Seasonal business ventures remain one of the hottest small business trends thanks to the numerous business opportunities and the unique benefits these options offer budding entrepreneurs. After all, seasonal businesses such as those that only operate during the winter season allow small business owners to take extended breaks during their lengthy off-seasons or to spend that time strategizing ways to boost sales the next year. Before you can run a successful seasonal business in the cooler months, however, you need some innovative winter business ideas.
- READ MORE: Small Business Ideas for Beginners
Best Winter Businesses to Start
Starting a successful winter business is an achievable goal. Looking for seasonal business ideas that can operate during the winter months? The following 32 winter business ideas should get you started right.
1. Fake Snow Business
If you live in a location where snow is scarce during the winter season, then selling fake snow can be a great business idea. Fake snow can be in high demand during the festive season among organizations, companies and even families who want to experience a winter wonderland.
2. Gift Wrapping Service
Gift wrapping services remain an in-demand business idea during the holiday season. If you’re a skilled gift wrapper, you can sell your services near any busy shopping area, and you’re almost guaranteed to attract plenty of customers.
3. Christmas Tree Farm
While selling Christmas trees during the winter season might not be an option for every entrepreneur, Christmas tree farming can grow into a successful and profitable winter business idea for small business owners who own land where they can grow evergreen products so they can sell Christmas trees.
4. Towing Service
Towing services are businesses that are in need all year long, but the demand grows during the winter season when road conditions often deteriorate. The owner and operator of a tow truck can still turn a profit if they only operate seasonally.
5. Ventless Fireplace Business
Ventless fireplaces continue to grow in popularity since so many properties no longer are equipped for the traditional variety. A ventless fireplace installation business is a solid business idea, provided the entrepreneur gets proper clearances from the fire department.
6. Winter Sports Equipment Rentals
Many consumers enjoy playing occasional winter sports, but they don’t own the proper equipment for seasonal pastimes. In the right market, an entrepreneur could achieve great success by renting this needed winter sports equipment as a business.
7. Sell Gift Baskets
Unique gift baskets remain at the top of many holiday shoppers’ gift lists, so there’s never been a better time to start a seasonal business selling holiday gift baskets. You could create a variety of gift baskets or focus on a specific niche in the market.
8. Sell Winter Garments
Do you have an eye for fashion? You could start a successful seasonal small business by selling winter garments. You could obtain a seasonal lease and start a local boutique, or you could excel in the online selling marketplace.
9. General Errand Service Business
More people seek assistance with running errands during the winter months than when it’s warm outside, making a general errand service business another profitable idea for entrepreneurs seeking a seasonal venture.
10. Ice Cream Shop
Ice cream is a popular treat all year long, but many ice cream shops only operate during the summer. Opening a wintertime ice cream shop is a great way to fill a gap in the market.
11. Winter Weather Baskets
Who says it needs to be a holiday to send a gift basket to a friend or loved one? A small business specializing in the more generic, yet still seasonal winter weather baskets is sure to be a hit in almost any community.
- READ MORE: How to Use Seasonal Products to Boost Sales
12. Chimney Sweeper
Naturally, homeowners use their fireplaces far more frequently during the colder months, which makes a chimney sweep business another great idea for a successful seasonal company.
13. Hot Beverage Pop-Up
Hot beverages are in demand during the winter season, which makes the colder months the perfect time to start a hot beverage pop-up business. Just establish a small retail space for your hot beverage stand in an area with regular traffic and sell options like coffee, hot chocolate and hot tea.
14. Sell Home-Made Cookies
When it comes to holiday treats, it’s no secret that plenty of people prefer cookies. With just a small capital investment, you can start a cookie business and offer an assortment of sweet treats, including good-quality cookies.
15. Sleigh Ride Service Business
While some winter seasonal businesses appeal to a narrow demographic, others cater to all age groups. A sleigh ride service is a seasonal business that can draw customers young and old as they seek exciting holiday experiences.
16. Home Winterization Service
Are you skilled with the tips and tricks to successfully winterize a home? You can start a winter seasonal business helping homeowners prepare their properties for severe winter weather by insulating, closing any gaps in windows and using other weatherization techniques.
17. Cake Shop
The holiday season is cake time for many families, so a wintertime cake shop can become a profitable seasonal business activity. You can offer a variety of baked goods for your products and specialize in festive cakes like the popular Yule log cake.
18. Sell Firewood
Firewood is in far greater demand during the winter months compared to the rest of the year. Many entrepreneurs who own wooded land have established successful seasonal small businesses by selling firewood.
19. Snow Removal Business
One of the more profitable winter business ideas in areas with consistent winter storms is a snow removal service. There is little overhead to offer snow removal services in nearby residential areas, and the demand is all but guaranteed anytime it snows. By purchasing the proper equipment, you even can expand to a snow plowing business.
20. Party Rental
The party rental business is one of the more popular small business ideas all year long, but it can also be successful during only the winter months. Such a business might specialize in renting winter holiday-themed party supplies, decorations and equipment, including that geared toward Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas and New Year’s.
21. Liquor Delivery
Looking to start a new business during the winter months? Consider a liquor delivery service since the demand for many hard beverages increases during the winter when people also are less likely to savor a cold trip to the store. Be sure, of course, that you are following all local laws and regulations.
22. Christmas Retail Outlet
The various holiday seasons are prime time for retailers around the world, so it’s no wonder why more entrepreneurs are starting Christmas retail outlets and turning them into successful seasonal businesses.
23. Senior Errand Services
If you’re looking for a way to earn extra money during the winter season, consider starting a senior errand service and performing odd jobs for the elderly in your community. Since it’s harder for many seniors to get around when it’s cold outside, a helpful entrepreneur can turn a profit with this seasonal option.
24. Winter Storage
Many consumers use storage facilities for seasonal purposes as they pack away clothing, furniture and equipment they don’t plan to use for several months to save space. These semi-yearly habits make owning a storage building with individual units another great seasonal business option.
25. Pet Sitting
Pet sitting easily can grow into a successful year-round business, but demand for pet sitting services tends to increase during the holiday season. An animal-loving entrepreneur easily could start a small business by safeguarding pets during the winter season.
26. Furnace Repair Service
There will always be a demand for those skilled in repairing appliances, and a furnace repair service is a natural seasonal venture since there will be little demand for the niche during the warmer months. When it’s cold, however, someone who is skilled at repairing heaters can be a hot commodity.
27. Handcrafted Wreaths
With just a small investment, a crafty entrepreneur can create beautiful handcrafted wreaths for the holiday season or for all winter long. Wreaths can be sold locally at flea markets and craft fairs, or they can be sold online and shipped to customers.
28. Quilt & Blanket Company
Quilts and blankets are in high demand during the winter months in many places, and an entrepreneur with quilting skills can meet this huge demand by starting a quilt and blanket company. You can start your own quilt trading store, or you can maximize your profits by selling quilts from an online marketplace like Etsy.
29. Holiday Home Decorating Business
How many members of your community wish they could decorate their homes for the holidays but simply don’t have time in their busy schedules? Decorating homes for the holidays is another profitable winter business idea that requires little overhead.
30. Local Cleaning Service
Starting a local cleaning service is a lucrative winter business idea since so many consumers have less time to spend cleaning during the winter months even as they welcome and entertain holiday guests. A seasonal business that meets this increased demand is sure to be a hit.
31. Custom Ornament Sales
The business of Christmas ornaments delivers products to a massive market, but it’s definitely a seasonal venture with most sales occurring in the winter months. Crafty entrepreneurs can choose to create a plethora of options, and they can sell their creations at local stores and craft fairs or through online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon Handmade.
32. Delivery Business
Just as many people seek assistance running errands during the cold winter months, there is also a local market demand for delivery services. With a reliable vehicle, you can start a successful delivery business initiating services to local neighborhoods.
Check Your Small Business Insurance Coverage
When establishing a successful seasonal small business, it’s vital for entrepreneurs to fully prepare for a winter storm by checking on their small business insurance coverage. Harsh weather conditions create the perfect environment for accidents… and the possibility of a lawsuit. Do you have plenty of liability insurance to cover such instances? Don’t let your seasonal small business become a victim of insurance vulnerabilities.
How Do You Start a Seasonal Company?
Are you ready to start a seasonal company in the winter months? If you’ve already found a great idea by studying the most popular small business trends, it’s important to study your market so you can establish an effective business plan.
The business plan will help you finance your business if needed before you invest in marketing, equipment and supplies. If your new small business isn’t a seasonal operation, you’ll also need to hire seasonal employees before you can fully open. Don’t forget to invest in accounting software to help you prepare for taxes and open a business checking account to keep everything compliant.
Image: Envato Elements
This article, "32 Winter Business Ideas" was first published on Small Business Trends
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