Small Business Tax Deduction Cheat Sheet
A 12-page reference guide covering every Schedule C category that matters to makers, bakers, and creators. Walks each line of the form with concrete examples of what belongs there, what doesn't, and the common mistakes that trip up first-time filers — including the COGS section that most makers fill out wrong. Use it during the year as you categorize expenses, and again before handing things off to your CPA.
- Every Schedule C line broken down with maker-specific examples
- The full Cost of Goods Sold (Part III) walkthrough — beginning inventory through ending inventory
- Home office, vehicle, and equipment depreciation rules in plain language
- Travel, meals, contract labor, and education — the categories the IRS scrutinizes most
- Common mistakes section: what does NOT belong on Schedule C
- Records-to-keep checklist with retention periods
Or skip the spreadsheet entirely
Most of what makes tax season miserable is reconstructing data you didn't track during the year. Ardent Seller tracks COGS, fees, inventory values, and expense categories as you go — so on April 15 you're exporting, not panicking.
Schedule C tax categories
Tag every expense and income transaction to a Schedule C line, with system defaults and per-account overrides.
Inventory valuation
Defensible beginning and ending inventory values with full audit trail — the COGS numbers your CPA needs.
Profit & Loss and Schedule C reports
Pull a year-end summary mapped to Schedule C lines in seconds, ready to hand off.
Related resources
Craft Seller Startup Checklist
36 things to set up before — and after — your first sale. Inventory, pricing, and the legal essentials in one place.
Spreadsheet vs Inventory Software: The Decision Guide
When a spreadsheet is enough, when it stops working, and how to tell the difference before it costs you.