Tax deductions is a primary part of being a business. Whether you run a hair salon out of a brick-and-mortar facility downtown or you operate a small fleet of taxis, you’re immediately eligible for far more tax write-offs as a business owner than those available to individuals.

With personal taxes, you may qualify to deduct unreimbursed employee expenses you incur in your W-2 job. Deducting mortgage interest and student loan interest could also be an option. But the list of personal deductions does not go much further than that.

As a business owner, you’re spending lots of money on ordinary and necessary expenses to keep your venture up and running. More expenditures means more to write off. If you conduct work out of a spare bedroom in your house, you may be able to claim the home office deduction. If you use your personal vehicle for business trips between worksites, the vehicle deduction may be calling your name.

Startup costs of up to $5,000 to get your enterprise rolling are also deductible, along with 50 percent of business-related meals and entertainment and most out-of-pocket medical expenses you incur. Of course, nearly any business expenses you incur within your specific field are generally deductible—everything from computers to paper clips to printer paper.

The key to claiming business deductions is to record each and every one of your expenses. Save receipts and organize them for easy access in the future. The IRS often requires business owners to provide supplemental documentation to prove that they do indeed qualify for the write-offs they are claiming on their income tax returns.