The holidays will be here before you know it, and who wouldn't want to earn some extra cash before the bills start to pile up? Fortunately, the holiday season offers as many opportunities to earn money as it does to spend it. Here are six different ways you can earn some extra income this fall, no matter what your skills or passions are.
1. Be a Task Rabbit
Christmas time comes but once a year and it brings with it a bevy of tasks. You can take advantage of that holiday stress by offering a service to relieve it. The mobile app Task Rabbit is a great way to safely and reliably connect with people in your neighborhood who need your services.
Not sure where to begin? Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
- Stand in line to buy that 'impossible to find' toy or limited edition shoes
- Take packages to the post office
- Organize the family holiday festivities
- Secure travel plans
- Wrap packages
- Do the assembly work for Santa -- like putting together a new playhouse or bike
- Find the perfect gift for everyone on a list
- Do the grocery shopping for office parties or even family dinners
If they need it done and don't have time to do it, you can be there to fill the void. Charge by the task or the hour -- whatever works best for you. Just make sure to factor in your expenses like gas, parking, and tolls.
2. Hang Out With Cats
Holiday travel can sometimes leave the family dog or cat stranded, so it's the right time to open your own pet-sitting business. Pet sitters charge anywhere from $10 to $65 a day depending on the length of the visit, according to Costhelper, but plan on one free visit as a meet and greet for the family and pet.
Base your charges on the amount of work necessary to care for the pet -- a dog requires more attention than a hamster, for instance. Keep other cost factors in mind as well, like the gas expense. You can start with word of mouth advertising, but consider branching out to bulletin boards and digital marketing as well.
3. Profit Off Your Hobbies
Whether you make all-natural beauty products or the best puppy treats in town, you'll need a few supplies to get set up in the craft show circuit. Most fairs expect you to bring your own table and chair and, in some cases, you'll need a shelter for outside fairs or racks to hang those pretty knitted sweaters on.
There will be vendor costs for most shows, too, such as a flat space fee and charges for additional amenities like electricity. Key traffic spots may cost you more, as well. For example, you may pay extra for a vendor stall close to the entrance.
Working the craft show circuit takes planning, so start early -- make a list of the shows and research holiday markets you want to participate in ASAP. You may have to apply for a vendor slot and pay an application fee, which all takes some time to organize.
Be realistic when setting your prices, too. The show host might offer some advice on what to charge but do your own research. Go online to see what the average price is for your homemade craft.
4. Sell Your Doodles
Adult coloring is all the rage right now, so take advantage of that trend this holiday season. Design your own color-in holiday cards, or even gift tags, and sell them as digital downloads online. Black line art takes relatively little time to create and only requires the buyer to have access to a black and white printer, so it's a win-win option. It's up to you whether you want to use professional design software like Photoshop, or a less expensive web option like Gravit.
Once you have a few different designs, it's time to open a free online store. This is an excellent online business idea because it has almost no overhead and can potentially bring in recurring revenue every year. If you use a free image editor and ecommerce platform, then it's literally cost-free to turn this idea into a reality.
5. Cook Up a Storm
'Tis the season to eat, so go ahead and cash in. Whether you are making cakes and candies to sell in baskets, or putting together four-course meals, start your marketing early for holiday catering. Set up a website and make sure to take advantage of social media. Your best resource is friends and family who are willing to get the word out about what an amazing cook you are -- ideally to their employers who are planning holiday parties.
You could potentially barter for marketing with other party services, like DJs and banquet halls. You may also want to consider targeting a niche for your catering service to make it stand out, like featuring local favorite dishes or foods from around the world.
6. Start a Trend
Print-on-demand services provide the perfect opportunity for budding holiday entrepreneurs. You can easily download free fonts and t-shirt templates, so all you need is a little creativity to hit the ground running with your very own t-shirt brand.
This is your chance to monetize on your favorite homegrown characters and sayings -- maybe you even have your own Grumpy Cat! If you're lacking inspiration, then head to Reddit, Tumblr, or your social media feeds to see if there's a trend or bandwagon you can jump on. Print-on-demand is a great business model for new entrepreneurs, because you only pay to produce the t-shirts that you sell, so there's no inventory to worry about.
Whether you want to build a fashion empire, or would rather lounge with cats, there are lots of seasonal side hustles to choose from. Why not start something now and see what happens? Who knows, you may even create a new revenue stream for 2017.