Can I claim expenses for business-related professional editing or copywriting?

Can I claim expenses for business-related professional editing or copywriting?

Paying for professional editing or copywriting is one of those business costs that can feel both essential and ambiguous. Essential, because clear writing helps you sell, persuade, educate, and look credible. Ambiguous, because writing can be personal, creative, or mixed with brand-building in ways that don’t always feel like a straightforward “expense.” The good news is that in many cases, yes, you can claim professional editing or copywriting costs as a business expense, provided the work is genuinely for business purposes and you can show a clear link to earning income. The less-good news is that the details matter: what the writing is for, how it’s used, whether it creates something “enduring,” and how you document it all can change the treatment.

This article explains how to think about claiming editing or copywriting expenses, what typically qualifies, what tends to be restricted or treated differently, how mixed-use scenarios are handled, and what records to keep. It’s written to be practical: you should finish with a clear sense of how to classify common scenarios like website copy, sales pages, press releases, blog editing, pitch decks, product descriptions, book editing, and even personal branding projects that sit in the grey area between “business” and “personal.”

What “claiming expenses” usually means

When people ask whether they can “claim” a cost, they usually mean whether it can be deducted from business income, reducing taxable profit. In general tax terms, an expense is typically deductible when it is incurred wholly and exclusively (or in many jurisdictions, primarily and necessarily) for the purposes of the business. Exact wording varies by country and business structure, but the underlying logic is similar: the expense must be connected to the business and not be personal consumption.

Professional editing and copywriting services generally fall under categories such as marketing, advertising, professional services, subcontractors, or content production. If the output is used to promote, sell, or support your business activities, it commonly qualifies as an ordinary operating cost.

However, two big issues can complicate things:

First, “mixed purpose.” Many pieces of writing also benefit you personally (for example, a personal memoir that also builds your professional authority). Tax authorities are usually cautious about deductions that include personal elements.

Second, “capital versus revenue.” Some costs are treated as day-to-day operating expenses (revenue expenses). Others are considered “capital” costs because they create or improve a long-term asset (like a brand identity package, a major website build, or an intellectual property asset such as a book). Capital costs may still be deductible, but often differently, such as through depreciation/amortisation, or added to the cost base of an asset, depending on the rules that apply to your jurisdiction.

Why editing and copywriting are commonly deductible

Most businesses need written materials to operate: websites, brochures, product descriptions, client proposals, training manuals, customer support scripts, emails, and social media content. Even businesses that do not sell writing-related services need communication that is clear and effective. Paying a professional to write, rewrite, polish, or adapt content is generally viewed as a standard business activity, especially when the outcome is used to generate income or support business operations.

For example:

Website landing page copy designed to convert visitors into leads is directly linked to sales.

Editing a client-facing proposal can improve contract win rates and reduce misunderstandings.

Copywriting product pages can reduce returns by setting better expectations.

Editing a course script can reduce refunds and improve customer satisfaction.

In many everyday cases, these are routine costs of trading, similar to paying for design, printing, or paid advertising.

Common examples that usually qualify

Below are typical editing or copywriting costs that are commonly claimed as business expenses when they relate directly to business activity.

1) Website and app copy

Professional copywriting for your homepage, about page, services pages, FAQs, onboarding flows, and in-app prompts is often treated as a marketing or operational expense. This includes rewriting existing pages, creating new pages, improving clarity, and aligning tone with brand strategy.

If the work is part of a larger website build or redesign, some businesses treat portions of it as part of the website project. Depending on scale and local rules, a major website build might be treated as a capital project, while small updates and ongoing content improvements are often treated as recurring operating expenses.

2) Advertising and promotional materials

Copywriting for ads, brochures, flyers, social media campaigns, newsletters, press releases, email sequences, and sales letters generally qualifies. These are classic marketing expenditures aimed at generating sales or leads.

Similarly, editing those materials (for clarity, compliance, tone, and conversion) is usually treated the same way as creating them. The key factor is that they are created for business promotion, not personal expression.

3) Sales and client materials

Copywriting and editing can be deductible when used for:

Proposals, quotes, tenders, and pitch documents

Capability statements and case studies

Investor decks and partner presentations (though see the section on fundraising and capital raising)

Client onboarding documentation

Client reports and templates

These materials are created to win, manage, or deliver revenue-generating work. If they are primarily business-facing, they are usually defendable as business expenses.

4) Internal operational documents

Not all writing is marketing. Editing and copywriting can support operations too. Examples include:

Standard operating procedures (SOPs)

Training manuals and internal knowledge bases

Scripts for customer service and sales teams

Employee handbooks (where applicable)

Compliance or policy documentation required for the business

Where these documents are created to support the running of the business, the cost is typically an operating expense. Even though the outputs can be used over time, they generally don’t become “capital” assets in the same way as property or major intangible assets, unless they are part of creating a separable product you sell (like a training manual sold commercially).

5) Content marketing and thought leadership

Editing blog posts, articles, LinkedIn posts, white papers, and lead magnets can often be claimed when the purpose is business marketing and lead generation. Many businesses use content to attract customers, improve search visibility, and build authority. Those are business aims.

The more clearly the content is tied to your business offering and customer journey, the easier it is to justify. For example, editing a series of articles that support your service offerings is usually simpler than claiming costs for editing general lifestyle content that only indirectly benefits your business.

6) Copywriting for product packaging and instructions

Product labels, packaging copy, inserts, user guides, and instructions are often core business materials. They can also be important for legal compliance and customer experience. Copywriting and editing in this area is commonly deductible.

If you manufacture or sell physical products, these costs may be treated as part of cost of goods sold or as overhead, depending on your accounting approach and how significant the costs are relative to production.

Situations that can be trickier

Some scenarios aren’t as clear-cut. You may still be able to claim some or all of the cost, but you should be careful with classification and documentation.

1) Editing a book or long-form publication

If you are paying for professional editing of a book, the tax treatment often depends on what the book is and how it is used.

If the book is a product you sell (for example, you’re an author or you’re selling books as part of your business), editing can be a direct cost of producing that product. In that case, it may be treated as part of the cost of creating inventory or an intellectual property asset.

If the book is used primarily as a marketing tool (for example, a business book to generate speaking engagements or leads), the cost may be treated as marketing, but tax authorities sometimes view books as creating an enduring intangible asset. That can push the cost toward capital treatment, meaning it may not be deducted in full immediately, depending on local rules.

If the book has a significant personal element (memoir, personal philosophy unrelated to the business, or content intended for personal legacy), the personal component may be disallowed. Mixed-purpose apportionment becomes important.

2) Personal branding and “about me” storytelling

Professional copywriting for a personal website, biography, speaker page, or founder story can be deductible if it is used directly in business marketing. Many independent professionals and founders market themselves as the face of the brand. In those cases, a biography on your business website or a speaker introduction used to book paid engagements can be a business asset.

However, personal branding can easily drift into personal benefit. If the work is essentially a general reputation project without a clear business purpose, or if it’s used mainly for personal platforms unrelated to business income, claiming it becomes more difficult. A helpful way to judge is to ask: would you have paid for this if you were not operating the business? If the answer is “no,” that supports business purpose. If the answer is “yes, I would want this anyway,” you may have a mixed-use problem.

3) Editing academic work or qualifications

Editing a thesis, dissertation, or academic paper is often treated as education-related and may be restricted, especially if the qualification is seen as enabling a new trade rather than maintaining skills in an existing business. Some tax systems allow training costs that maintain or improve current professional skills; others restrict education that leads to a new career or new income source.

Similarly, editing a CV, job application, or scholarship application is typically personal employment-related and not a business expense unless you are running a business where those documents are used directly to win contracts and your structure supports it. If you are self-employed and use a CV in proposals, the lines can blur, but caution is advisable.

4) Fundraising and investment materials

If you pay a copywriter to polish an investor deck, shareholder letter, or fundraising campaign materials, the tax treatment may differ because raising capital is not the same as earning trading income. In some jurisdictions, costs incurred to raise capital can be treated as capital in nature and may not be deductible as a normal trading expense. Even if they are not immediately deductible, they may still be relevant for accounting or for the cost base of certain transactions.

That said, not all “investment” writing is fundraising. A sales deck aimed at customers is different from an investor pitch. If you have a hybrid deck used for both, you may need to split the cost based on use and keep evidence of that split.

5) Rebranding and large one-off projects

If you are commissioning a large copywriting project as part of a full rebrand (new messaging architecture, new brand voice, new positioning, new naming, full website rewrite, comprehensive style guides), the scale and enduring nature can invite “capital” treatment. The work may be seen as creating or improving a long-term intangible asset: the brand and its marketing infrastructure.

Smaller, recurring copy updates are more likely to be treated as everyday expenses. Bigger, transformational projects are more likely to be treated differently depending on local rules and accounting standards. It’s not that you can’t claim them; it’s that the timing and method of claiming may differ.

Revenue expense vs capital expense in plain English

One of the most confusing parts of claiming writing-related professional services is whether the cost is a normal “this year” operating cost or a “long-term asset” cost.

As a practical lens:

If you are paying for content you will regularly refresh or replace, and it supports current trading (like monthly blogs, campaign emails, routine editing of web pages), it generally looks like a revenue expense.

If you are paying for something that creates an enduring asset that will be used for years with minimal change (like a foundational brand messaging system, a major book you intend to exploit commercially over time, or a substantial website build treated as a long-term platform), it can look more like a capital expense.

The exact line is not always obvious. Many real projects sit somewhere in the middle. In those situations, your recordkeeping, consistent accounting treatment, and a sensible narrative about business purpose matter.

Mixed-use and apportionment: when part is business and part is personal

Some writing projects produce outputs that serve both personal and business goals. For example:

A founder commissions editing for a personal essay that later becomes a marketing piece.

A consultant hires a copywriter for a personal website that also includes a blog with unrelated topics.

A coach edits a book that includes life stories and also promotes paid programmes.

In mixed-use situations, you generally need to apportion the cost so that you only claim the business-related portion. Apportionment is essentially a reasonable split based on evidence. The most defensible apportionment methods are those grounded in clear metrics, such as:

Word count or page count split between business and personal sections

Time-based split if you have a detailed scope of work showing hours devoted to business versus personal components

Separate invoices for separate deliverables (best option when possible)

Usage-based split (for example, one version used in business channels and another used privately)

Avoid arbitrary “half and half” splits unless you have a strong rationale. If you anticipate mixed use, it can be worthwhile to ask your writer or editor to separate deliverables and invoice lines. Clear separation reduces risk and makes your accounting cleaner.

What counts as “business-related” in practice?

To claim an editing or copywriting expense confidently, you want to be able to show that the service was intended to support your business’s income-generating activity. A few practical questions help clarify that:

Where will the final copy be published or used? (Business website, sales emails, proposals, product pages, client documentation, internal training.)

What is the purpose of the content? (Generate leads, convert sales, reduce support tickets, train staff, comply with regulations, improve customer retention.)

Is the content aligned with what your business actually does? (If you run a bookkeeping firm, editing a cookbook manuscript looks less connected than editing a “Tax tips for small businesses” guide.)

Would you still have paid for this if you weren’t operating the business? (If yes, consider whether there’s a personal element.)

Is the work directed at current trading activity or at creating a long-term asset? (This affects classification and timing.)

You don’t need the content to be directly tied to a single sale. Marketing often works indirectly. But you do need a credible and documented connection to business activity.

How to categorise these costs in your accounts

How you record the expense matters, because consistent categorisation can make reporting easier and more defensible. Common categories include:

Marketing/Advertising: Website copy, campaign copy, brochures, email sequences, lead magnets, sales pages, PR writing, social captions, ad copy.

Professional Fees: Editorial consulting, brand voice consulting, messaging strategy, specialist technical writing, proofreading for regulated industries.

Subcontractors/Freelancers: If you routinely hire writers as part of delivering client work (for example, an agency subcontracting copywriting).

Cost of Goods Sold / Production: If editing is directly tied to producing goods you sell (books, courses, templates, manuals) and you account for production costs that way.

The “right” category depends on how your accounting system is set up. What matters is that you are consistent, that the category makes sense, and that you can explain it.

VAT/GST and sales tax considerations

If your jurisdiction has VAT/GST or similar, you may be able to reclaim input tax on professional editing or copywriting services, provided:

You are registered for VAT/GST

The supplier is properly registered and charges VAT/GST correctly (where applicable)

The service is used for taxable business activities

If the expense relates to exempt activities or mixed use, input tax recovery may be restricted or apportioned. Cross-border services can also involve reverse charge mechanisms or specific rules. Because these rules can be complex and vary widely, treat this as an area where you should apply your local rules carefully and keep documentation.

What documentation should you keep?

If you ever need to support your deduction, good records make life easier. For professional editing or copywriting, aim to keep:

The invoice: Ideally showing the supplier’s details, date, description of services, and amount. Detailed line items are helpful.

The contract or proposal: A scope of work that ties deliverables to business use (e.g., “rewrite of services page,” “editing of client onboarding guide,” “email sequence for product launch”).

Proof of payment: Bank statement, payment confirmation, or receipt.

Evidence of business use: A link to the published webpage, a PDF of the brochure, a copy of the email campaign, a version-controlled document, or screenshots of where the content appears.

Notes on apportionment: If mixed use, keep a brief explanation of how you split the cost and any supporting calculations (word counts, pages, hours, or separate deliverables).

In a world where many editors and copywriters work via email and cloud docs, it can be easy to lose the trail. A simple folder per project containing invoice, scope, and final output can save headaches later.

Special case: claiming editing or copywriting when you are the writer

If you are a writer, consultant, or agency owner, you might hire other editors or copywriters to support client work. In that case, the expense is often straightforward: it’s a cost of delivering your service. For example, you might pay an editor to proofread a report you are delivering to a client, or subcontract a copywriter to write product descriptions for a client’s ecommerce site.

Even here, keep documentation to show the link between subcontractor work and client deliverables. If you bill clients for these services, your invoicing and project notes can provide clear evidence.

How to handle retainers and subscriptions

Some businesses pay a monthly retainer to a copywriter or editor for ongoing support. Others subscribe to a “content package” that includes a certain number of blog posts, newsletters, or edits per month.

These are often treated as routine operating expenses in the period they relate to. From a practical perspective:

If the retainer covers work delivered monthly, recording it monthly as a marketing/professional services cost is typically sensible.

If you pay upfront for a longer period, you may need to allocate the cost across the relevant months in your accounts, depending on your accounting method and local rules.

Again, documentation helps: a contract that spells out deliverables and time period supports your treatment.

Red flags that can undermine a claim

Most problems don’t arise because editing and copywriting are inherently non-deductible. They arise because the story doesn’t hang together. Here are common red flags:

Vague invoices: “Writing services” with no detail, especially when the supplier is also a friend or family member. Ask for a clearer description.

No evidence of business use: You claim an expense but can’t show where the content went or how it supported the business.

Personal projects dressed up as business: For example, editing a personal wedding speech or a novel with no commercial intent, claimed through the business.

Large one-off costs with no explanation: Big rebranding projects without documentation can invite questions about capital treatment or personal benefit.

Inconsistent categorisation: Sometimes you treat similar costs as marketing, sometimes as drawings/personal, with no rationale.

None of these automatically mean you can’t claim anything, but they increase the likelihood of a challenge.

Practical scenarios and how to think about them

Let’s walk through a few realistic examples and how they are commonly approached.

Scenario A: You hire a copywriter to rewrite your service page

You run a consulting business and pay a copywriter to rewrite your service page, refine your offer, and create a stronger call to action. The page goes live on your business website and is used to generate client inquiries.

This is typically a marketing expense. Keep the invoice, scope, and a saved copy of the page.

Scenario B: You pay an editor to proofread your client report template

You deliver monthly reports to clients and want them to look polished and consistent. You pay an editor to proofread and improve your report template.

This is typically an operational expense. It supports service delivery and client retention.

Scenario C: You commission a brand story and messaging guide as part of a rebrand

You pay a strategist/copywriter to create a messaging architecture, brand voice guide, and new homepage copy as part of a major rebrand that you intend to use for years.

This may still be claimable, but depending on local rules and scale, it may be considered capital in nature or treated differently in your accounts. Keep detailed documentation and consider separating ongoing copy (like campaign content) from foundational brand assets where possible.

Scenario D: You pay for editing of a book you will sell

You write a book and pay for structural editing, copyediting, and proofreading. You plan to sell the book and possibly license excerpts.

This looks like a direct production cost tied to a product/intellectual property. You may account for it differently than routine marketing. If you also use the book to market your services, you may still have a business purpose, but classification can vary.

Scenario E: You pay for editing of a memoir that also boosts your profile

You commission editing for a memoir that is deeply personal. You also believe it will elevate your profile and indirectly lead to speaking opportunities.

This is a classic mixed-purpose scenario. Claiming the full cost as a business expense may be difficult to defend. If you can demonstrate that the book is a commercial business product and the business is actively monetising it, that helps. Otherwise, you may need to apportion or accept that much of it is personal.

Scenario F: You pay for a copywriter to rewrite your LinkedIn profile

If you are self-employed and your LinkedIn profile is a primary lead-generation channel, rewriting it can be a business marketing activity. However, LinkedIn profiles can also function as general career assets. The more it is explicitly used for business marketing (service offers, lead magnets, booking links, business contact information), the stronger the case.

If you are an employee and not operating a business, the cost is generally personal and not deductible in many systems.

Working with your accountant or tax adviser efficiently

If you want a fast, clear answer from a professional adviser, give them the information that matters. Instead of asking “Can I claim copywriting?” provide:

What was created (deliverables)

How it is used (channels and business purpose)

How much it cost and whether it’s a one-off or recurring

Whether there is any personal element

Whether it is part of a larger project (rebrand, website build, product creation)

This makes it easier for them to advise on classification and any apportionment.

Checklist: how to make your claim more defensible

1) Tie the work to a business outcome. Lead generation, conversion, customer support reduction, compliance, or service delivery improvements are all business outcomes.

2) Separate mixed-use deliverables. Ask for separate invoices or line items where possible.

3) Keep evidence of publication or use. Save final files, links, screenshots, and campaign records.

4) Use sensible accounting categories. Marketing, professional fees, subcontractors, or production costs—whichever fits.

5) Be consistent year to year. If you treat similar costs differently, note why.

6) Document any apportionment. Keep a short note explaining your split and the method used.

Final thoughts

In many ordinary business contexts, professional editing and copywriting are legitimate, claimable expenses because they directly support how you earn income: attracting customers, selling products, delivering services, and running operations smoothly. The main pitfalls are personal benefit and long-term asset creation, which can change how much you can deduct and when.

If you approach the question with a simple framework—business purpose, evidence of use, and careful handling of mixed-use or large one-off projects—you can usually record these costs in a clean, defensible way. When in doubt, treat your documentation as part of the expense: a well-described invoice and a clear scope of work are often the difference between a straightforward claim and an awkward conversation later.