Expense Reimbursement Policy
Document ID: WBL-FIN-ER-v1.0 Version: 1.0 Effective Date: [DATE] Applies To: All team members, contractors, and subcontractors who incur expenses on behalf of Webility or for client projects Owner: [Managing Director / Finance] Next Review: [DATE + 12 MONTHS]
Purpose: This policy governs the reimbursement of expenses incurred by team members in the course of performing work for Webility or for client projects. It applies to both internal expenses (costs of running the business) and pass-through expenses (costs incurred for a specific client project and billed to the client).
1. General Principles
1.1 Core Rules
- No surprise expenses. Any expense not pre-approved may not be reimbursed.
- Receipt required. No receipt, no reimbursement. No exceptions over [AMOUNT].
- Business purpose required. Every expense must have a documented, legitimate business purpose.
- Reasonable and necessary. Expenses must be reasonable for the nature of the work. Luxury options are not reimbursable when a reasonable alternative exists.
- Timely submission. Submit expenses within [30] days of incurring them. Late submissions may be declined.
1.2 Who This Policy Applies To
| Category | Applies? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time employees | ✅ Yes | Expenses submitted per this policy |
| Part-time employees | ✅ Yes | Same as full-time |
| Contractors / Subcontractors | ✅ Only if specified in their agreement | Must be listed in Schedule A of their subcontractor agreement |
| Account Director / Managing Director | ✅ Yes | Same rules apply; no self-authorization allowed |
2. Pre-Approval Requirements
2.1 When Pre-Approval Is Required
| Expense Type | Pre-Approval Required? | Approver |
|---|---|---|
| Any single expense ≥ [AMOUNT] | ✅ Yes | Managing Director |
| Travel (any air, train, or multi-night trip) | ✅ Yes | Account Director |
| Hotel / accommodation | ✅ Yes | Account Director |
| Client-related meals / entertainment (any amount) | ✅ Yes | Account Director |
| Software / tool purchase or subscription (new, recurring) | ✅ Yes | Managing Director |
| Third-party service purchase for a project (stock imagery, licensed content, APIs) | ✅ Yes | PM for the project |
| Hardware / equipment | ✅ Yes | Managing Director |
| Training / conference | ✅ Yes | Managing Director |
2.2 How to Request Pre-Approval
- Email the approver before incurring the expense
- Include: description of the expense, estimated amount, business purpose, and project/client it relates to
- Approval must be in writing (email confirmation is sufficient)
- Save the approval email and attach it to your expense submission
No retroactive approvals. An expense incurred without pre-approval (when required) will not be reimbursed without Managing Director sign-off and a written explanation of why pre-approval was not obtained.
3. Eligible Expense Categories
3.1 Project-Related Expenses (Pass-Through)
These are costs incurred specifically for a client project and are typically billed to the client (at cost + [10]% administrative fee, per contract terms).
| Category | Eligible | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock photography / video | ✅ Yes | Must be properly licensed; save license confirmation |
| Stock icon libraries / font licenses | ✅ Yes | Confirm license covers commercial use and client's use case |
| Third-party plugin or theme licenses | ✅ Yes | Purchased for a specific project only |
| Domain registration / transfer (on client's behalf) | ✅ Yes | Client must be registered as the registrant |
| Third-party API usage fees (project-specific) | ✅ Yes | Approved platforms only; per-usage charges |
| Print production (business cards, collateral) | ✅ Yes | For client review samples or final deliverables |
| Prototype / mockup materials | ✅ Yes | Physical samples for client presentation |
| Project-specific software trial or tool | ✅ Case-by-case | Must be pre-approved by PM |
All pass-through expenses must be tracked per project for accurate client billing.
3.2 Business Travel
| Category | Eligible | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airfare (economy class) | ✅ Yes | Lowest reasonable fare available | Business class requires Managing Director approval and must be > [X] hours flight |
| Train travel | ✅ Yes | Standard / second class | |
| Hotel accommodation | ✅ Yes | Up to [AMOUNT]/night | Mid-range hotels; no luxury brands without prior approval |
| Rental car | ✅ Yes | Economy or compact class | |
| Parking | ✅ Yes | Reasonable; document location | |
| Taxi / Rideshare (airport / client site) | ✅ Yes | Reasonable; document purpose | |
| Personal vehicle mileage | ✅ Yes | At [RATE] per km/mile | Must use standard mileage rate; no reimbursement for commute |
| Meals during travel (per diem) | ✅ Yes | Up to [AMOUNT]/day | Receipts required per meal over [AMOUNT] |
| Luggage fees | ✅ Yes | One checked bag | Not for excess baggage caused by personal items |
| Wi-Fi (travel) | ✅ Yes | Reasonable, documented | |
| Visa / entry fees (work-related travel) | ✅ Yes | Documented |
Personal travel day add-ons: If a team member extends a business trip for personal travel, the personal portion of accommodation and transport is not reimbursable. Webility pays only for business days and the most direct travel routing.
3.3 Client Entertainment and Meals
| Category | Eligible | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client meal (with client present) | ✅ Yes with approval | [AMOUNT]/person | Alcohol included up to [AMOUNT]/person; excessive drinking not covered |
| Team meal (strategic meeting, team event) | ✅ Yes with approval | [AMOUNT]/person | Required attendees ≥ [3] people; must be business purpose |
| Coffee / individual meal (solo, local, routine) | ❌ No | N/A | Day-to-day meals are not reimbursable |
| Client gift | ✅ Yes with approval | [AMOUNT]/gift | No cash or gift cards; retain receipt |
| Event tickets for client entertainment | ✅ Yes with approval | [AMOUNT]/person | Business purpose must be documented |
3.4 Software and Technology
| Category | Eligible | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Software required for a specific project (short-term) | ✅ Yes | Pre-approved; documented per project |
| Team collaboration tools (approved stack) | Managed centrally | Not individual submissions |
| New recurring software subscriptions | ✅ Yes — pre-approval required | Added to the approved tool stack |
| Personal productivity apps | ❌ No | Personal expense |
| Hardware (laptop, mouse, monitor, headset) | ✅ Yes — large purchases require MD approval | Company asset; returned upon departure |
| Home office supplies (keyboard, cables, etc.) | ✅ Case-by-case | Small items up to [AMOUNT] without approval |
3.5 Professional Development
| Category | Eligible | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conference attendance (relevant to role) | ✅ Yes with approval | Travel per standard travel policy | Registration + travel; pre-approval required |
| Online course / certification | ✅ Yes with approval | Up to [AMOUNT]/year per person | Must be relevant to current role |
| Books / reference materials | ✅ Yes | Up to [AMOUNT]/year per person | Digital preferred; physical reimbursed if justified |
| Professional association membership | ✅ Case-by-case | Pre-approval required |
3.6 Non-Reimbursable Expenses
The following are never reimbursable:
| Category | Reason |
|---|---|
| Personal meals (day-to-day, when not traveling) | Personal expense |
| Alcohol beyond the included meal allowance | Personal expense beyond reasonable hospitality |
| Personal subscriptions / streaming services | Personal expense |
| Gym, wellness, or personal care | Personal expense (unless covered under a separate benefits program) |
| Traffic fines, parking tickets | Personal responsibility |
| Personal vacation travel extended around business trips | Personal expense |
| Lost or stolen items without a police report | Must file report; subject to review |
| Expenses incurred after project close without PM authorization | Not authorized |
| Expenses on systems or tools not approved for company use | Policy violation |
| Late fees or penalties on any expense | Personal responsibility to pay on time |
4. Expense Submission Process
4.1 How to Submit
Submission method: [EXPENSE TOOL NAME / Google Form / email to finance@webility.local]
Required for every submission:
- Receipt(s) — photo or digital copy; must show: vendor name, date, amount, and itemization
- Business purpose — what was purchased and why
- Project/client reference — if project-related, specify the project ID
- Pre-approval email — if pre-approval was required (attach)
- Mileage log — if claiming personal vehicle mileage
Submission deadline: Within [30] calendar days of the expense date. Expenses older than 30 days will be reviewed case-by-case and may be declined.
4.2 Submission Schedule
| Pay Frequency | Expense Submission Cut-Off | Reimbursement Date |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly payroll | [Xth of month] | [Payroll date] |
| Bi-weekly | [Xth and Xth of month] | [Next payroll cycle] |
| Contractor invoice | Include with monthly invoice | Per invoice payment terms |
4.3 Review and Approval
| Step | Action | Owner | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submission received | Team member | Per schedule |
| 2 | Initial review for completeness | Finance | Within [2] business days |
| 3 | Missing information requested | Finance → Team member | Team member has [5] days to respond |
| 4 | Approval or denial | Account Director / MD | Within [5] business days of complete submission |
| 5 | Approved: processed for reimbursement | Finance | Next payment cycle |
| 6 | Denied: notification with reason | Finance | Within [2] business days of decision |
4.4 Expense Disputes
If a team member believes a reimbursement decision is incorrect, they may appeal in writing to the Managing Director within [10] business days of the denial. The Managing Director's decision is final.
5. Client Expense Billing
5.1 Pass-Through to Clients
Eligible project expenses are billed to the client at cost + [10]% administrative fee, unless the client contract specifies otherwise.
Requirements before billing:
- Expense must be documented and pre-approved by the PM
- Receipt(s) must be available
- The expense must be within the scope of the client's project
- The PM must confirm it is billable per the client's contract
How to mark an expense as client-billable: On the expense submission, indicate: Client: [CLIENT NAME] | Project: [PROJECT ID] | Billable: Yes
5.2 Non-Billable Project Expenses
Some project expenses may be incurred but are not passed to the client (e.g., a tool licensed for internal use across multiple projects). These are absorbed as agency overhead and still require pre-approval.
6. Company Credit Card / Corporate Account
(If applicable — complete if Webility issues a corporate card)
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Card holders | [List of authorized roles] |
| Card use | Business expenses only — personal use is prohibited |
| Monthly reconciliation | All transactions must be assigned a purpose and project by [Xth of month] |
| Lost or stolen card | Report immediately to [ISSUING BANK] and finance@webility.local |
| Unauthorized personal charges | Subject to immediate recovery from payroll and potential disciplinary action |
| Limit | [AMOUNT] per transaction / [AMOUNT] per month |
7. Record Retention
Expense records (receipts, approvals, submissions) must be retained for [7] years in compliance with tax authority requirements.
Finance maintains records digitally in [FINANCE TOOL / DRIVE FOLDER].
Team members must retain their own copies of original receipts until they receive confirmation of reimbursement.
Appendix A — Per Diem Summary
(Quick reference for travelers)
| Category | Daily Allowance |
|---|---|
| Meals — Canada (general) | Up to [AMOUNT] CAD/day |
| Meals — United States | Up to [AMOUNT] USD/day |
| Meals — European Union | Up to [AMOUNT] EUR/day |
| Meals — United Kingdom | Up to [AMOUNT] GBP/day |
| Hotel — Canada (general) | Up to [AMOUNT] CAD/night |
| Hotel — Major cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver) | Up to [AMOUNT] CAD/night |
| Hotel — United States | Up to [AMOUNT] USD/night |
| Hotel — EU / UK | Up to [AMOUNT] EUR/GBP/night |
| Mileage (personal vehicle) | [RATE] per km / [RATE] per mile |
Per diem rates are reviewed annually. Actual rates confirmed by Finance at time of travel authorization.
Webility — WBL-FIN-ER-v1.0 | Expense Reimbursement Policy Internal document — not for client distribution. Last reviewed: [DATE]. Next review: [DATE + 12 MONTHS].