Can You Write Off Cheer Expenses? Here's What Cheer Business Owners Need to Know

One of the most common questions I see posted in cheer parent Facebook groups is some version of:

"Can I write off my cheer expenses if I have a cheer related business?"

The short answer is: it depends, but probably not in the way many people hope.

First, a quick disclaimer: I am not a CPA, tax attorney, or tax professional. This post is not tax advice. Tax rules are complicated, and everyone's specific situations are different. If you have questions about your business expenses, talk to a qualified tax professional. 

With that out of the way, it's important to understand the difference between a cheer expense and a business expense. 

For most families, things like tuition, uniforms, competition fees, travel, and private lessons are personal expenses related solely to their athlete's participation in cheerleading. 

However, some parents also run legitimate businesses that service the cheer community (hi, it's me 👋). They sell bows, apparel, gifts, photography services, spray tanning, or other products and services designed for cheer families. In those situations, there may be expenses that are directly related to operating the business.

The key question isn't whether the expense involves cheer. The question is whether the expense is connected to running and growing the business. 

To help illustrate the difference, I have a few hypothetical examples of a cheer parent who owns a business selling cheer-related products and some of the types of expenses that might arise while operating that business. 

Example 1: Product Photography

Ellen is a cheer mom who owns a business that creates and sells custom cheer bows online. She attends a competition to photograph athletes wearing her bows for future marketing material. 

Potential business-related expenses might include:

• Professional photography equipment
• Props used in the photoshoot
• Website hosting
• Advertising costs
• Printing promotional materials using photos taken during that comp

All of these expenses support the business's marketing activities, not her athlete's participation in cheer. 

Example 2: Product Development & Design

Amanda designs and sells cheer-themed apparel through her Etsy shop and Facebook page and is designing and testing new products before competition season kicks off.

Potential business-related expenses could include:

• Design software subscriptions (like Canva Pro)
• Blank apparel used to test embroidery, screen printing, or DTF transfers
• Cricut supplies or vinyl used to create prototypes
• Fabric, ribbon, rhinestones, and other materials used to develop new products
• Mockup generators
• Photography equipment

Example 3: Trend Research

Julie owns a business where she 3D prints cheer-related items such as lucky duck keychains, championship ring displays, and personalized medal holders. She spends time studying what customers are actually buying. 

Potential business-related expenses may include:

• Purchasing a competitor's bow to evaluate quality and construction
• Buying sample 3D printing filaments to determine the difference in similar materials
• Purchasing a championship ring display case to evaluate potential products to sell
  

Example 4: Marketing & Content Creation

Many cheer parent business owners create content as part of their strategy to attract new customers (psst...come visit My Cheer Budget on Instagram and TikTok). 

Potential business-related expenses may include:

• Website hosting
• Email marketing software
• Canva Pro subscription
• Social media scheduling tools
• Photography backdrops
• Ring lights
• Tripods
• Product display stands
• Props used in product photos
• Domain registration

Example 5: Education Related to Running the Business

When I started My Cheer Budget, I knew next to nothing about running a business. While there was a lot of trial and error, I invested in several educational resources to learn from experts in e-commerce. 

Potential business-related expenses may include:

• Etsy seller courses
• SEO training
• Small business bookkeeping courses
• Workshops on email marketing

Example 6: Shipping & Fulfillment

If you're creating physical products yourself and shipping them to your customers, potential business-related expenses may include:

• Shipping labels
• Printer
• Printer ink
• Packaging supplies
• Tissue paper
• Poly mailers
• Shipping scale
• Storage bins for inventory

Example 7: Software & Administrative Costs

A lot of very creative entrepreneurs struggle with the organization side of running a small business. Some potential business-related expenses may include:

• Accounting software
• Spreadsheet templates for inventory tracking
• Business bank account fees
• Payment processing fees
• Business licenses and permits

The Bottom Line

Simply being involved in cheer doesn't automatically make an expense a business expense. The distinction comes down to why the money was spent and whether it was directly related to operating a legitimate business. If your child was not participating in cheer, would your business still have spent this money? While some cheer parents own businesses that serve the cheer community, most expenses related to an athlete's participation in the sport remain personal expenses. 

When in doubt, keep detailed records, separate your business and personal finances, and consult a qualified tax professional who can review your specific situation. 

One thing I know for sure: whether you're running a small business, raising a competitive athlete, or somehow doing both at the same time (bless), staying organized makes everything easier. 

If you're trying to get a better handle on the financial side of being a cheer parent, check out my budget tools and planners designed specifically for cheer families. They wont' magically turn competition fees into tax deductions, but they can help you understand where your money is going and plan for the season with fewer surprises.