# What expense category is Dunkin’ Donuts?

Dunkin’ Donuts is classified as a Utilities expense. Dunkin' is a global quick-service restaurant chain specializing in coffee, donuts, and breakfast items, serving millions daily across 21,000+ locations in 60 countries.

**URL Source:** https://www.brex.com/tools/expense-classifier/dunkin-donuts

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# What expense category is Dunkin’ Donuts?

Dunkin’ Donuts is classified asUtilities·50% deductible

Dunkin' is a global quick-service restaurant chain specializing in coffee, donuts, and breakfast items, serving millions daily across 21,000+ locations in 60 countries.

At a Glance

CategoryUtilities

Tax status50% deductible

Avg. spend$5–$25 per visit for individual orders; $50–$200 for catering box orders for team meetings

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Dunkin' (formerly Dunkin' Donuts) is a fast-service coffee and breakfast chain known for affordable, consistent offerings including drip coffee, espresso drinks, donuts, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches. Businesses use Dunkin' for team breakfasts, morning meeting refreshments, and client-facing catering. Pricing is per-transaction and value-oriented (drip coffee ~$2.69, lattes ~$4.89), significantly undercutting premium coffee chains. Dunkin' also offers catering boxes (e.g., Box O' Joe coffee catering) suitable for office and event needs. Note: Dunkin' was miscategorized as 'Utilities' — it is a food and beverage establishment.

## How businesses classify Dunkin’ Donuts

UtilitiesMost common100%

100% of transactions classified under Utilities

## Tax details

50% deductible

Capital vs. Operating

Operating expense — 50% deductible under IRC §274

Section 179

Not eligible for Section 179

Documentation tips

-   Document the business purpose and attendees for every Dunkin' purchase — even a $5 coffee run requires a note (e.g., 'morning coffee for client kickoff meeting with \[Name\]') to qualify for the 50% deduction.
-   A Box O' Joe or catering order for an all-hands team meeting may qualify for 100% deductibility if it meets the IRC §274(e)(2) 'employee meals for the convenience of the employer' standard — confirm with your CPA.
-   Avoid using a personal card at Dunkin'; use your business card for all team or client food purchases to maintain a clean audit trail.
-   Dunkin' app orders tied to a personal Dunkin' Rewards account can mix business and personal purchases — consider a dedicated business profile or always pay with a corporate card.
-   Recurring daily coffee purchases for solo work sessions are generally not deductible — the 50% meal deduction applies when there is a clear business discussion or client/team context.

## Business insights

Average spend

$5–$25 per visit for individual orders; $50–$200 for catering box orders for team meetings

Common industries

ConstructionHealthcareRetailEducationTransportation & logisticsProfessional servicesGovernmentHospitality

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For illustrative purposes only. Results shown are estimates and not guarantees. Based on internal metrics. Past performance does not guarantee future results, which may vary.