Being a business women and mother at the same time requires skills, patience, creativity, and a sense of humor. Here are ten things that, as a mompreneur myself, I believe all working moms deserve to be able to deduct from their business tax returns.
1. Business Entertainment Expenses
Movie rentals as “entertainment expenses” because movies occupy your children, who also seve as business “consultants” every time they say “great idea mom, but you should add a ninja dinosaur to the logo!” Fast-food meals that come with a free toy should also fall under this category.2. Bad Debts
Office supplies "borrowed" from your desk (that end up on your children’s backpacks) as “bad debts.”3. Promotional Expenses
All the business cards your children steal and put into restaurant bowls to “win a free vacation” as business promotional expenses.4. Cost of Goods Sold
The “direct labor” costs of your children adding packing peanuts to boxes (some of which actually end up on the box) as “cost of goods sold.”5. Depreciation
"Appreciation" is the opposite of "depreciation," which is tax deductible. Therefore, something that has not "appreciated" would also be "unappreciated." Mompreneurs should be allowed to take deductions for being "unappreciated" every time someone points out dinner is leftovers. Again.6. Charitable Contributions
Cash given to children to foster youth development (staying on their best behavior ) so that we can work and meet a deadline, should be “charitable contributions.” This cash (bribe) also helps them avoid becoming homeless, another charitable cause.7. Compensation of Officers
Traffic tickets your teenager gets while running business errands should be deductible under “compensation of officers,” because you are contributing to the compensation of police "officer's" salaries.8. Unreimbursed Business Expenses and Employee Benefits
Mompreneurs who work and watch their own children are technically running their own on-site daycare center for "employees." Therefore, all toys, games, and art supplies purchased for "daycare center operations" (an employee benefits program) should be an allowable deduction under “unreimbursed business expenses.” (Band-aids and "boo-boo bunnies" should be deducted under your medical benefits program.)9. Advertising Expenses
The appearances we make on career day at school as “advertising expenses.”10. Ordinary and Necessary Business Expenses
All forms of caffeinated beverages, because they are “ordinary and necessary” business expenses to keep your company running.
