

If you’re paying for tools or products–tangible or not–that help you run your business from any facet (including the services you offer and how you market those services), you can expense those things as part of your business.  

Contract Work & Service Provider Fees 

Want to outsource some of your marketing work to a contract or freelance writer? That’s something you can count as a business expense. Need to get your towels and linens washed on a regular basis at a laundry service so you can keep up with customer demands? That fee is a business expense. 

Hiring any kind of contract worker to make updates or changes to your physical space? That also counts as a business expense. Web developers, social media managers, bloggers, influencers–anyone you’re paying to do a service for your business is likely an expense you can write off for your business. 

Professional Courses, Development, & Licenses 

Anything that you invest in to better yourself, your employees, or your business–like continuing education, conventions, or new licenses–all count as business expenses. Why? Because you’re improving and bettering your business with new resources and new education. 

What you learn will benefit your business for years to come. A course on how to hand-tie extensions? That counts. An esthetics retreat where you’ll learn how to dermaplane and microneedle? That also counts. A marketing course that’s going to teach you how to create digital marketing strategies for your business? You bet! 

Cosmetology Liability Insurance

You knew that at some point we had to get to the insurance part of this blog, right? The fact of the matter is, even if we weren’t a fabulous, top-tier cosmetology liability insurance company, we’d still include this in this list. Why? Because insurance protects everything you’ve worked for and ensures you’re covered if something bad happens. Combine that with the fact that you can actually count those payments you’re making as a business expense, and it’s hard to deny that liability insurance is a solid choice.