Custom Corporate Gifts | Personalized Business Gifts with Logo

FAQ About Corporate Gifts

What Is Corporate Gifting?

Corporate gifting is the practice of giving a meaningful gift to a person or entity to praise their effort, build a formal connection, or mark an occasion. In the corporate world, companies frequently give gifts to their workers, business clients, and prospects. Some examples of common corporate gifts are food gifts, tech accessories, travel items, and self-care packages.
Corporate gifts can be given with the intention of celebrating accomplishments or special events, building stronger relationships, or simply showing gratitude. For instance, an employer might give fitness bands to their employees as part of a staff wellness initiative, because this gift shows that the employer cares about their health. For prospective clients, employers might choose to give a less personal gift, like a box of chocolates, to demonstrate their desire to work together and secure a business deal.

What Qualifies as a Business Gift?

What qualifies as a business gift is anything that you give someone in a corporate setting that satisfies a business or trade purpose. A business gift can be physical or non-physical, including anything from sporting event tickets to water bottles to online subscriptions, as long as it is tied to a purpose in the business.
You can also determine what qualifies as a business gift by its price. According to the IRS, business gift expenses can be considered for a tax break only if they cost $25 or less per person per year. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot gift an item of a higher value. You just can’t claim a tax deduction on the excess amount.

What doesn’t qualify as a business gift?

Any gift that is an essential item or commodity required to do a particular action as part of the business does not qualify as a business gift. Things that do not satisfy any specific business or trade purpose also may not be eligible. For example, wireless computer mice required for professionals to work from home technically do not qualify as a business gift, since the item is needed by employees in order to do their job.
From an accounting perspective, items classified as entertainment also may not be a business gift. For example, if you send a potential client tickets to a baseball game, the tickets could qualify as a business gift. However, if you join the potential client for the game, it will be considered an entertainment expense. In that case, the IRS will consider it as a business expense toward entertainment, and therefore, disallow a tax deduction.

What Are Good Corporate Gifts?

Good corporate gifts are those that fully satisfy the intent or purpose behind the gifting. Some great corporate gifts to show employee appreciation include backpacks, power banks, wireless earphones, jackets or hoodies, or miscellaneous travel items. Employers can also gift subscriptions to streaming services, e-gift cards, and restaurant vouchers.
For sales or business prospects, consider gifting executive gift items such as duffle bags, pen sets, wireless chargers, or Bluetooth speakers. Good corporate gifts to impress your potential clients could also include tickets to live events, sporting accessories, customized gift baskets, and other gifts that are based on enjoying an experience.
Employers can also get creative and consider philanthropic gifts such as donations to a client’s favorite non-profit.
In any case, good corporate gifts share characteristics such as the following:

The gifts are thoughtful
The gifts are customized for the receiver
The gifts bear the name and logo of your brand
The gifts are of great utility to the receiver

Why Is Corporate Gifting Important?

Corporate gifting is an important part of business culture because it helps build and strengthen the emotional relationship between entities. When you give a thoughtful gift to your employees or your clients, it shows that you care about them and their well-being. This creates feelings of fellowship and loyalty between you and your employees and clients, thereby nurturing an overall uplifting atmosphere in the workplace.
For startups, corporate gifting can be a way to improve brand awareness. Having your staff wear customized sweatshirts with your brand logo can be a tool that works in your favor for talent acquisition and marketing.
In the corporate world, gifting is mostly seen as a powerful tool of persuasion and praise that benefits all parties involved. Separate studies suggest that corporate gifting can improve employee effort and lead to better motivation than other monetary benefits like a cash bonus.
As a gifter, you demonstrate kindness and compassion in wanting to gift something thoughtful to another person. In return, the receiver will likely appreciate the gesture and associate this good feeling with your company.

Are Corporate Gifts Tax-Deductible?

Yes, corporate gifts are tax deductible in many situations. Companies can claim a tax deduction on corporate gifts up to $25 per person who received a gift per year. All businesses registered in the United States can receive this deduction from the IRS. This tax-deductible limit doesn’t apply to incidental costs such as gift wrapping, or shipping, which can be claimed separately if they do not exceed $4 per person per year.
Some businesses also choose to personalize a gift with a name or company logo. It is common to see people show off swag items such as tote bags with the name of their company. The customization of gifts doesn’t count toward the $25 tax benefit limit if they cost $4 or less and you distribute them in large numbers.
For example, if you gift water bottles with your company’s logo embossed on them at $3 apiece to your employees, you can claim these expenses separate from the $25 limit.
To claim a tax deduction, make sure you maintain the purchase invoices and records that prove the business purpose of the gifts.

Branded Corporate Gift Ideas: The Best Ways to Say Thank You to Clients & Employees

Want to show your thanks and appreciation to clients and employees in a memorable, meaningful way? Make them feel special with unique, personalized business gifts that acknowledge their loyalty and express your gratitude. Surprising your clients and employees with custom corporate gifts can leave a lasting impression.

Check out these affordable, customized gifts for employees and customers:

Wondering what occasions are ideal for personalized company gifts? Build enduring relationships by celebrating these gift-giving events:

Recognize noteworthy achievements.

Perhaps your client achieved a significant milestone, or your team just launched a new product. Make it personal by surprising them with corporate team gifts—like shirts, jackets or backpacks—embroidered with your company's logo.

Acknowledge personal milestones.

The best corporate gifts are individualized ones that make the recipient feel special. Let them know you're thinking of them on their birthday, work anniversary, retirement, birth of a child—you get the picture. Simple gestures like food gift baskets, monogrammed tote bags, or custom glassware to toast the occasion go a long way.

Celebrate with Christmas gifts for work & other personalized holiday gifts for employees.

Celebrate a successful year and toast to a job well done with personalized holiday gifts for employees and clients. Custom corporate holiday gifts—like keepsake custom ornaments or cozy fleece throws with logo—show your appreciation while also promoting your brand. Other great Christmas gifts for work include warm apparel and holiday gift boxes.

Celebrate less-traditional holidays.

Employees might expect Christmas gifts for work, but how excited would your staff be to find custom coffee mugs on their desks on National Coffee Day? And your clients are sure to keep you top of mind when they receive personalized executive pens or writing sets on National Handwriting Day. Think outside the box and get creative with your branded business gifts.

Do you have a particular industry, occasion, theme, or budget in mind for business gifts? Check out our complete guides to employee gifts or client and customer gifts that quickly zero in on your exact needs with great ideas.

Stay connected.

Show work-from-home employees, new hires, customers, and clients that you care with custom bags with logo, fun cards, or branded kits and sets.

Crestline Makes Corporate Gifting Easy

Choosing and distributing corporate gifts can be complicated and time-consuming. At Crestline, you’re never alone with a daunting process. Our special gift services and customer support team are here to make it nothing but fun. Here’s how:

Custom Kitting Services

Want to create a unique gift box or gift bag for your audience? The process couldn’t be easier. Just choose the custom items you like the best and we’ll kit them together for you. We’ll add your logo to each piece and handle all the assembly. All you have to do is exhale! Still too complicated? Choose from our selection of pre-assembled holiday curated gift boxes and pre-wrapped gifts.

Drop Shipping Services

Make Christmas gifts work easy this year - Just give us a list of names and addresses, and we’ll ship your gifts directly to individual home addresses.

Corporate Gift Personalization

Many of our gifts not only show off your logo or message, but also have room for individual recipient’s names.

Custom Online Stores

Why not have your staff choose their own appreciation gifts? Let Crestline build you a free online company store, complete with your own products, branding, and personalization.

Promotional Products Experts

Call or chat in to speak to a helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable corporate gifting consultant. We’re ready to do the legwork to make giving business gifts easy, even when solutions aren’t one gift box fits all.

Art Services

Concerned about how your logo will look on different sized items, engraved, embroidered, or debossed? Worried about the condition of your art or files? Check that off your list of worries. Our talented art services team is here to take your images from where they are to where they need to be for a clear and impressive result.

Remember, there's never a wrong time to say thanks. Corporate holiday gifts for clients express your appreciation for their loyalty and partnership at year end. And corporate Christmas gifts for employees show you recognize their contributions and dedication, during the darkest part of the year, when they need encouragement the most. Browse our complete selection of custom corporate gifts and give them something they can show off with pride.

Customer Reviews of our Custom Corporate Gifts

“People love the weight, look, and feel of the (Maestro) pen. They have proven very popular.” – Lori, IN

“Great product, customer service and fast delivery! We ordered the (20 oz Himalayan) Tumblers as a teacher appreciation gift before Christmas break. Our teachers were thrilled with their cups. Ordering online was exceptionally easy and convenient. Thanks!” – Samantha, SC