Macon Magazine

October/November 2026 | maconmagazine.com 79 equipment, business vehicle costs, home office expenses, and certain travel and meal expenses. Careful recordkeeping is important. Maintain records and receipts throughout the year so you can accurately track your income and deductible expenses. 5 Operate your venture as a business, not a hobby. Many people have hobbies and they may even make a little money from them. However, the IRS notes, "there's a difference between a hobby and a business, especially how each is treated when it comes to filing taxes." The bottom line is that businesses operate to make a profit, while hobbies are for pleasure or recreation. If you're earning money, you want to be considered a business so you can deduct expenses. So again, keep reliable records and consider setting up Submit your business and tax story ideas to us at hello@maconmagazine.com company (LLC) or an S corporation. On a federal tax return, if you're a sole proprietor, you file a Schedule C with your 1040 form. Everything flows through your personal tax return — you don't file a separate business return. For state tax purposes, sole proprietor artists report business income on the Georgia Form 500. In addition to federal and state income tax, you generally owe self-employment tax, which covers Social Security and Medicare. This is calculated on your net profit. Many creative individuals are surprised by this additional tax, so planning ahead can prevent an unpleasant bill at tax time. 4 Deduct your related expenses. As an independent contractor, you can lower the amount of tax due by deducting "ordinary and necessary" business expenses on your tax returns. Some examples are supplies, "There's a difference between a hobby and a business, especially how each is treated when it comes to filing taxes." a separate business bank account so you aren't mixing business and personal expenses. Even simple bookkeeping software — or an organized spreadsheet — can help track income, expenses, mileage, and receipts. Well-kept records make tax filing easier and protect you in case of an audit. W h y I t M a t t e r s Making money from your artistic talent is exciting. Just make sure that taxes don't kill the creative buzz. These tips only cover the basics of running an arts- based business. Your tax preparer can help ensure you claim all the federal and state tax breaks you're entitled to. And as Lindsey notes: "It's perfectly okay to enlist a spreadsheet-loving friend or family member to help!" Understanding the business side of creativity doesn't diminish art — it helps protect it. When artists manage their finances confidently, they gain more freedom to focus on the work they love. F r o m C a n v a s t o C o m m e r c e : H o w a M a c o n A r t i s t B u i l t H e r C r e a t i v e B u s i n e s s It turns out one of the boldest things local artist Lindsey Hopkins ever created wasn't a collage or a textured canvas — it was her own business. After graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a BFA in painting, Hopkins primarily worked with paint but began exploring mixed media. She explains that due to COVID-19 in 2020, "I was able to focus more on generating income from my art." That led to forming LinHopArt, LLC, and setting up a website. Initially, Hopkins relied heavily on e-commerce and invested in a Shopify website. "Platforms like Shopify can calculate sales tax, track it, and offer invoicing and payment features, but you're still responsible for submitting the appropriate taxes," she explains. However, she notes that services such as custom artwork or lessons may be treated differently from taxable products. As her income streams became more varied, Hopkins realized she didn't need her website as much and downgraded her plan. "Online marketplaces can be a more affordable starting point because you generally only pay fees when you make a sale, rather than paying for a website regardless of how often you use it," she explains. Hopkins also found that connecting with local artists, including through the 478 Creatives networking organization, gave her "opportunities to learn about the many aspects of being a working artist." Original art by Hopkins is available at Artspace Macon, where she also teaches classes, and Ghost Runner Pizza in Perry. In addition, her paintings are available on Fine Art America, where they are described as focusing on color, texture, and humor and influenced by artists like Van Gogh and Wayne Thiebaud.

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