Can I Write Off Home Gym Equipment as a New Fitness Coach?

You can potentially deduct the gym equipment as a business expense, but timing and business purpose are crucial factors here. If you buy the equipment before you're actually operating the fitness coaching business, the IRS might consider it a "startup expense." You can deduct up to $5,000 of startup costs in your first year of business, with amounts over that being amortized over 15 years. However, the equipment needs to be genuinely necessary for your business, not primarily for personal use. Another option is Section 179 deduction, which lets you deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment in the year you put it into service for business use. But again, you need to actually be using it for business purposes.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I was transitioning to becoming a personal trainer and wanted to write off some equipment. I was super confused about all the different rules until I found https://taxr.ai - it analyzed my situation and showed me exactly what I could deduct and when. It basically confirmed I could deduct the equipment as startup costs but needed to track the percentage of business use super carefully. The coolest part was that it showed me how to document everything so I'd be protected in case of an audit.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and wow, what a game changer! I've been stressing about my own fitness equipment purchases but the system broke everything down so clearly. It asked specific questions about my exact situation and then gave me personalized advice about what documentation I need to keep for my potential home gym deductions. It even pointed out some business startup expenses I didn't know I could write off! Definitely worth checking out if you're transitioning into a fitness business like me.

Jumping in to share something that helped me when I had to deal with the IRS about my business deductions. I had a similar situation with fitness equipment and when the IRS flagged my return, I couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. Then I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - they basically call the IRS for you and then connect you once they get through to an agent. Saved me literally hours of hold time! The agent I talked to actually gave me specific guidance about how to properly document my gym equipment as a business expense going forward.

Update: I feel like I need to apologize to everyone here. After calling BS on that Claimyr service, I actually tried it myself out of desperation. Had been trying to get through to the IRS for THREE WEEKS about my home gym business deductions. The service actually worked exactly as described - I got a call back in about 90 minutes and was connected to an IRS agent who answered all my questions about business equipment deductions. I was completely wrong and just wanted to set the record straight. Sometimes skepticism backfires I guess!

I'd also recommend getting an LLC or sole proprietorship set up before buying the equipment. Makes the business expense aspect much clearer to the IRS and provides a paper trail. My accountant suggested this when I was setting up my yoga studio and buying equipment for it. You'll need to document everything super clearly too - dates, business purpose, etc.

I think everyone's missing something important here - are you actually making ANY income from fitness coaching yet? The IRS is super picky about hobby losses vs actual businesses. If you're not making money from fitness coaching for several years, they might disallow ALL your deductions regardless of when you buy the equipment.

This is such a great question and I'm glad you're thinking ahead about the tax implications! As someone who's been through a similar transition, I'd suggest being really careful about the timing and documentation. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you might want to consider starting with a smaller equipment purchase to test the waters - maybe just a few key pieces that would clearly be for business use only. This way you can establish a pattern of legitimate business expenses without a huge upfront investment that might raise red flags. Also, since you mentioned you already have two other side businesses, make sure you're tracking everything separately. The IRS likes to see clear business boundaries, especially when you're claiming home-based business expenses across multiple ventures. Have you considered reaching out to a CPA who specializes in fitness professionals? They might be able to help you structure the equipment purchases in a way that maximizes your deductions while minimizing audit risk. The peace of mind might be worth the consultation fee!