Ten Common Small Business Tax Deductions

The government looks kindly on the small business owner. They applaud your entrepreneurial spirit with tax deductions to lower your taxable income. Small business owners pay more taxes than they should because they are not aware of common deductions that are allowed.

1. Start-up costs. The biggest obstacle for a new business is getting over the hurdle of start-up costs. It can take a big slice out of the pie but you can get back a portion at tax time.  Costs can  include travel, advertising, and legal fees. Check with the IRS to see just how much you can deduct.

2. Vehicle use. The government allows you to deduct certain expenses for business vehicles including mileage. Keep good records for this deduction in case you are challenged on any point. If the vehicle is used for business and personal activities, you can deduct only the amount represented by the percentage used for business.

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Internet Marketing For Small Business

When doing internet marketing for small business, you have to run an even tighter and more planned campaign than if you were doing it for a large business.  The smaller the business, it seems, the more tightly the plan should be.  Large companies have a much larger advertising budget, so even if their online marketing strategies aren’t very successful, traditional advertising can make a huge difference for them.

But smaller businesses typically don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on the more common forms of advertising.  Online marketing often becomes the main thrust of the marketing campaign, so it’s necessary that it’s done very well.

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Gain Exposure for Your Internet Business in Your Own Neighborhood

Creating a marketing strategy for an internet based business certainly involves a generous level of online marketing however many businesses would prosper if their marketing strategy also included local exposure.

Local exposure is easier to obtain and often blooms into larger scale publicity.  For example, a local news program might feature your product or service on an “about town” segment which is then picked up by the larger networks, blogs, and mainstream press.  Additionally, it is always good to be able to say, “As seen on…” on your home page and in your marketing materials.

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What Are White Papers & Does Your Business Need Them?

Government white papers have been around for decades. These documents are issued by the government to outline a new or impending change in policy. You might be thinking, “That’s great, but what does this have to do with Internet marketing?

The term “white paper” has been adopted for use in commercial purposes. A commercial white paper argues a point relevant to a technology or product. The purpose of these papers is to show decision makers that the product meets their needs.

Instead of focusing solely on the intricate technical aspects of the product or technology most white papers concentrate on the needs and interests of their readers. This approach has been proven to be more effective and less boring than bland technical details. It also provides the opportunity to appeal to the reader’s emotions which are a key factor in decision-making.

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Outsource on a Budget

How many hours a day do you work? If you’re like many self-employed business owners, the answer may lie somewhere in the realm of 40-80 and that is often while taking care of children, pets, a spouse, and other family members. It can be a lot of stress to own a business and handle every single task and responsibility. That is just one reason to consider outsourcing – save your sanity and spend more time focusing on you and your family.

Another reason is that your time may be better spent focused on particular tasks while letting other specialists handle tasks that are time consuming or perhaps beyond your list of skills. “But I don’t have enough income to outsource,” you say. You might be surprised.

Here’s how to outsource on a budget:

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