Savvy Christmas-Focused Business Ideas For The Side Hustler In You

Many people underestimate the power of seasonal businesses. Which is a mistake because there are seasonal businesses making anywhere from thousands to billions of dollars a year.

Take Spirit Halloween for example: A costume shop that only opens for four months each year and has made a billion dollars in 2020 and 2021. Although Joseph Marver, the original CEO of Spirit Halloween, didn’t officially create the concept, he was able to spot an opportunity when his neighboring store owner shut down their costume shop in 1983. In the first six months of Marver pivoting his business from women’s clothing to costumes, the business made $100,000 and has been growing ever since!

There are many examples of business owners who operate seasonal businesses and make a decent living. Think about ice cream shops like Mixins, founded by Trishonna Helm, who also made her first $100,000 in 30 days of opening her shop. You also have Christmas tree farms who make anywhere from $15-30,000 each Christmas or the firecracker stores who make about $20,000 and up during the firecracker seasons. Then, the men who dress up as Santa Claus each year make up to $130,000 annually. Isn’t that interesting? Therefore, remember that seasonal businesses can be profitable and if you’re considering starting one, I hope these examples have inspired you.

Here are a few Christmas-focused business ideas for the side hustler in you:

One of the biggest trends you see near the Christmas holidays that side hustlers offer are catering services and holiday-themed menu items. As we all know, practically most of the world plans dinners and get-togethers around this holiday. Therefore, that’s a huge opportunity for catering businesses, chefs, bakers, and home-cooks to make money. Can you make homemade candy canes? Do you make the best gingerbread and shortbread cookies in your city? Do you have a Christmas catering menu for vegans? Turn your talents into profits.

Around this holiday, many parents and business owners are extremely busy with their year-end activities, their families, and prepping for the new year. Therefore, they don’t necessarily have the time to do holiday shopping and usually end up leaving it until the last minute. Just ask your entrepreneurial friends or walk into a mall on Christmas Eve. But where there are pain points, there are profits. If you like to shop and run errands, you can start a seasonal “Gift Shopping” service for the busy moms and business owners.

This one is usually common for people who want to make a side income around the holidays and even travel for free*. Since there are a lot of couples, families, and individuals who go on vacation during the holidays, many people tend to look for someone who can babysit their homes and/or pets. If you’re a home and pet babysitting kind of person, this could be a great opportunity to make money and travel if it’s outside of your city.

Similar to #1, but if you’re better at planning events, planning a few Christmas parties and/or planning christmas-themed weddings could be a really decent seasonal income – and depending on how good you are, you could possibly make enough to fund your life for the year. Another way to start this side hustle is by creating your own Christmas-theme event as a carnival, a fair, etc. Seasonal events, like Santa Parades, usually make anywhere from $200,000 and up in profits.

Instead of event planning, if you’re good at decorating and setting up balloon arches, christmas trees, and photo backdrops, then this could be another Christmas side hustle for you. Hint: corporate organizations always have christmas parties. Imagine you selling a Christmas decor package for $2,000 per company.

I know this mompreneur who created “designer-themed” ornaments for Christmas back in 2019. During that holiday alone, not only did she sell out of her inventory but she made over $5,000 in a month. That’s pretty incredible for ornaments. So, think about what Christmas-themed products you could create that is also something in-demand and you’ll also be able to make an extra income through your Christmas side hustle.