Christmas Business Ideas to Start with Little Capital
Christmas is around the corner and we all know how the special season brings joy and laughter, but what if it could also bring cold hard cash? Yes, as you enjoy the holiday season, you can also make some money on the side on your own terms. So, how would you like to make extra cash this Christmas? In this article, we have for you eleven Christmas business ideas you can start with very little capital as another Christmas season is setting in and the best part is that there is at least one for everyone- including kids!
Why Christmas business ideas?
Selecting these eleven business ideas for Christmas is because they have the essential factors needed to ensure that nothing gets in the way of your enjoying the season. The only drawback of these Christmas business ideas is that most of them are seasonal in nature- once the season is gone, they go along with it. However, if you make the most of the season, the success you get from launching these businesses will open doors to more business opportunities for you. If things go smoothly, it could turn out not to be a one-time thing after all. Now, you must choose at least one of these options because of the following:
They cost little to start
The first criteria for making this list is that these business ideas must not cost much to start, and even better if nothing has to go into it in the way of capital- which is unlikely. For most of the business concepts here, all you would need to pay for is the materials for making some of the designs or purchasing extra tools for the business. In some cases, you will only really be spending on gasoline for your vehicle to get to where your clients need you. It will only cost you a few hundred dollars to start some of these businesses.
You don’t need an office to start them
Of course, when you’re doing business you need space to clear your head and concentrate on the task you have but do you have to get an office space somewhere? No! Most of these business ideas will only require you to set aside some time, and space, to focus on what you are paid to do. If you have a home office, that would be perfect, and if you don’t, you have nothing to worry about either. Remember, these business ideas were meant to be comfortable and cheap, so even if you have to go out, you still get to determine how long, when, where, and how you choose to operate. If you can run it from your bedroom, so be it.
They are all within your comfort zone
If you’re worried you’d have to get a degree or some serious additional training to be able to start these businesses, you’re mistaken. At least one of these concepts is something you are very comfortable with, which is another reason why we have chosen them. For these Christmas business ideas, you will only have to figure out how you intend to structure the business so that you’re not under any unnecessary stress when you’re supposed to be having fun. You don’t need to get a permit for some of these businesses and you can do them with your family.
These business concepts are sought after during the Christmas season
If there is no need for these services, then it would be a waste of time to even consider starting any of them in the first place. The good news is this; these business ideas for Christmas are what you will see everywhere you go this Christmas, and people don’t put a price on happiness. When you see the full list of the business concepts we have for you, you’ll remember having requested the services of some of them almost every other Christmas. And if you have used them, and are still using them, then there’s a huge possibility that so does everyone else.
11 BUSINESSES YOU CAN START WITH LITTLE CAPITAL THIS CHRISTMAS
SANTA FOR HIRE
Now, here’s the problem; Firstly, Santa Clause is chubby and grey. Secondly, he has lots of beards, tons of gifts in his bag, and he somehow has a record of all the good kids throughout the year, how can you keep up with that? You probably feel intimidated by that CV Mr. Claus has got there but there’s hope for you- with the right makeup and costume, anyone can be Santa. Playing Santa Claus is one of the easiest acting jobs you could ever find.
These days, your options are endless depending on your preferences and body type so you must plan how you want to run the business. The first thing you need to do is decide which Santa you want to be- the traditional chubby Santa for kids, or sexy Santa for adults. The second thing you need is your Santa costume and makeup. You can either get a new one or a used one that’s in good condition at a cheap price. Identify your target client and let people know what you do. If you target kids, meet their parents and let them know how they can reach you. And if you’re targeting adults, you can go to bars or strip clubs, talk to their managers, and if you show them you are good enough, you could be in business in no time.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL PLANNING BUSINESS
Not everyone loves to stay at home during the Christmas holiday; some like to travel the world. Travel agents are well sought after during periods like these and if you know your way around booking boarding passes and placing orders on hotels at favorite tourist destinations, you should do it for a living starting from this Christmas.
With your laptop, smartphone, and a persuasive attitude, you already possess a lot out of what is required to run a successful travel agency. Create a space at home where you can concentrate on making research, phone calls, and sending emails to different destinations and travel companies, and work from there. Use social media to promote your business and ask your clients to give good reviews about your services. Be ready to troubleshoot because flights can be delayed or canceled, while travel destinations can be out of bounds to flights from your client’s destination, so with good people skills, you will be able to reassure your clients.
BED AND BREAKFAST BUSINESS
If you have a house that has at least five or six empty rooms and it won’t bother you, you should start a bed and breakfast business. With just a little upgrade, you can turn your dwelling into a place that will house holiday guests. As long as you already have enough rooms in good shape, you will only have to spend between $1,000 and $3,000 to buy toiletries, some Christmas decorations, some food, and other basic things, that your guests will need.
To get started, you must let the local authority know about your short-term business plan and get the “go ahead” you need to start. From there, you’ll plan how you want to run the business; the type of guests you want, whether couples only or single people only; the amount you’ll charge, and if there will be extra charges; the breakfast timetable, and more. After that, get your bed and breakfast listed on different platforms like Airbnb or Craigslist for people to be aware of your business, contact you, and make a reservation. If you would like to get the full gist on starting a B&B, see this article.
ICE SCULPTING BUSINESS
Ice sculpting is an art form that has been a part of the winter season for centuries in Asia and some parts of Europe, while other parts of the globe have come to embrace it. To start an ice sculpting business, the first thing is to know how to sculpt ice. Almost every ice sculpting business owner is an ice sculptor and the benefits are numerous. Ice sculptors make beautiful sculptures completely out of ice blocks. Not only do individuals and owners of private properties hire sculptors to work for them, public places and government institutions also hire sculptors.
Besides making money directly from what your client pays you after a job well done, you could also teach the rudiments of the art to those who are interested to learn. Your trainees will not only pay you, but you could have them work with you on some projects for little to no pay attached as it will increase their knowledge of the vocation. In order to easily get clients, make sure you have a portfolio. You could make hard copies or soft copies of your best works and have them sent to potential clients for consideration. You will have to leave your house to perform your task but it will be fun.
PET-SITTING BUSINESS
Christmas is a time people like to spend with family; parents bonding with children, and couples looking to rekindle the flame. Finding available pet sitters during the Christmas period can be a challenge since many people take a break from their jobs during this time. However, if you love pets and you have the time, you can start a pet-sitting business at once. You can also involve your friends so that you all can have fun and earn at the same time.
Note that you must be an animal person, attentive, and patient, to be able to take care of pets while their owners are away. Make sure you carry a plastic bag in case they defecate, and keep them on a leash while you take them outside, which will rarely happen considering the weather. The average pet sitter makes up to $30 per hour, and if your place has enough room, pet owners can drop them off for you to sit.
Since many adults would love to make the most of their holiday, they might need someone to look after their kids- and sometimes, their elder family members- while they are away. There are people who hire baby sitters even when their children will be with them, just so that the kids do not disturb them. Whether you’re sitting pets, kids, or the aged, you must pay attention to their health needs and follow your client’s instructions.
FRESH COFFEE SALES
Just like starting a food truck business, a coffee truck is a type that you can run with your family, friends, or just by yourself. You will only need more people to help you with the business if you’re getting too many customers at the same time, which is possible. Although coffee trucks don’t only sell during winter or the Christmas period, the weather will make more coffee shops and truck owners register a boost in sales.
For a mobile coffee business, you will need a truck or a cart where you will prepare fresh coffee for customers and move on to the next. Remember we said that not a few of these businesses are not work-from-home businesses; this is one of them. The best places to make a profit while you sell hot coffee are street and office building corners, and construction sites. You will only offer take-outs since it’s a mobile business. there’s no need to rent a shop or buy a power generating machine, as long as you have a very good thermos flask and your mobile truck, you’re good to go.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC BAND
You don’t have to be in the band; get a couple of talented singers in your family or among your friends and start a Christmas band. This is a serious business as there will be many events going on during the Christmas season and you have to see it as starting any other business. If you are a musician or one of the musicians in your band, it would be better for your business. You may decide to go solo as that would mean you would have to spend on nothing other than your transportation and perhaps your costume. It is not expensive to start, and with a great performance, you will get your next client on stage.
If you intend to target top non-religious events in the town, you could choose to go with a band of adult singers. The first thing to look for is their ability to sing, then figure out where the biggest events will be taking place and show up with your crew.
You could also select a couple of talented kids in your family, or among your neighbors, and have them sing carols at events. Sex sells in many industries, but as far as Christmas carols go, kids’ smiles are the best-sellers.
CHRISTMAS COSTUME-MAKING
Since it’s a festive period, Christmas season, there will be many fun activities and themes that will need costumes to go with them. The good thing about making Christmas costumes is that you will be making them in the comfort of your home and you could involve your kids as well. There are many Christmas stories and folklore that are reenacted every Christmas, and with the number of events going on, there won’t be a shortage of clients. It won’t cost you much money to start making Christmas costumes; what you need basically are the materials for the apparel and accessories.
Some of the most sought after Christmas costumes that sell fastest are Santa Claus and the elves’ costumes. Other best-selling costumes include the ones from the story about the birth of Jesus Christ in the Christian Bible and some other characters from children’s storybooks. Make your findings and start piecing materials together for the Christmas celebration. Also spread the word about your costume-making business so that organizations, families, and individuals, can ask you to make custom-made Christmas costumes for them.
CHIMNEY CLEANING SERVICES
Chimneys resume duty during winter, especially during the Christmas period, and as soon as they are in use, they’ll need to be cleaned from time to time. This situation opens a business opportunity for anyone who’s up for the challenge. You can start your own chimney cleaning business with very little capital. The first thing is to understand how chimneys work. Examine them to see if there’s something that could be stuck in them or make them not function properly. After diagnosing the chimney, you can begin the leaning process, but note that you’ll have to get in there to work them.
Running a chimney cleaning business is one of the dirtiest jobs during the Christmas season, so if you can’t stand the smoke, stay out of the chimney. When you start your chimney business, you will mainly spend money on cleaning agents- it will not burn a hole in your pocket to launch. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to let people know you’re into this business- spread the word at the grocery store, work, social gatherings, and your neighborhood.
VEHICLE-TOWING
Although starting a vehicle-towing business means that work will take you outside, it still is one of the business ideas that you can run by setting up your office at home. For this business, you must have a towing truck or at least a vehicle that is capable of towing other vehicles away from bad spots. This business is suitable for those who have towing vehicles because, besides the vehicle, you won’t be spending much on anything other than buying some extra tools and gasoline.
Christmas periods can come with heavy snow that can get vehicles stuck. The difficulty in movement and the slippery surfaces on roads can cause accidents. Heavy snow can also reduce vision which could cause motorists to not see a vehicle in front of them. People take vehicle towing seriously in times like these. Your services will not only be needed by people who are stuck, but you will also be called to remove cars that have been involved in an accident off the road. Create a helpline where people can call your office and request help. Depending on where you are based, you might need to register your towing company and get a license to operate a vehicle towing company. Once you are cleared to start your towing business, set up your business to be available to respond to calls from stranded motorists or motorcyclists.
SNOW-MAKING MACHINE RENTAL
Filmmakers use snow-making machines to shoot winter settings in movies when it’s not winter but during winter, it goes in the basement because the real deal will fall. There are places on this globe where it doesn’t snow- not even during Christmas. However, some people would love to know what it’s like to have snow during Christmas, so, if you’re in such an area, you just found yourself a way to make money.
Snow-making machines cost a few hundred dollars and they are available in stores and online if you need to get one. Once you get your snowmakers, the next step is to look for those who will need to rent them. Anyone would love to have a snow-white Christmas and once they are aware that you have them for rent, you are in business. Make your pricelist to suit you and give conditions and suggestions to customers on how to handle the machines with care. And if they need you to operate it, you could charge extra.
TEACHING
For some unknown reason, considering being a teacher rarely crosses people’s minds but it really should because everyone has something they’re passionate about and can teach. There are some skills that are very useful in times such as winter and many would love to master those skills if only there were people who were dedicated to passing on the knowledge. Most of the skills you could teach are recreational skills during the Christmas season and you wouldn’t need more than your tools to start teaching them.
Some of the skills you could teach are ice skating, ice-sculpting, costume designing, among others. To teach these skills, you don’t need to rent a hall, spend much on advertising, or buying equipment for teaching your students; they can all come to training with theirs. Apart from teaching people physically, since many people will be with their families and rarely work long hours, they would spend more time online. Create a YouTube channel and teach people the skills you know, any lesson that’s well taught will be viewed by a large audience. And if you enjoy success while doing this, you could start a full-fledged online course even after the Christmas holiday.