Marketing is an important part of growing a sole trader business. Whether you are paying for a website, social media adverts, flyers, business cards or local advertising, these costs can help bring in new customers.
The short answer is yes — sole traders can usually claim marketing costs if they are genuinely for the business.
What marketing costs can be claimed?
Marketing expenses may include:
- Website design and hosting
- Domain names
- Social media advertising
- Google Ads
- Flyers and leaflets
- Business cards
- Branded signs
- Photography for the business
- Video content
- Email marketing software
- Directory listings
- Sponsorship linked to business promotion
The cost should be clearly connected to promoting your business.
Keep evidence of the cost
You should keep invoices, receipts, email confirmations and payment records for marketing expenses.
This helps show what was bought, when it was paid and how it related to the business.
Be careful with personal branding
Some costs may have both personal and business use. For example, clothing for a photoshoot or personal lifestyle content may not always be fully claimable.
If the cost is partly personal, only the business element should usually be claimed.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes include:
- Not keeping invoices for online adverts
- Paying from a personal account and forgetting to record it
- Claiming personal content costs as business marketing
- Forgetting small subscriptions
- Not reviewing whether adverts are actually working
Final thoughts
Sole traders can usually claim genuine marketing costs where they are used to promote the business.
Good records make it easier to claim the right expenses and understand whether your marketing is producing results.
If you are unsure what marketing costs you can claim, Merranti Accounting can help you keep your expenses accurate and tax-ready.
Written by Steve Watts
