Is Your Aviation Side Hustle Costing You Money?

How Women in Aviation Can Turn Passion Into Profit (and Cut Their Tax Bill)

You know that thing you do on the side — the one that makes you just a little extra cash (and a whole lot of joy)? Maybe you teach in a taildragger on weekends, sell adorable aviation merch online, or get paid to snap photos of airplanes at sunset.

Whether you call it a side hustle, a passion project, or “just something I do for fun” — if you’re making money, guess what?

You’ve got yourself a business.

And if you’ve got a business…

– You can write off legitimate expenses

– You can track your income like a pro

– You can save yourself major stress at tax time

– You can set yourself up for growth — or just cleaner books

But Wait — What Counts as a Business?

Here’s what I see women aviators doing all the time (yes, these all count!):

– Charging for backcountry lessons or tailwheel endorsements

– Selling aviation-themed stickers, apparel, mugs, or logbooks

– Running a small hangar rental or subletting tiedown space

– Organizing local fly-ins, pancake breakfasts, or aviation meetups

– Teaching flying part-time, freelance-style

– Getting paid for aviation photography or content creation

If you’re receiving money — even just occasionally — and especially if you’re paying for fuel, marketing, or supplies out of pocket, the IRS may already consider you a for-profit business. Whether or not you’ve officially claimed the title.

So What Should You Do?

You don’t need to form an LLC tomorrow (unless you want to!). But you do need a simple system for tracking:

– What you earn

– Who owes you

– What you spend

– Who you owe

– What you own

And here’s the good news:
You don’t need to become an accountant. You just need someone who speaks both “pilot” and “profit” to help get you off the ground.

✨ The Hidden Benefits of Treating It Like a Real Business

Still wondering if it’s worth formalizing things? Here are a few reasons aviation side hustlers like you are glad they made the leap:

✅ Smart Tax Deductions

From headsets to hangar rent, aircraft maintenance to subscriptions — if you’re using it for your aviation business, you may be able to deduct it. Even partial-use items like your iPad or ForeFlight app can qualify (with proper documentation).

✅ Business Credit (separate from your personal credit)

Setting up even a basic business bank account helps build your business identity — which is handy when applying for aviation grants, loans, or vendor credit down the line.

✅ Profit Clarity

Just because money is coming in doesn’t mean you’re making money. Clean books help you see what’s working, what’s costing too much, and how to grow smartly — without burnout.

✅ Financial Confidence and Freedom

With good systems in place, you can confidently raise your rates, pay yourself, or scale up when opportunity strikes. You’ll know exactly where you stand — no more shoebox receipts or crossing your fingers come tax time.

I’m Karin at WingWise Solutions

I specialize in helping small aviation businesses get their financial house in order — whether you’re full throttle with a business or just starting out.

I offer:

– Budget-friendly Xero or QBO setup

– Done-for-you options if you’re too busy flying

– One-on-one training if you want to do it yourself

– Help identifying what’s deductible (and what’s not!)

– Straightforward tools to track your money and plan ahead

Ready to See What’s Possible?

📍 Visit www.WingWiseSolutions.com
📩 Or shoot me a note: Karin@KarinsOffice.com

Let’s turn that aviation side hustle into a business you’re proud of — and one that’s built to fly straight for years to come.