C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m

An old friend of mine put the importance of keeping the receipts in stark perspective:

“You wouldn’t throw $5 in the garbage so don’t throw away that five dollar receipt if you can claim it as a deduction on your taxes.”

That really got me so, as 2017 draws to a close, it might be a good idea to review your receipts for tax purposes, too. Make sure they’re all in one spot and ready to go. You’ll miss fewer deductions if you track it as you spend, of course. Some people just toss the receipts in a box. Others use fancy software. I just use Google Sheets to track everything and hand it over to my accountant. You might be able to do it yourself but tax code is generally pretty complex and I don’t want to miss anything. I’m no accountant so I leave it to the experts. Don’t forget to record relevant mileage. Lots of people forget mileage.

My greatest expense as a writer in 2017, by far, was time. However, you’re reading this to find out where the money went.

Where the Money Went

My greatest expense for my publishing company this year was advertising: Amazon ads, Facebook, Bookbub and a few promo sites.

Businesses need to advertise, I know. However, the expense and the logistics of getting ads right involved intimidated me. I tried to get by with minimal advertising. In September, I got serious about it. My sales rose. Writing another book isn’t enough anymore. Like any other business, we have to make some noise and let readers know we’re here.

I’m here. 

~ Robert Chazz Chute writes suspenseful books to tickle your brain and melt your face. Dig what he slings at AllThatChazz.com.

Filed under: publishing