Turn Your Vacation Into a Business Expense--How Creativity Can Make it Happen

Where are you planning to take the family this summer? Florida? Jamaica? Europe perhaps.

Were you planning on writing it off as a tax expense? Why not? Oh yea, you're not on business, you're on vacation.

What if there was a way to make your vacation a tax deductable business expense and not compromise your actual vacation? Would that interest you? Would that save you some money?

Before I begin, let me add the disclaimer that you need to consult with your tax advisor. I am simply going to show you how to leverage your vacation for business purposes.

The first thing you will want to do is make sure you have the proper equipment. You will want to have a digital camera and a camcorder. If you have a digital audio recorder, that is a plus.

As you go about your vacation, take pictures of what you are interested in AND what you think will appeal to others. Do you own a home based business where you need other business partners? Take pictures that will paint a picture of what a home business can bring to someone who never gets to travel.

Use you camcorder in the same manor. Take video of people, places, and things that may appeal to others. What type of people are you looking for? What might appeal to your customers? These are some simple things to think about when shooting your video.

While most of the videos you shoot will probably be direct advertisements, don't forget to use some creativity.

Shoot videos that are fun to watch that have NOTHING to do with your business. Are you taking the family to Disney World? Would your mother-in-law scream if she rode Mission Space? Shoot video of her on Mission Space. What other types of video could you shoot that people would think is fun to watch?

When you get to your computer, you will edit the "fun" videos by branding a statement on the video. For example, "The Screaming Mother-In-Law is brought to you buy..." and then put your website on the bottom of the screen. Also, leave the website on the screen for the entire video.

While people watch the video for the entertainment, some may visit the website out of curiosity. If enough people see the website on the bottom of the screen, the law of averages DEMANDS that some visit it.

Do you think people search for information on the vacation location you chose? Well, if you wanted to go there, someone else probably does too. Many of those people will search for information about your destination.

What if everyone who wanted to go to Florida, Disney World, or whatever other location you went to saw your website advertised as they looked for information on their vacation? Could that cause you to increase your business?

Even if you moved no product, or signed up no one for your business, how much money is it worth to get the tax savings? With the United States dealing with a gas crisis, would getting some of that gas money back because you were building your business not make it worth it?