What expense category does SendGrid fall under?

Audrey CarrollAudrey Carroll, Senior Manager, Accounting, Ramp

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Figuring out where to categorize your SendGrid expenses can be a bit tricky. Is it software, marketing, or something else? Let's break it down so you can accurately classify SendGrid in your accounting records.

Classifying SendGrid expenses

Classifying SendGrid expenses depends on how your business uses the service. Here are some common categories:

  • Email marketing tools: If you use SendGrid primarily for marketing campaigns and newsletters, consider this category.
  • Software as a Service (SaaS): SendGrid is a cloud-based software platform, so it fits under this category.
  • Communication expenses: For transactional emails and customer communications, this category makes sense.

Examples of SendGrid expenses

Here are some examples of how businesses categorize SendGrid expenses:

  • Marketing expenses: A small business uses SendGrid to send promotional emails and newsletters. They categorize the monthly subscription fee under marketing expenses.
  • Software expenses: A tech company integrates SendGrid's API for email delivery in their applications. They list the cost under software expenses.
  • Communication expenses: An e-commerce store sends order confirmations and shipping updates through SendGrid. They categorize these costs under communication expenses.

For example, if your company pays SendGrid $25 per month for a SendGrid plan that supports up to 100,000 emails, this expense might be categorized under marketing expenses.

Tax implications of SendGrid

When it comes to taxes, properly categorizing SendGrid expenses can have benefits:

  • Deductible expenses: SendGrid costs are generally deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses.
  • Capital expenses: If you pay for a multi-year SendGrid subscription, it may be considered a capital expense. In this case, you may need to amortize the cost over the subscription period for tax purposes.

Correct classification ensures your financial statements are accurate, which is important for tax compliance. Since tax laws vary, you can also consult with a tax professional to make sure you're recording SendGrid expenses correctly.

Let Ramp automate your expense process

Managing expenses like SendGrid doesn't have to be a hassle. With Ramp, you can automate the categorization and tracking of your software and marketing expenses. Ramp simplifies expense management, so you can focus on growing your business instead of wrangling receipts.

See how Ramp automates accounting and more

As we scale we need tools that are built to scale with us - we need to see expenses real time, we need to see duplicate spend. These types of insights are important to the health of our business.

Steve Padis

SVP Finance & Strategy, Barry's

The information provided in this article does not constitute legal or financial advice and is for general informational purposes only. Please check with an attorney or financial advisor to obtain advice with respect to the content of this article.

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