When you think of the summer season, you think of the outdoors. In fact, my mind takes me to the beach. We want to go outside and have fun right? But what about making money? I know all of us to want that too, so I want to share some summer business ideas to help you get started.
Whether you want to call it small business ideas or seasonal business ideas, if you put in the work, these can provide supplemental income and put a smile on your face. In fact, it can even turn into a full-time income. Small business owners know this.
One might be the perfect business idea that resonates with you. During the summer months when we have warm weather, you might not be busy. Take advantage of the ideas, whether this summer or the next and make some extra money. (Of course, you should ensure that you gain the knowledge and requirements to offer the service(s), if applicable).
If you always dream to start your own business, or doing your own thing, then continue reading.
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Summer Business Idea Tips
So before we go into the list of summer business ideas, here are some summer business tips that might be very helpful to you. Don’t overlook these but ensure you make note of them! These can truly bring value to your new venture.
- Plan before you execute – Planning can eliminate a lot of mistakes and mishaps. Things always work out a lot smoother when you plan. Yea, sometimes plans may change, but my thing is, It’s always better to be prepared than not.
- Know who your potential customers are – So guys, you have to know who you’ll be approaching or selling your goods/services to. It just makes sense. You cannot start a business until you know who your customers are and where to find them.
- Create business cards – Having a business card wherever you go makes it easy to promote your brand/services. You can even create these yourself using Canva, my all-time favorite design tool. Walk with your cards wherever you go and just leave them with a few people. You might be surprised to know how many people give you a call from doing that.
- Create social media pages – I know you’ll agree that social media is taking the world by storm. It will help a great deal if you have a social media presence and cultivate interactions. Don’t be afraid to connect with influencers as well!
- Word-of-mouth promotion is your best friend – Ok listen, open your mouth and tell everyone, I repeat, tell everyone. You do not know how far information will go just by word-of-mouth advertisement.
- Get proper business tools and gears – Depending on the venture you choose, ensure you get the proper gears and tools to carry out your tasks. Safety should also be taken into consideration.
- Be professional – People love doing business with people who are professional. Always be ethical and exude professionalism at all times. That’s the standard.
- Provide referral incentives (discounts) – So when you’ve acquired a new customer, offer them a discount on their next time using your service if they refer someone they know. It’s a good way to increase your customer base.
- Have an ‘above and beyond’ mindset – Do not lose your customers (the worst). Give good service, and go above and beyond so that they’ll return.
Ensure you make note of these summer business ideas tips.
Ok, moving along…
List of Summer Business Ideas
1. Gardening
Who doesn’t like seeing a yard full of beautiful flowers?
A beautiful landscape with flowers really does something to yard space. It adds to the ambiance, you know.
Homeowners look around all the time for gardeners who can plow, weed, and plant flowers around the house or in a garden. New homeowners are excited to get this done as well. To start your gardening business, ensure you have the proper gardening equipment and showcase a little experience you may have. If it’s even gardening work you’ve done around your own home.
To get the word out, you could leave your business card with people, tell your friends and family about your new business, and have a presence on social media. Also, get on sites like Taskrabbit, Flexoffers, handyman, and others to list your services.
2. Remodeling Contractor/Handyman
In the summer (and warmer times), people are more likely to do home renovations or remodeling.
Of course, It’s not unusual to be strolling around the neighborhood and see a bunch of renovations occurring in the summer season. To get a piece of the pie ($$$) you can help homeowners with their various housing needs. Money is there to be made and you can use your skills, knowledge, and expertise to embark on this new business venture.
3. On-call Car Wash Service
This is becoming popular. A lot of people do not want to leave their house to go to a car wash and they’re willing to pay for convenience.
I know you can relate to feeling so cozy in your home that you don’t feel like leaving to go anywhere. Or maybe you’re on the road but don’t even want to stop at the carwash. You can hop on this new business trend and provide car wash services.
Go to your customers with your car wash equipment/products. Ensure you keep a list of your customers and leave your business card. You can even start a referral program where they can refer friends for a small discount.
4. Pool Cleaning Business
Pool cleaning is a great business in the summer. Everyone wants their pools cleaned in order for them and their kids to take a swim, host a pool party, and so on. If you have experience in doing this, then there you go.
It is among the viable summer business ideas you can do as people are literally for pool cleaners.
5. Delivery
To make money, you can start a delivery business. It is a profitable business as people always want things to be delivered. For instance, food or grocery, flowers, gift baskets, gift certificates, home fixtures, and so on.
Yes, there are many delivery services around town, but you would come up with your own unique price, strategy, and perks for using your service.
Tap into this market and make some money over the summer.
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6. Cleaning business
Start a summer business providing cleaning services to individuals who need help cleaning their homes. Busy people, elders, loners, moms, entrepreneurs, etc are sometimes the ones that are actively seeking help around the house.
Housekeeping is something everyone wants for the upkeep of their home. It’s really home maintenance if you ask me. Start in your neighborhood, find out who needs help, and offer the service. Also, ensure you do a fabulous job. Make another appointment with each client before you leave, and there you have it, a rotating business. Now that’s a passive income idea!
I know it’ll be would be greatly appreciated.
7. Event planner
Talk about summer business ideas! An Event Planner is one I cannot leave out. There are so many events happening in the summer and you could make good money from planning these events.
Link with some venues, connect with the owners/managers and begin to network. Ensure you have photos of work you’ve already done or successful events you’ve been a part of in the past.
8. Face Painter (at events)
Offer your services as a face painter and get booked for events. There are so many events happening over the summer holidays. Kids’ parties, fun days, park activities, etc. You can even do a pop-up face painter (With permission if required).
Face painting services are adored by children and are a very fun way to express oneself. Get your items together, state your rate, create a social media account to promote yourself, and start taking bookings.
9. Plumber
Do not underestimate the amount of money you can make by offering plumbing services. If you are certified in the area and have mastered your craft, then offer your services and make some extra money on the side. You can even partner with Contractors who are ideally involved in home remodeling. They can assist in getting clients who need plumbers.
We all need plumbing services one way or another.
10. AC Technician
Just imagine on one of those hot days your air conditioner decides to stop working.
Unfortunate right?
Well, what do you know….you could be the person they call to fix it! Let’s face it, it is an essential thing to have in the summer, and quite of few people experience something like this in the summer, so it’s a really good business to start and make some money for yourself.
Make the most of these summer business ideas
11. Lifeguard
Think about it, the beach, pool parties, hotels, water parks, etc all want to ensure they have a lifeguard present. Sometimes people are having private parties and also want a lifeguard. If you can swim, are certified, or have lifeguard duties experience, you can do these private services and make money.
12. Picnic services
Ever seen those beautiful picnics with board platters, fancy food, utensils, a gorgeous setup, cushions, looking all exquisite and such?
How about you start a business and offer that kind of service? You can create packages for customers to choose from and have them decide where they would want their picnic to b. It can be at a public park, in their backyard, by a lake, by the beach, (you get the point).
13. Dance lessons
Among the list of summer business ideas that will definitely make you some extra money is hosting dance lessons. If you can dance and you see a demand to learn (trust me there is), then you can do this.
Many people would pay to learn the latest dance moves or even basic dance moves. Some want to learn how to dance salsa and other fun and unique choreography. I see many persons these days capitalizing on this so ensure you do too.
14. Ice-cream Truck
I know you’ve heard the sound of an ice cream truck in and around your neighborhood before. Who can resist ice cream? Better question, who doesn’t like ice cream? The majority does.
It’s a good business to start and on hot days, eating ice cream hits different!
15. Food truck
The food truck business is a great way to sell food wherever, and whenever. The fact that you can be here today and another location tomorrow is fascinating and opens the door of opportunity to meet different customers.
So you want to offer great food, and excellent service, acquire customers as well as retain the ones you already have.
To operate an ice cream or a food truck, ensure you do your due diligence and get the proper permit, registration, and all you need to get started.
Summer business Ideas for Students
Below are ideas for students/kids/teens who want to make money on the holidays. Of course, your parents will be responsible for the operations and guide you through the process. If you are searching for any of these below, then read more.
- Summer business ideas for 11-year-olds
- Good summer business ideas for high school students
- Summer business ideas for 12-year-olds
- Great summer business ideas for teens
16. Lemonade Stand
How about making and selling some freshly squeezed lemonade?
The summer is hot and who doesn’t like a cool refreshing lemonade on a hot day? I love making lemonade at home. Sell these and make a few bucks over the summer.
17. Make and Sell Beaded Jewelry.
Kids and teens can make and sell beaded jewelry such as bracelets and necklaces. This can be sold on Etsy, social media platforms or to family and friends. You may buy materials from Amazon.
18. Create Personalized Mugs
So since everything is on YouTube, parents can assist their kids in buying and creating personalized mugs to sell. You don’t even have to use the well-known Cricut to do this. You can go a more affordable way and use waterslide decals. They are affordable and easy to slide on cups. As mentioned, it’s all on YouTube.
19. Sell Cookies
Parents can help their kids to bake and sell cookies on certain days of the week. Take orders from family and friends, bake, sell and make money!
20. Make and Sell Keyrings
Students, you can make and sell trendy keyrings that everyone uses and loves. It’s a common accessory and can put a few bucks in your pockets.
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Summer Business Ideas Concluded
So there you have it, 20 profitable summer business ideas you can start and earn money. You might opt to do this all year round as some of them definitely can. These are great entrepreneurship ideas and I know everyone can find something on this list. Perhaps you already have a small business (eg a local grocery store) but need some new ideas to make additional income.
Having a business on the side or side hustle is a good goal to have as it can change your life. You would want the startup cost to be low and affordable for you. Think about the product/service you want to offer and start making plans. Put your pen to paper and get to work. As I mentioned before, these jobs can be done in the summer and some of them all year round. Make it work for you. Good luck!
