[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.23″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”table-contents” _builder_version=”4.23″ background_color=”#f3f2f6″ custom_padding=”25px||25px||true|false” sticky_position=”top” sticky_limit_bottom=”section” sticky_position_tablet=”top” sticky_position_phone=”none” sticky_position_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23″ text_font=”||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}” background__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_margin=”||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
At the end of the financial year, it can become a frenzy of sorting which business expenses to claim on your tax return. For small businesses, especially sole traders, marketing expenses can be confusing because they are more complex than other operational expenses. The cost-to-value of marketing isn\u2019t straightforward, so many receipts get left in the too-hard basket.<\/p>\n
Instead, let\u2019s change our mindset about marketing expenses and view marketing spend as a long-term investment you can claim as a deduction.<\/p>\n
Marketing for many small businesses and sole traders can sometimes be an afterthought. That\u2019s fair enough \u2014 getting your business operational and generating income is a good priority.<\/p>\n
However, often, budget allocation for marketing looks like this:<\/p>\n
Work > Revenue > Expenses > What\u2019s left over (pay myself) > Marketing spend.<\/strong><\/p>\n This keeps budgets thin and unfocused, which isn\u2019t exactly useful. An effective marketing strategy<\/a> means setting aside the funds you actually need to do it well, and this requires some long-term financial planning.<\/p>\n Marketing expenses should be easy to spot, like invoices from TikTok, print shops, or the ad agency you hired. But some aren’t so obvious. Let\u2019s look at an example list of expenses and pick which ones fall under marketing.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] Marty’s marketing expenses reveal widget–><\/p>\nWhat counts as a marketing expense<\/h2>\n