Christmas Side Hustles 2025

20 seasonal money-making opportunities to earn $500-2000+ during the holiday season.

🎄 Peak Earning Season: November - January

Holiday Season Timeline

When to start each Christmas side hustle for maximum earnings

🍂
October

Early Prep

  • • Seasonal retail hiring
  • • Holiday product sourcing
  • • Service business setup
🦃
November

Season Starts

  • • Black Friday prep
  • • Decorating begins
  • • Delivery surge starts
🎄
December

Peak Season

  • • Gift wrapping peaks
  • • Last-minute shopping
  • • Maximum earning potential
🎊
January

Wind Down

  • • Decoration removal
  • • Return season
  • • New Year parties

20 Best Christmas Side Hustles for 2025

1

Gift Wrapping Services

HIGH DEMAND
Pay: $15-30/hour
Season: Dec 15-24
Total Earnings: $500-1500
Setup Cost: $50-100

Offer professional gift wrapping at malls, offices, or from home. Peak demand during last 2 weeks before Christmas.

How to Start: Create sample portfolio → Contact local businesses → Set up booth at malls → Offer pickup/delivery service
2

Holiday Decorating Services

PREMIUM RATES
Pay: $25-75/hour
Season: Nov 15-Dec 15
Total Earnings: $1000-3000
Setup Cost: $200-500

Install indoor/outdoor Christmas decorations for busy homeowners and businesses. Premium service with high hourly rates.

Services Include: Light installation, tree setup, garland hanging, window displays, yard decorations, takedown service in January
3

Seasonal Delivery Driving

SURGE PAY
Pay: $18-35/hour
Season: Nov 1-Dec 31
Total Earnings: $800-2500
Setup Cost: $0

Holiday surge pricing on DoorDash, Amazon Flex, Instacart. 20-50% higher pay during peak shopping times.

Peak Times: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Dec 15-24, New Year's Eve - surge pricing can double normal rates
4

Christmas Tree Sales

Pay: $2000-8000 total
Season: Nov 25-Dec 23
Total Earnings: $2000-8000
Setup Cost: $1000-3000

Set up Christmas tree lot or partner with existing lots. High-profit margin seasonal business.

Options: Buy trees wholesale → Rent lot space → Work for established lot (15-20% commission) → Door-to-door delivery service
5

Holiday Event Photography

Pay: $100-400 per event
Season: Nov 1-Jan 15
Total Earnings: $1000-4000
Setup Cost: $500-2000

Capture holiday parties, family photos, corporate events. High demand for professional holiday memories.

Services: Company holiday parties, family Christmas photos, New Year events, Christmas card photos, Santa photos
6

Holiday Pet Sitting

Pay: $25-75 per day
Season: Dec 20-Jan 5
Total Earnings: $500-1500
Setup Cost: $0-50

Pet owners travel for holidays - premium rates for Christmas and New Year pet care services.

Premium Services: Holiday boarding, daily visits, dog walking, pet taxi service - rates increase 50-100% during holidays
7

Seasonal Retail Work

Pay: $12-20/hour
Season: Nov 1-Jan 15
Total Earnings: $1000-2500
Setup Cost: $0

Temporary holiday positions at major retailers. Many offer employee discounts and flexible scheduling.

Top Employers: Target, Walmart, Amazon warehouses, UPS, FedEx, Best Buy, Macy's - most hiring starts in October
8

Holiday Baking & Treats

Pay: 200-400% markup
Season: Nov 15-Dec 31
Total Earnings: $500-2000
Setup Cost: $100-300

Custom Christmas cookies, holiday cakes, gift baskets. Home-based business with high profit margins.

Popular Items: Decorated sugar cookies ($3-5 each), custom cakes ($50-200), gift baskets ($25-100), fudge/candy ($20-40/lb)
9

Snow Removal Services

Pay: $25-75 per driveway
Season: Dec 1-Mar 15
Total Earnings: $500-3000
Setup Cost: $100-500

Shovel driveways and walkways during winter storms. Premium emergency rates during heavy snow.

Services: Residential shoveling, commercial lots, ice treatment, seasonal contracts - rates double during major storms
10

Personal Shopping Services

Pay: $20-50/hour + 10% commission
Season: Nov 15-Dec 24
Total Earnings: $800-2000
Setup Cost: $0-100

Shop for busy professionals' holiday gifts. Combine with gift wrapping for premium service package.

Premium Package: Personal consultation → Shopping → Gift wrapping → Delivery. Charge $50-100/hour for full service

10 More Christmas Side Hustles

11. Holiday House Sitting

$30-75/night | Dec 20-Jan 5 | $500-1200 total

12. New Year's Event Services

$20-60/hour | Dec 30-Jan 1 | $200-600 per event

13. Holiday Craft Sales

200-500% markup | Nov-Dec | $300-1500 total

14. Christmas Music Gigs

$100-500 per gig | Dec 1-31 | $500-2000 total

15. Holiday Cleaning Services

$30-60/hour | Dec 26-Jan 15 | $600-1800

16. Santa/Character Appearances

$50-200/hour | Dec 1-24 | $500-2400

17. Holiday Tutoring

$20-40/hour | Dec break | $300-800

18. Gift Card Exchanges

5-20% profit | Year-round | $200-1000

19. Holiday Travel Services

$25-75/hour | Dec 20-Jan 5 | $500-1500

20. Post-Holiday Organization

$25-50/hour | Jan 2-31 | $400-1200

Christmas Side Hustle Earning Potential

💡 Casual Approach (5-10 hrs/week)

Gift wrapping (weekend): $300/month
Holiday delivery (10 hrs/week): $400/month
Pet sitting (5 bookings): $250/month
Holiday Season Total: $950

🚀 Active Approach (15-25 hrs/week)

Holiday decorating (20 hrs/week): $1,200/month
Seasonal delivery (15 hrs/week): $750/month
Gift wrapping service: $600/month
Holiday Season Total: $2,550

⚡ Intensive Approach (30+ hrs/week)

Christmas tree sales: $4,000 total
Holiday decorating business: $2,000/month
Event photography: $1,500/month
Holiday Season Total: $7,500

How to Get Started This Season

October Action Plan

  • 1. Choose 2-3 services that match your skills and schedule
  • 2. Apply for seasonal retail jobs - hiring starts now
  • 3. Set up business profiles on TaskRabbit, Nextdoor, social media
  • 4. Buy initial supplies for gift wrapping, decorating, or baking
  • 5. Create sample work for photography, decorating portfolios

November Launch Strategy

  • 1. Start marketing services on local Facebook groups, Nextdoor
  • 2. Book first clients for decorating services in early November
  • 3. Register for delivery apps to take advantage of holiday surge
  • 4. Network with event planners for photography opportunities
  • 5. Stock up on wrapping supplies before demand increases prices

December Peak Season

  • 1. Work maximum hours during Dec 15-24 peak period
  • 2. Offer emergency services at premium rates last-minute
  • 3. Partner with businesses for employee gift wrapping
  • 4. Focus on high-demand areas - malls, shopping centers
  • 5. Plan January services - decoration removal, organization

January Wind-Down

  • 1. Offer decoration removal services at $25-50/hour
  • 2. Help with organization and post-holiday cleaning
  • 3. Collect customer testimonials for next year's marketing
  • 4. Plan improvements based on this season's experience
  • 5. Start building year-round client relationships

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Christmas side hustles for 2025?

Best Christmas side hustles include gift wrapping services ($15-30/hour), holiday decorating ($25-50/hour), seasonal delivery driving (surge pay), Christmas tree sales, holiday event photography, and selling holiday products online.

How much can you earn from Christmas side hustles?

Christmas side hustles can earn $500-2000+ during the holiday season. Gift wrappers earn $500-1500, decorators make $1000-3000, delivery drivers see 20-50% higher pay, and seasonal retail workers earn $1000-2500.

When should I start Christmas side hustles?

Start Christmas side hustles in October-November. Holiday decorating begins in November, gift wrapping peaks December 15-24, delivery driving surges November-December, and seasonal retail hiring starts October.

Do Christmas side hustles require special skills?

Many Christmas side hustles require minimal skills: delivery driving (valid license), gift wrapping (basic wrapping ability), holiday retail (customer service), and dog sitting (pet experience). Some like decorating benefit from creativity.

Which Christmas side hustles have the highest earning potential?

Highest earning Christmas side hustles: Christmas tree sales ($2000-8000), holiday decorating business ($1000-3000), event photography ($1000-4000), and premium gift services ($800-2000). These require more setup but offer the best returns.

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