Running expenses through your startup, how much can yout get away with?

I have no idea but I would like to know about this too, so I eagerly await responses. I want to know how much I can legally get away with.

Put direct expenses that you incur from doing activities related to your startup from your personal expenses.

If you mix the two, you loose your liability protection that you would have if you were setup as an LLC of corp. If you are running as a sole proprietorship, you have no such liability protection, so do what you want.

This is advice specific to US based startups right?

Among expenses I pay from my personal bank account, I write off about 10% of my rent (based on space fully allocated to a home office), 25% of cell phone bill (my daughter and I are on the plan), 50% of internet, and pre-formation direct expenses (attorney's fees, filing fees, etc). Where possible, I try to set up a bank account ASAP after formation and pay other business-related expenses from that account.

If you are an LLC, you can add language to the LLC agreement that says something like, "Members may incur their won expenses". Ask your CPA, but this then gives you ability to write it off in your personal tax returns, but keep it off the books of the business.

OP, what did your attorney say about the suggestion to add "“Members may incur their won expenses” to the LLC agreement?

Is it true that this then gives you ability to write it off in your personal tax returns, but keep it off the books of the business?

So you're putting your future at risk to save a couple of bucks? Let me know how that works out if things take off and the IRS comes knocking with fines.