If you’ve ever looked at a receipt and asked yourself,
“Can I put this on the business?” — you’re not alone.
As a freelancer or small business owner, this is one of the most common (and totally valid!) questions we hear. And the truth is: not every expense has a clear “yes” or “no.” But don’t worry — you don’t need a finance degree to get it right. Let’s walk through it together.
So, What Is a Deductible Expense?
Think of it this way:
👉 A deductible expense is something you spend in order to do your work.
It helps you run your business, deliver your services, or stay organized and up to date.
For example:
– A carpenter buying tools
– A caterer buying ingredients
– A photographer buying editing software
– A freelancer buying a train ticket to a client
These are all pretty clear-cut. But what about grey areas?
What About Half-Work, Half-Life Expenses?
Here’s where it gets interesting. What if you buy something that’s partly for work and partly personal?
Let’s say:
- You buy a laptop you’ll use for both work and personal stuff
- You work from home and use your kitchen table as your desk
- You use your phone for client calls and TikTok
In these cases, you can often deduct part of the expense, depending on how much it’s really used for work.
🧠 Tip from us:
Always ask: “Would I have bought this if I weren’t self-employed?”
If the answer is no — it’s probably a business cost.
If the answer is “yes, but maybe I use it more now for work,” then we look at how much is business-related.
Some Everyday Examples
| Expense | Deductible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee with a client | ✅ Yes | Just keep the receipt and note who you met. |
| Laptop | ✅/🔶 Yes/Partly | Deducted over several years (as a business asset). |
| Spotify subscription | ❌ No | Unless you’re a DJ or music-based business. |
| Train ticket to a networking event | ✅ Yes | Great example of a work-related trip. |
| Fancy outfit for a meeting | ❌ Nope | Clothing is almost never deductible, even if stylish. |
How Do You Actually Get the Deduction?
This is the magic of bookkeeping:
You save the receipt, log the expense in your system, and when tax time comes, we subtract those costs from your income.
💡 This means you pay tax only on your profit — not on everything you earned.
So if you made €30,000 but had €5,000 in legitimate business expenses, you’ll only pay tax on €25,000.
That’s why deductions are a good thing — they reflect the real cost of running your business.
You Don’t Have to Know Everything
And that’s really okay. It’s our job to help you figure it out.
We’ll ask questions, explain what’s allowed, and make sure you don’t miss any deductions you do deserve.
You work hard. Your bookkeeping shouldn’t be harder than that.
💬 Have a question like “Can I deduct this?”
Send us a message, or book a check-in. We’re friendly, not judgy — and happy to help you make sense of it all.
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