TOP 25 Seasonal Business Ideas to Boost Your Income

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Tony Pham Jul 12 2025

Seasonal business ideas are a great strategy for store owners to maximize revenue and maintain flexibility during low seasons. Below are 25 potential suggestions and strategies that NextSky has compiled to help you confidently seize the opportunity.

Why choose seasonal business ideas?

Seasonal businesses thrive by responding to consumer behavior tied to holidays, weather changes, or cultural events. According to Shopify, global sales on Black Friday 2024 will reach $9.8 billion, up 30% from 2022, showing the great potential of peak periods. Here is an attractive benefit you can refer to:

Maximize profits during peak season: Strong demand creates favorable conditions to adjust prices and boost sales.
Flexible timing: The low season is an opportunity to plan long-term, expand products, or implement other projects.
Low commitment: Suitable for those who want to start a part-time business or try their hand at a short-term business model.
Easy to scale: With the right strategy, many seasonal business models can grow into sustainable year-round operations.

TOP 5 summer business ideas

1. Selling at farmers' markets

Summer is the time when farmers' markets come to life, attracting both locals and tourists looking for fresh produce and unique handmade products. Setting up a small stall with a specialty product will help you get noticed right from the start.

Seasonal business ideas with farmers' markets

How to exploit effectively:

Create product packages such as "Weekly Clean Vegetable Box", "Tropical Fruit Combo", "Agricultural Product Gift Set".
Design simple but consistent signs and packaging, with a strong “farm” feel to increase recognition.
Take beautiful product photos and sell online via Instagram or Shopify to maintain revenue after market hours.

Start-up costs: 20 – 200 USD/booth per season

>> Learn more: TOP 40+ Home business at home with Real Examples

2. Beach equipment rental

With the influx of beachgoers in the summer, you can make money from the demand for renting lounge chairs, parasols, SUP boards, or sand play sets for kids. This model does not require high technology, but does require you to choose a rental location near a crowded beach.

How to exploit effectively:

Launch combos "Chair - umbrella duo", "Group combo of 4 people + paddle board" to increase revenue.
Create a pick-up/drop-off point near the beach, with luggage storage, free water, or towels to enhance the experience.
Enables online booking via Shopify, QR payments, and integrates with a daily/hourly rental management system.

Investment cost: Varies between $2,000 – $5,000, including folding chairs, umbrellas, paddle boards, mini lockers, and initial operating fees.

3. Organize summer camp

In the summer, parents always want to find activities that are both beneficial and safe for their children. This is an ideal opportunity for you to organize short-term summer camps with themes such as art, sports, picnics, or programming for children. This model not only brings a stable source of income but also contributes to building positive community values in the hearts of parents.

Seasonal business ideas with organize summer camp

How to exploit effectively:

Schedule systematically and hire staff with child management skills.
Featured topics include: “Creative STEM Summer Camp”, “Exploring Crafts”, or “Coding for Kids”.
Offer early bird discounts, group discounts, and partner with local schools for promotion.
Create a landing page to introduce the camp, integrate registration and payment via Shopify, and send weekly class schedules and photos to parents.

4. Mobile food stall

Street food is always the center of attraction for diners, especially on hot summer days. Cool dishes such as ice cream, fruit juice, or fragrant grilled dishes are very popular at festivals, parks, and tourist areas. With just one special dish, you can completely create your own mark and turn a small stall into a favorite stop for many people.

How to exploit effectively:

Sell staples like “grilled coconut ice cream,” “detox juice,” “grilled meat skewers with honey sauce,” or “fried fish sandwiches.”
Attend outdoor events or contact local festival organizers for great spots.
Filming cooking videos under the sun, with upbeat music to go viral on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Ensure full sanitation license, mobile sales license.

Investment cost: 10,000 - 50,000 USD, depending on cart, equipment, and license.

>> See more: Find Out The 30 Attractive Wholesale Business Ideas

5. Outdoor fitness class

Summer is the perfect time to join the outdoor fitness trend. With the favorable weather, you can organize morning yoga classes, sunset bootcamps, zumba in the park or group cardio on the beach. Therefore, this can be a low-cost business model with high profit potential.

How to exploit effectively:

Open classes "Sunset Yoga", "Weekend Zumba", "30 minutes HIIT at the park" with flexible morning - afternoon schedule.
Cooperate with a trainer or fitness KOL to livestream a free trial class to create a viral effect.
Just register in advance via Shopify and pay online, students will be reminded of their class schedule via email and receive recordings of the session when needed.

Initial cost: About $500 for basic equipment like a mat, dumbbells, resistance bands, and a public space permit.

TOP 5 autumn business ideas

6. Pumpkin Garden

Autumn is the ideal time to develop a pumpkin garden model that combines recreational activities such as horse-drawn carriage rides, exploring corn mazes, participating in folk games, or taking outdoor photos in the midst of a brilliant natural space. This is an attractive destination for families and schools during the holiday season.

How to exploit effectively:

Design photo areas, straw mazes, children's playgrounds, and snack areas.
Promote with beautiful images on Instagram, real-life experience videos on TikTok, and organize photo contests with attractive prizes.
Partner with local farms to utilize space, share costs.
Create a combo ticket package (entrance + photo + pumpkin selection) to increase order value.

Investment cost: 5,000 - 25,000 USD, depending on area, decoration cost and farm cooperation

7. Fall leaf removal service

Fall is the time when leaves fall a lot, especially in residential areas with lots of trees. This is an opportunity to provide leaf collection, yard cleaning, and walkway cleaning services. This seasonal business idea is especially simple, easy to implement, and suitable for part-time workers.

Seasonal business ideas with fall leaf removal service

How to exploit effectively:

Offer weekly recurring service packages or “full yard, gutter, balcony cleaning” packages.
Free yard check or recycling collection included.
Run small ads on Facebook in your neighborhood or hand out flyers locally.
Post “before & after” photos of each project to increase credibility on the fan page or website.

8. Take photos in the fall

Autumn, with its brilliant yellow color, is always the perfect backdrop to capture memorable moments. It is not surprising that family, couple, or children's photos become especially attractive at this time. So, you take the opportunity to combine photography with personalized greeting card service for the year-end holiday season.

How to exploit effectively:

Create seasonal photo packages such as “Autumn Couple”, “Family Welcomes Autumn”, or personal photo albums in a romantic vintage style.
Allow customers to easily book appointments through Shopify and send before-and-after photos to increase trust and inspire.
Increase brand awareness with an attractive minigame: “Share autumn moments – receive a free photo shoot”.
Partner with a printing studio to provide additional services for printing albums, greeting cards, and personalized gifts to add value to each order.

Investment cost: About 1,000 - 5,000 USD, depending on the quality of the camera, lens, editing software, and accessories

9. School supplies store

Late summer to early fall is the golden time for shopping for school supplies. You can open a pop-up store near your school or sell products online such as notebooks, pens, backpacks, name tags, etc. Instead of selling retail, create convenient combos for each age group to increase appeal and make it easier to sell.

Seasonal business ideas with school supplies store

Customer approach strategy:

Offer a savings package, with a study tracker and motivational stickers.
Promote through parent groups, schools, and work with parent associations to reach the right people.
Open a points program to redeem gifts or free shipping with orders from a certain price.

Startup costs: About $2,000 – $10,000 for importing goods, designing product combos, and promoting.

10. Halloween booth

Halloween is a short-lived but highly profitable business. You can open a booth selling costumes, masks, decorative accessories or “horror” snacks. Just choose a location near a school, residential area or small commercial center and you can attract a lot of customers.

How to exploit effectively:

Create combos like “Superhero Costume”, “Halloween Mini Party Set”, “Classroom Decoration Package”.
Decorate the store with pumpkin lights, fake spiders, and light-up signs to attract children.
Organize mini games or online cosplay photo contests to quickly spread your brand.

Investment cost is about 1,000 - 5,000 USD, depending on imported goods, display and promotion costs.

>>> See more: Top 600+ Halloween Store Names That Will Thrill Your Customers

TOP 5 winter business ideas

11. Winter snow removal

In places where winters are long, residential and commercial snow removal services are essential. With an investment of $2,000 to $10,000 for equipment like a backhoe or hand shovel, it’s easy to get started. Seasonal contracts provide a steady stream of income, while location technology helps with smart routing. When your website integrates customer reviews, you can quickly build trust.

Seasonal business ideas with winter snow removal

How to exploit effectively:

Offer “weekly snow removal” or “24-hour response after a snowstorm” packages.
Use GPS to schedule and manage cleaning areas quickly.
Send automatic email notifications whenever the weather is bad, reminding customers to book services early.

Investment cost: 2,000 – 10,000 USD, including excavator, shovel, de-icing salt and protection.

12. Festival decoration

The demand for holiday home decorations, from Christmas lights to wreaths, is on the rise, with 60% of U.S. households participating (NRF, 2023). For as little as $1,000–$5,000 in energy-efficient LED lights and decorative materials, you can cater to busy customers who love the holiday spirit. Showcasing past projects on your website and sharing before-and-after photos on social media is a great way to attract new customers during the busy holiday season.

How to exploit effectively:

Design combo “Outdoor decoration”, “Warm inside”, or “Company office decoration”.
Send transparent quotes and before-and-after sample photos for customers to choose easily.
Take photos of completed projects for promotion on social media and website.

Investment cost: 1,000 – 5,000 USD, including LED lights, decorations, wires and ladders.

13. Selling Christmas trees

Christmas is a money-making season for the pine tree industry, with the US consuming 25-30 million trees each year. For just $5,000-$15,000, you can turn an empty lot into a warm, tree-filled Christmas space. Increase your profits by offering home delivery, tree selection advice, and hosting small on-site events. Don’t forget to partner with farms to ensure an abundant supply!

How to exploit effectively:

Warm exhibition space design, festival music, and free check-in photos.
Comes with accessories such as lights, tinsel, cards, and tree stands.
Take orders via Shopify and provide full delivery and installation services.

Investment cost: About 5,000 - 15,000 USD, including the cost of importing plants, renting land, setting up booths, and decorations

14. Winter support

During the cold season, many people, especially seniors or families on vacation, need help with shopping, home inspections, or emergencies. This service doesn’t require a lot of capital, mainly travel and marketing costs, but it’s important to build trust. Leverage positive customer feedback to build credibility on your website.

How to exploit effectively:

Create a “Weekly Home Visit”, “Shopping – Delivery” or “Winter Inspection Service” package.
Post service information to local community groups.
Ask for reviews from past customers to build credibility and spread trust.

Investment cost: about 200 – 1,000 USD , mainly for vehicles, insurance and communication

15. Tax declaration services

January through April is peak tax season in the US, with over 153 million returns processed each year (IRS, 2024). For just $500–$2,000 to get software and register for a PTIN, you can start working online or in person. Staying up to date on new tax laws and using tools like TurboTax will help you provide more accurate and professional advice.

Seasonal business ideas with tax declaration services

How to exploit effectively:

Providing “Personal Consulting”, “Small Business”, and “Tax Refund Support” packages.
Work online via Zoom, send secure documents via cloud storage.
Update new laws via email newsletter to keep customers coming back year after year.

Investment cost: about 500 – 2,000 USD, including software, certificate (PTIN), and service promotion

Dropshipping Taxes: What You Must Know to Stay Profitable

TOP 5 spring business ideas

16. Garden care

As nature awakens, the need for garden beautification also blossoms. With an investment of $1,000, you can provide lawn mowing, bonsai shaping, or green landscape design services. Organic fertilizers help touch the hearts of customers who love the environment. Maintaining a schedule through software and promoting with “before and after” images will quickly gain trust.

How to exploit effectively:

Offers “Regular Lawn Mowing”, “Bonsai Care”, or “Mini Garden Design” packages.
Free consultation or tree maintenance schedule after 1 month.
Use before-and-after photos and testimonials from past clients to promote online.

Investment cost: 1,000 - 3,000 USD, including lawn mower, pruning shears, fertilizer, and gardening tools.

17. Spring cleaning

Spring is the perfect time to give your home a makeover after a dreary winter. For just $500–$2,000, you can offer eco-friendly cleaning services, adding carpet cleaning or window cleaning to add value. Promote your business on social media, and use before/after photos to give your brand a professional boost.

Seasonal business ideas with spring cleaning

How to exploit effectively:

Selling combos of "General cleaning", "Window cleaning + carpet vacuuming", "Refrigerator + kitchen cleaning".
Create online appointment bookings via Shopify, send electronic invoices and promote quarterly packages.
Organize a “community cleaning day” to increase brand coverage.

Investment cost: 500 - 2,000 USD, including a vacuum cleaner, detergent, a glass cleaning cloth, and a uniform.

18. Selling seedlings and flowers

The trend of growing plants at home is growing, especially decorative flowers for balconies and herbs for the kitchen. If you have a source of seedlings from a nursery or greenhouse, this is a great opportunity to start a business. You can sell directly at the weekend fair or expand your sales channel via Facebook or TikTok.

How to exploit effectively:

Create a set "Mini garden on balcony", "Combo of plants - fertilizer - ceramic pot".
Combine livestreaming with instructions on plant care to build personal branding.
Partner with gardening associations to share products within the community.

Investment cost: about 1,000 - 5,000 USD, depending on the type of tree, care tools, and booth

19. Outdoor discovery tour

Hiking, cycling, and boating tours amid the fresh spring scenery are a great option for nature lovers. For $2,000–$10,000 for equipment and permits, you can create an emotional wildflower-viewing itinerary. Booking websites, safety certifications, and partnerships with travel blogs will help you get your experience in front of the right audience.

How to exploit effectively:

Design half-day, one-day, or weekend tours with clear itineraries and picnic menus included.
Connect with travel bloggers or nature lovers to increase your leads.
Use Shopify to sell tours and get online feedback from participants.

Investment cost: 2,000 – 10,000 USD, including safety equipment, vehicles, insurance, and advertising

20. Moving service

Spring to summer is the peak season for moving, the ideal time to start a moving service. A professional moving company that is transparent about prices and responsive is always a top priority for customers. You can start small, using a 1-1.5 ton truck and gradually expand as the number of customers increases.

How to exploit effectively:

Providing packages of “Packing + moving”, “Small office moving”, “Full moving from A–Z”.
Connect with real estate agents to reach new home buyers.
Manage bookings through Shopify, integrate quotes, and customer reviews.

Investment cost: 5,000 - 20,000 USD, including truck, packing tools, and hourly staff.

Top 5 year-round business opportunities

21. Seasonal event organization services

Events such as weddings, birthdays, conferences, or seasonal parties such as Halloween, Christmas, Tet... take place all year round in all sizes. If you have a refined aesthetic sense, good organizational skills, and a passion for creativity, then this is a potential business field for you to exploit.

How to start smart:

Create service packages according to budget: mini party at home, birthday setup, and outdoor party.
Connect with audio, cake, and photography rental units to create an optimal supply chain.
Take photos before and after the event, make impressive clips to promote on Facebook, Instagram.

Investment costs: around $500 – $1,000, mainly for building supplier relationships, purchasing basic tools, and promotion.

22. Take festival-themed photos

From Tet, Christmas, family photos, to graduation photos or couple photos, the need to preserve beautiful moments through commemorative photos is always "hot" all year round. You can completely start with a mini studio at home or flexibly accept outdoor photography depending on customer needs.

How to start smart:

Create service packages according to budget: mini party at home, birthday setup, outdoor party.
Connect with audio, cake, and photography rental units to create an optimal supply chain.
Take photos before and after the event, make impressive clips to promote on Facebook, Instagram.

Investment cost: about 1,000 - 5,000 USD, depending on camera, studio lights, editing software and decorative accessories

23. Local discovery tour guide

More and more tourists want to explore local culture through hands-on experiences such as street food tours, heritage tours, or even... ghost tours for Halloween. If you are knowledgeable about the local area and have the ability to tell stories, this is a "side job" that brings in a stable income.

How to exploit effectively:

Tour design: “Street Food”, “Halloween Spooky Night”, “Local History and Culture”.
Sign up on a platform like Airbnb Experience or sell tours directly through Shopify.
Use past guest reviews and tour group photos to add credibility and appeal.

Investment cost: about 500 – 1,500 USD , mainly for promotion, licensing and travel expenses

24. Recycled & Antiques Business

The trend of sustainable consumption and the passion for antique hunting are becoming increasingly popular. You can start from your own wardrobe, search among friends and acquaintances, or hunt at flea markets. After being renewed or recreated, these items can completely become unique products to sell through online channels.

How to exploit effectively:

Create brands such as “Unique vintage items”, “Frugal vintage decoration”, “Unique recycling”.
Take beautiful product photos, and tell the story of each item to increase emotional value.
Sell through Shopify, share content on Instagram, and use hashtags like #DoCuSangChanh, #VintageReborn to expand your community.

Investment cost: 500 - 3,000 USD, to buy old goods, renew products, and post for sale online

25. Garden and landscape care services

The landscaping industry in the United States is worth $121.4 billion, with demand high in the spring and summer. You can start with lawn mowing, tree trimming, or pest control, which are especially suitable for suburban or homestead landscapes. The initial capital is about $1,000 – $1,500 to buy a lawn mower, pruning shears, fertilizer, and insecticide.

How to exploit effectively:

Service packages: “Mowing + fertilizing”, “Seasonal garden decoration”, “Biological pesticide spraying against pests”.
Send transparent package quotes and before-and-after project photos to gain customer trust.
Link with high-end residential areas to reach potential customers.

Investment cost: 1,000 - 1,500 USD, including lawn mower, pruning shears, fertilizer, and biological pesticides

A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Seasonal Business

Research the market and determine peak seasons

First, you’ll want to analyze your data to understand seasonal demand in your target area. Tools like Google Trends or Shopify Analytics can help you identify search trends that spike at certain times of the year. For example, the keyword “snow removal services” tends to spike in January in areas with heavy snowfall, suggesting a potential business opportunity in the winter services industry.

Create a specialized business plan for each season

Once you have identified the opportunity, develop a clear business plan. This plan should include:

Target customer segmentation
Initial investment and operating costs
Strategies for coping with low season

You can check out Shopify's free Business Plan template, designed specifically for small businesses, ensuring flexibility and future scalability.

Obtain permits and ensure legal compliance

Depending on the industry you choose (e.g. food service, cleaning services, or construction), you will need to apply for the appropriate licenses and permits. It is imperative to check local regulations to avoid legal violations. Shopify offers a number of automated legal integrations that make it easier for you to track, update, and manage legal requirements.

Branding and digital presence

Even if you are a seasonal business, having an online store is still extremely important, including:

Design a website on the Shopify platform to easily manage orders, inventory, and payments.
Optimize SEO with seasonally relevant keywords to increase your ability to reach customers at the right time.

Investing properly in a website will help you easily reactivate your brand every business season, without having to rebuild it from scratch.

Implement effective marketing campaigns

A smart promotional campaign will help you stand out from the crowd of seasonal competitors. Take advantage of:

Use social media like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to create engaging seasonal content.
Local SEO targets users who are looking for services near their area of residence.
Email Marketing to notify early about opening hours, promotions, and special services.

Shopify also integrates advanced SEO tools, helping you position yourself for keywords like “spring services near me” accurately and quickly.

Optimize operations during the low season

Low season doesn't mean there's nothing to do instead, be proactive:

Properly store and care for equipment to avoid damage or loss.
Look for add-on services to maintain cash flow, such as equipment rental or year-round service.
Use Shopify's inventory management tools to track assets, alert on stock levels, and plan your next seasonal cycle.

Seasonal business ideas are creative ways to capitalize on consumer trends, offering flexibility and high profit potential in 2025. Below are 25 ideas compiled by NextSky to help you build a thriving business to meet customer needs and surpass competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Seasonal Businesses Profitable?

Yes, seasonal businesses can be highly profitable, especially during peak times. For example, a snow removal service can charge anywhere from $50 to $200 per job, leading to significant income during the winter months. The key to long-term sustainability lies in minimizing costs during the off season, such as pausing services, downsizing storage, or switching to low-overhead marketing, to ensure profits don’t get eaten up when demand drops.

How can Ecommerce enhance a seasonal business?

Going online is one of the smartest ways to extend your earning window. With a Shopify store, especially when paired with high-performing NextSky themes, you can:

Start accepting pre-orders before your peak season hits
Offer gift cards, subscriptions, or seasonal bundles
Keep selling online even when your physical operations pause

This approach not only boosts visibility but also builds a loyal customer base that returns year after year.

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Tony Pham

Hello! I'm Tony Pham, a full-stack Shopify, Magento, and WordPress developer with over 12 years of experience in both front-end and back-end development.

Since 2016, I have been proudly working at Nextsky as the Tech Lead, where I continue to enhance my skills and contribute to exciting projects. One of my proudest works is the Agile theme, which passed Shopify's high standard and is currently available on Shopify Theme Store.

I am passionate about researching new technologies and staying updated with the latest trends in the industry. It not only makes my life more fulfilling and exciting but also allows me to bring better service to clients.