Top 10 Winter Business Ideas for 2024
The winter season might seem like a bad time to start a business, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t have to wait for spring to start your next venture — you can start right now!
Whether you’re looking for winter business ideas to start while laid off from a seasonal job or a profitable enterprise that allows you to work in the winter and enjoy your summers off, we’ve got you covered.
There aren’t any Christmas business ideas in this list — we cover those in our article 25 Profitable Christmas Business Ideas. Every suggestion included in this list can keep you busy throughout the winter season.
Let’s dive in.
1| Snow Removal
As a kid you might have shoveled a few driveways to make some extra money for Christmas presents. Why not turn that entrepreneurial spirit into a great business opportunity for the winter months?
All you need to get this business started is an investment in a snow plow and perhaps a trailer to haul it with.
If you have a landscaping business in the summer, snow removal in the winter can be the perfect complimentary business to keep you busy and profitable year round.
2| Sports Equipment Rental
Winter Business Ideas don’t have to involve a major capital investment. If you’re already a winter sports enthusiast with all the toys that go with that, you have a ready made inventory for a great business idea.
Why not consider renting those snow shoes, cross country skis and downhill skis? For active people looking to change up their workout routine, that equipment stored in your shed is a great change of pace for them in the winter months.
3| Winter Home Weatherproofing
Sitting next to a drafty window in the cold winter months isn’t a fun experience. People are always looking for affordable options to make their home warmer and protected from the elements in the winter months.
If you’re skilled at weatherproofing a home, it can be one of the more profitable winter business ideas to consider in 2024.
As long as you have the tools to get going and your own vehicle, you can get this business started in a short period of time.
4| Personal Home Fitness Trainer
Every year around January there are tons of people making the decision to get themselves in better shape. Sure, they can get a membership at the local gym, but that still involves bundling up and venturing out in the cold. While some are okay with that, for others it’s just not that appealing.
If you’re a registered personal trainer why not take the fitness to their door? As a personal home fitness trainer you can make house calls so they never have to dig out that scarf, but they can still work on their fitness goals.
This has the potential to be one of the best winter business ideas because you can easily offer your services all year long as well.
5| Home Cleaning Services
If there’s one entrepreneurial venture for the winter months that just about anyone can take on, it has to be home cleaning services. We’re not saying it’s easy work, but it doesn’t require extensive training.
The biggest expense for this business is cleaning supplies so you have to be careful to consider those costs when setting up your pricing.
You could consider offering promotional offers around Christmas and New Year as a way to get your foot in the door. People are always in need of a little extra help around the busy holiday season.
Once they see what a great service you’re providing, there’s a good chance they’ll hire you on for weekly or monthly cleaning help.
6| Grocery Delivery Service for Seniors
For seniors, trips to the grocery store can be challenging in the winter months. Sure they could use an online delivery service, but there are plenty of seniors that are a bit intimidated by the internet age.
That’s where you come in.
You can provide the same convenience of door to door grocery delivery without the need to navigate the world wide web. With an aging population, there are tons of potential clients for this kind of winter business.
7| Online Specialty Hot Chocolate Winter Business Ideas
Winter business ideas don’t have to involve you heading out into the cold. Starting an online business is another great option.
Why not start a specialty hot chocolate business? People love a hot mug of thick, creamy chocolate on a cold winter night. If you have your own homemade hot chocolate recipe why not share it with the world?
You can offer traditional hot chocolate or experiment adding unique ingredients such as peppermint and cinnamon to spice things up. There are tons of possibilities!
8| Firewood Sales
There’s nothing quite like a traditional fireplace to warm you up when the temperatures drop below zero. Somebody has to supply the wood for those fireplaces, why not you?
If you have a large property with a wood stockpile you can quickly turn that into a lucrative solopreneur business this winter.
Advertise your firewood sales on Facebook marketplace and drop off some fliers around town. Once you gain some momentum with this business, it can be a great money maker for years to come.
9| Sleigh Rides
One of my fondest memories was a horse drawn sleigh ride on my uncle’s farm many years ago when I was about as tall as my mom’s knee. Those were definitely simpler times. Every time I see a horse it brings back those fond memories.
If you’re lucky enough to own a horse and sleigh, why not turn it into a profit center? You can still use it for creating family memories and provide the same opportunity to tons of other families as well.
A sleigh ride business is a great way to make some extra cash in the winter months.
10| Boat and Trailer Storage
Do you have a large empty barn that doesn’t get a lot of use when the snow starts to fly? People are always in search of places to store their boats and trailers. Talk about passive income opportunity!
Consider renting out that empty space for storage for the winter. Keep in mind, you will need extra insurance to protect yourself and your clients if they don’t have insurance themselves. Make sure you look into this before starting your boat and trailer storage business.
