Save Big: What Coaches Can Write Off on Taxes

In partnership with

Hey Coach,

You’ve put in the work—tracking your income, separating your coaching money, and automating your savings. Now it’s time for one of the most powerful money plays in the coaching business:

Keep more of what you earn.

How? By learning what you can legally write off on your taxes as a coach.

Most coaches are leaving money on the table because no one ever taught us what counts—and what doesn’t. But today, that changes.

Let’s break down what you can deduct, what to avoid, and how to stay audit-proof.

✅ What Can Coaches Write Off?

Here are common, legitimate coaching-related expenses you may be able to deduct (especially if you receive 1099 income or run camps/clinics):

🧰 Equipment & Supplies

• Cones, balls, whistles, agility ladders

• Clipboards, notebooks, water bottles

• Tech tools like Hudl or video editing subscriptions

🛣️ Travel & Mileage

• Driving to games, tournaments, clinics

• Mileage (track it with a free app like MileIQ)

• Hotel stays or meals while traveling (if not reimbursed)

🎟️ Training & Education

• Coaching clinics, certifications, and licensing fees

• Courses or books related to coaching or sports performance

👕 Uniforms & Branded Gear

• Shirts, hats, or gear with your logo/team brand

• Branded materials for camps or training sessions

📱 Business Tools

• Scheduling apps, payment processors, websites

• Zoom or Canva Pro if you use them for your coaching work

⚠️ What Not to Claim

Not everything counts. Here’s what to avoid (unless you’ve got a CPA backing you):

• Groceries and regular meals (unless traveling for coaching)

• Everyday clothes (even if you wear them while coaching)

• Gym memberships (unless you train clients there)

• Personal items or anything not clearly used for coaching

When in doubt, ask:

“Would I be doing this if I weren’t coaching?”

If the answer is no—it’s probably deductible.

🧾 How to Keep Clean Records

Deductions are great, but only if you can back them up.

Here’s how to keep it clean:

1. Use your coaching-only bank account
   (You’ve got one now, right?) It creates a paper trail.

2. Track expenses by category
   Use a spreadsheet or expense tracker app (we have one if you need it).

3. Save receipts digitally
   Snap a photo and store it in Google Drive, Dropbox, or a folder on your phone.

4. Keep a mileage log
   Use a mileage app or a basic spreadsheet to log date, destination, and miles.

Don’t Fear the Taxman—Outsmart Him

This isn’t about loopholes or tricks—it’s about running your coaching career like a real business.

When you:

• Separate your income

• Track your expenses

• Automate your savings

• And write off what you legally can

You’re not just coaching—you’re creating a profitable, sustainable coaching life.

Coming Next: How to Build a “Coaching Budget”

Now that you're keeping more of your money, we’ll show you how to create a simple budget that works around seasonal income, tournaments, and off-seasons.

It's not about cutting back—it's about planning ahead like a pro.

This Week’s Action Step:
✅ Review last month’s coaching expenses
✅ Highlight what’s likely deductible
✅ Start saving digital receipts
Even if you don’t claim them yet, you’re building habits that pay off later.

Keep building. Keep growing.

Coach Mike Klinzing
Founder, Wealth4Coaches
"Coach smarter. Save better. Live freer."

P.S. Need a tracker to categorize your coaching expenses for tax time? Hit reply and I’ll send you one. Let’s make this easy.

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