Bookkeeping tips for cleaning biz taxes from a pro's IG reel
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DustBunnySlayer
·3mo·122 replies·117 participants
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DustBunnySlayer⭐ ExpertOP3mo
276
been in the Chicago area my whole career running a residential cleaning service and taxes are a nightmare every year with all the supply deductions and mileage from driving to those big houses. stumbled on this instagram reel from a pro cleaner sharing 7 tips she uses to speed up jobs and it got me thinking about how tracking time on deep cleans helps with quarterly estimates. you gotta log everything like the bissell proheat carpet cleaner rental or those method all-purpose sprays to max out your write-offs. i use quickbooks online for it but pair it with housecall pro for the job details so nothing slips through. saw a thread on r/CleaningTips about mixing vinegar and baking soda for counters but pros know better for business logs. anyone in cleaning business owners fb group have better ways to categorize eco-friendly product costs?
track your mileage with an app like mileiq, it saved me hours on audits.
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HueHustler2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
34
yeah but it glitches sometimes on android.
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CanvasCowboy3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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use strava instead, more accurate for us field guys.
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BrushStrokePro11⚒️ Journeyman3mo
63
that reel had me dying, tip #4 is gold for baseboards.
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EaveEater2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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baseboards are the worst, especially in older homes.
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NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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pro tip: use a sock on your hand, faster than any tool.
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PipeLord42024⚒️ Journeyman3mo
128
sock method works but leaves lint everywhere lol.
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ShingleShark12⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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tried it, still hate baseboards.
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GutterGuru2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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we all do.
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ShockJockElec⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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baseboards suck, period.
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RollerRascal🔧 Apprentice3mo
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never mix vinegar and baking soda, it's just fizz not clean.
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BugBusterJoe2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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if you skip proper logs, the irs will eat you alive on cleaning deductions.
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TarPaperTiger⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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had a buddy audited last year, owed 5k extra.
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PipeLord42011⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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irs hates small biz, document every vac filter.
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PipeLord42019⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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quickbooks is clunky for solopreneurs, try freshbooks instead.
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RollerRanger2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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eco products cost more but clients love em, deduct as marketing.
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HammerTimePro3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
118
smart, i do the same with green seals on my invoices.
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SawdustSavant15⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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green seals? what's that add to your close rate?
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LockLadLarry⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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boosts it 20% in my area.
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VentMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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mileage logs are key, but cleaning vans eat gas.
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SolderSensei⚒️ Journeyman3mo
35
get a hybrid, cuts costs in half.
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AmpedUpAndy2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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irs rules suck for us independents.
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ChiselChamp⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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quarterly payments are brutal when jobs slow.
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SparkJockey3⭐ Expert3mo
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categorize supplies by job type, residential vs office.
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LeakHunterPro2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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good call, offices need more disinfectant write-offs.
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CanvasKing5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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that fb group is full of complainers but good tips.
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PipeDreamer6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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yeah, saw one on method refills saving 30%.
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GarageGuru4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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freshbooks integrates better with invoicing apps.
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RustyNailBob2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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i'm swamped with end of year cleaning rushes.
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EaveEater⭐ Expert3mo
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same, taxes on top is overwhelming.
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SpotlessSteve10⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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use schedule c form religiously for cleaning deductions.
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VentMaster3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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schedule c saved my ass last april.
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SodSoldier⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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don't forget home office if you store supplies there.
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NotAnElectrician20⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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home office deduction is a game changer.
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CoolantKing⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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but audit risk goes up, be precise.
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LiftAndHaul⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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my knees are shot from scrubbing floors.
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SparkPlugSue6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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we all feel that after 10 years.
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SewerSurfer2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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quickbooks online has cleaning templates now.
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TenYearVet12⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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templates help but still tedious af.
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DustBunnyHunter3⭐ Expert3mo
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af? you mean as fuck? yeah.
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KeyKeeper2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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hit 100k this year deducting everything.
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ComboKey⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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nice, how'd you track all the small stuff?
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CircuitSavage⭐ Expert3mo
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sharktank vibes with those ig tips.
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JackOfAllTrades2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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queen of clean has better ones imo.
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RustyNails3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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pe firms buying cleaning companies now, scary.
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DrainDiverDan⭐ Expert3mo
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scary how? they pay top dollar.
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ColorSplashSam⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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top dollar but lose control.
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MopMaestro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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rather stay small and free.
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AntAnnihilator⭐ Expert3mo
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depression cleaning jobs pay peanuts.
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GreenThumbFail⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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but steady work.
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LeakLurker⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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steady but soul crushing.
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ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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tell me about it.
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NotAnElectrician8⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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use apps like expensify for receipts.
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HammerTimeVet2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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expensify scans everything quick.
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WoodWorkerWiz⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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linked it to my bank, auto categorizes.
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FixItFelix12⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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r/startacleaningbiz has tax threads.
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SafeCrackerSam2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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those threads are gold for newbies.
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DuctTapeDynamo⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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newbies ignore em and get screwed.
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FlooringFiasco3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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screwed by irs fees yeah.
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CircuitBreakerBob⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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$500 penalty hurts.
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NailGunNinja14⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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vacuum bags are deductible?
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PipeLord42023⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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every bit counts.
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MiterMaster2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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yep, even gloves.
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LockoutLila⭐ Expert3mo
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gloves for biohazards especially.
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LockPickLarry3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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bio jobs pay extra, deduct more.
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BrushStrokePro12⭐ Expert3mo
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insurance hates bio claims.
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DuctDoctor7⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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hates and charges more.
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RodentRider2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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rodent cleanups are the worst.
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SpringSpecialist3⭐ Expert3mo
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worst and most deductible lol.
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PolishPro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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lol indeed.
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SlateSlinger4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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keep laughing to stay sane.
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PipeDreamer10⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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scaling up means more tax headaches.
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MoveMasterMike⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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headaches but worth it.
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DeckDoctor⭐ Expert3mo
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worth it if you delegate books.
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BeamBoss5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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hire a cpa for cleaning specifics.
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DrainDragon3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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cpa costs 2k but saves 5k.
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LeafBlowerPro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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2k is steep for solos.
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WireNinja88⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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solos gotta diy it.
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SodSoldier⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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diy and cry.
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HammerTimePro2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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melissa maker's channel has business tips.
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BloomBandit⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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her vids motivated me to start.
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PipeDreamer7⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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start small, taxes small too.
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BrushStrokeBen⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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small turns big quick.
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PickPro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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quick and chaotic.
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SawdustSavant21⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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chaotic but profitable.
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CircuitSavant2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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profit before taxes tho.
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CircuitSavant3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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tho yeah.
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DrainSnakeKing⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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drains are deductible tools.
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FrameFreak3⭐ Expert3mo
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every tool is.
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DrainDevil⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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don't forget training courses.
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FreonFiend⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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courses for safe chemical handling.
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ShingleShuffler5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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check out the iicrc certification courses online; they've got solid modules on safe chemical handling for cleaning pros that keep you out of osha trouble.
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MulchMan2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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chemicals scare me sometimes.
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CircuitSurfer⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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scare and deduct.
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DustBusterDave⭐ Expert3mo
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deduct the therapy too?
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RoofRatRicky⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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man, 'scare and deduct' hits too close to home, been dodgin the irs nightmares in roofing for decades now.
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YardYoda⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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therapy if you can swing it.
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HeatWaveHero2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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set aside 10% of every job invoice right into a separate account for taxes, makes estimated payments a breeze. use quickbooks online for tracking cleaning supplies and mileage, it's way easier than paper receipts. if you're solo, hit up a local cpa for quarterly reviews to avoid surprises come april.
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VentBoss⭐ Expert3mo
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swing it after big jobs.
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PipeLord42024⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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big jobs mean big deductions.
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PipeLord4207⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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deductions don't cover burnout.
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ChillTech⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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burnout is real in this field.
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OpenerOperator3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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deductions aint worth the endless grind that leaves you fried. been there after 20 years of chasing payments and scrubbing toilets til my back screamed. burnout's the real killer in this biz, not the irs.
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FrameFreak6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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real and ignored.
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NotAnElectrician16⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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ignored til you quit.
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TarpTitan⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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ignored my receipts til the end of the year once and got hit with a $5k penalty from the irs, dont do that shit or youll be screwed come tax time.
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BlowerBandit⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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quit? nah, adapt.
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LawnLad3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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man, taxes on the cleaning side are a nightmare, always digging through receipts at the end of the year. been there trying to track every damn supply run and it sucks the life outta you. we all hate that part but gotta keep pushin'.
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CoatCaptain⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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adapt with better software.
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TarPaperTom2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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software or suffer.
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V3286🔧 Apprentice3mo
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quickbooks online is what i started with and it aint bad for trackin expenses on the go. set up categories right from the jump like supplies, mileage, and subcontractor fees so your reports dont look like a mess come tax time. link it to your bank account and it pulls in transactions automatically, saves me hours every week. for cleaning biz, tag stuff like cleaning products or gas for the van separately to max out deductions. i use the mobile app to snap receipts during jobs, no more shoebox full of paper. if youre solo, the plus version at around 25 bucks a month handles invoicing too. just watch out for overcategorizin, keeps it simple or youll hate yourself later. threw in a mileage tracker app like everlance to log drives accurate for that 65.5 cents per mile write off.
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WattTheHeck⭐ Expert3mo
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suffer less with categories.
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DeckDoctor⭐ Expert3mo
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categories for every cleaner type.
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BoltBuster2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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type like window vs floor.
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NailGunnerNed⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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floor crews eat deductions.
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PipeLord4207⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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eat and repeat.
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TarPaperTitan⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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repeat the logs.
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LawnLizard2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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logs or lose.
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PaintSplat⭐ Expert3mo
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lose sleep over it.
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VentWizard⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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those ig 'pros' peddling bookkeeping tips are just hawking their overpriced courses while we cleaning guys get screwed by the irs every tax season. it's all BS, they make it sound easy but im drowning in receipts and deductions that dont even add up. angi and thumbtack take their cut first, leaving us with scraps to sort. screw the system, we need real advice not reels.
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FrameItRight⚒️ Journeyman3mo
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don't ignore those 1099s from angi and thumbtack or the irs will bury you in penalties come april. hire a cpa early in the year to sort your cleaning supply deductions before it turns into a nightmare.