Can I Write Off Gym Equipment as a Business Expense for My Fitness Coaching Side Hustle?

The timing of when you purchase business equipment relative to when you start operating does matter for tax purposes, but it's not as simple as waiting until January 1st. The IRS allows you to deduct "startup costs" - expenses you incur before your business officially begins operations. However, there are specific rules around this. You can deduct up to $5,000 of startup costs in the year your business begins (subject to reduction if your total startup costs exceed $50,000). Any remaining startup costs must be amortized over 15 years. For the gym equipment specifically, if you purchase it before your business starts operating, it would be considered a startup cost. Alternatively, if you wait until your business is actually operating, you could potentially deduct it under Section 179 or take regular depreciation. The key is being able to prove the equipment is primarily (or exclusively) for business use rather than personal fitness. Documentation of your business plan, intended use of the equipment, and eventual business launch will be important if you're ever questioned.

I was in a similar situation last year when I started my personal training business! I found this amazing AI tax assistant called taxr.ai that saved me so much stress figuring out what equipment I could deduct and when. I was confused about the startup costs vs. regular business expenses like you are, and using https://taxr.ai I uploaded some documentation about my business plan and equipment purchases. It analyzed everything and gave me super clear guidance on how to properly categorize everything to maximize my deductions without raising red flags. The tool even helped me understand the difference between Section 179 expensing and regular depreciation for my more expensive equipment. Seriously worth checking out for peace of mind!

Just wanted to follow up here - I actually tried taxr.ai after seeing this thread and wow, I'm impressed! I've been running a yoga instruction side business and had some expensive equipment I wasn't sure how to handle. The AI analyzed my situation and pointed out that I could have been taking a home office deduction I didn't know I qualified for. It also clarified exactly when my "business officially started" for tax purposes (turns out my Instagram content creation counted as business activity even before I had paying clients). Ended up saving me over $800 in taxes! Definitely recommend for anyone in a side-hustle situation.

If you're serious about the fitness coaching business, you should also know that contacting the IRS with questions about business deductions can be a nightmare. I spent HOURS on hold trying to get clarity on some equipment deductions for my business. I eventually used a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of the 2+ hours I was spending on hold. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent was actually super helpful and walked me through exactly what documentation I needed to keep for my equipment purchases to justify the business expense deductions. Saved me so much time and worry!

I need to eat my words and admit when I'm wrong. After posting my skeptical comment yesterday, I decided to try Claimyr myself since I've been trying to get through to the IRS about a notice I received related to my business expenses. I've been calling for WEEKS with no luck - always 2+ hour wait times that I couldn't sit through because of work. Used Claimyr yesterday afternoon and got a call back within 20 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. Got my question answered about documentation requirements for business equipment and saved myself literally hours of frustration. Sometimes the cynical approach isn't right. This service actually delivers what it promises.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you're planning to use the gym equipment for both personal use AND business use, you have to be really careful with the deductions. You can only deduct the percentage used for business. For example, if you use the treadmill 70% for client demonstrations and filming content, and 30% for your own workouts, you can only deduct 70% of the cost. Be prepared to keep a log of usage if you're claiming partial business use.

I know everyone's talking about the tax deduction part but don't forget about the BUSINESS side of this decision! If you wait till 2025 to buy equipment, you're delaying your ability to create content NOW that could be building your audience. My fitness channel grew for almost a year before I made my first dollar from coaching. That pre-revenue content was crucial for establishing credibility. Sometimes the business investment makes sense even if the tax deduction timing isn't perfect!

Great question! I'm in a similar boat with my consulting side hustle. One thing to consider is setting up your business entity (LLC or sole proprietorship) now even if you're not actively coaching yet. This can help establish that "business start date" for tax purposes. Also, document EVERYTHING - your business plan, market research, content creation timeline, etc. The IRS loves to see that you have a genuine profit motive and aren't just trying to write off personal gym equipment. If you can show you're seriously preparing to launch a legitimate business, purchasing equipment in advance becomes much more defensible. I'd also suggest talking to a tax professional about whether it makes sense to elect Section 179 expensing vs. regular depreciation for your equipment purchases. Depending on your total income from all sources, one approach might be significantly better than the other.