You want extra holiday money, so you are thinking about holiday pop up shops. Smart. These are easy enough to start up, let you be creative and can make you a ton.
The holiday season isn’t just about family, food, and festivities—it’s also one of the best times of the year to start a business. People are spending more, hosting parties, and looking for unique gifts. Whether you want to make extra cash for the season or test out a new business idea that could grow year-round, here are 15 holiday side hustles you can launch right away.
1. Holiday Pop-Up Shops
Sell ornaments, crafts, candles, or seasonal baked goods at local markets or online.
2. Gift Wrapping Services
Busy shoppers will gladly pay someone to wrap their gifts beautifully.
3. Holiday Decor Installation
Offer light-hanging, Christmas tree decorating, or even office setups.
4. Personalized Gifts Business
Launch print-on-demand products like custom mugs, stockings, or ornaments.
5. Seasonal Catering or Baking
Holiday cookies, pies, charcuterie boards, and gingerbread houses are always in demand.
6. Holiday Party Planning
Help families, small businesses, or communities organize festive events.
7. Santa-for-Hire / Holiday Character Visits
Offer appearances for parties, schools, or even virtual visits.
8. Digital Holiday Card Design
Create and sell digital or printable card designs for families and businesses.
9. Holiday-Themed Photography
Mini sessions for families, pets, or even businesses promoting holiday campaigns.
10. Seasonal Pop-Up Experiences
Hot cocoa stands, ornament-making workshops, or wreath-making classes.
11. Online Holiday Shops
Curate gift bundles with affiliate links, or sell items on Etsy or Amazon.
12. Holiday Cleaning Services
Pre-guest deep cleans or post-party cleanup services.
13. Seasonal Social Media Content Creation
Run holiday promos, graphics, and campaigns for small businesses. If you’re savvy with social media, put those skills to use. Where to find these gigs?
- Upwork
- Fiverr
You can also do some good ol’ fashioned networking. Create business cards and drop them off at local establishments like your local bank, dry cleaners, restaurants, etc. And, do online networking on platforms like LinkedIn.
14. Winter Apparel & Accessories
Sell handmade or dropshipped scarves, hats, and gloves. You can do this on creative marketplaces like Etsy, Ebay or others. Start early with this, as you already want to be prepped and fully ready to sell as the winter months draw near.
15. Holiday DIY Kits
- Cookie-decorating kits
- Wreath-making kits, or
- Gingerbread house kits for families
Bottom Line
The holidays are a time of opportunity, not just for shopping but for entrepreneurship. Whether you have a creative skill, a knack for organization, or simply a few spare hours on evenings and weekends, these holiday side hustles can help you earn extra cash while spreading holiday cheer. Who knows? One of these seasonal gigs might even turn into a year-round business.
