The turn of the season marks a change in goal setting, buying habits, and media consumption; leverage these changes with unique fall business ideas!
Fall is the perfect time for entrepreneurs to test new business ventures. You’ll have built-in seasonal demand from a range of holidays, coupled with motivated industries after the dreaded “summer slowdown.”
Discover 27 small business ideas that are tailored to both the fall season and a remote work model.
Service-Based Fall Business Ideas
Small business owners or new entrepreneurs can capitalize on fall trends by offering services that match seasonal trends.
1. Pet Services
Offer dog-walking and pet-sitting services to pet owners in need! As the weather cools down, dog walking and holiday pet sitting are in high demand.
Foster a loyal customer base by providing pets with quality care and humans with excellent customer service. You can even offer a loyalty program, with perks like grooming and complimentary walks.
To easily connect with pet owners, consider using Care.com, Rover, or Wag!
2. Tutoring Services
Fall is a busy time for students everywhere, whether it’s for test preparation, college applications, or resume writing. Tutors can share their expertise with students of all ages.
You can also offer specialty services at a premium price, such as SAT prep or higher education coaching.
Ready to jump in? Use Cambly, EF, and Studypool to connect with clients.
3. Fitness Coaching
While many think January signals the month of fitness, there’s another gym boom during the fall season.
Parents and professionals seeking a fall restart may be hunting for a quality personal trainer. You can offer personal training services both online and in-person, helping others meet their fitness goals.
4. Personal + Professional Development
Fall is a great time for a year-end refresh, whether your goals are personal, professional, or both. As folks are prepping for holidays, they may have shifting goals or be seeking new stress management techniques.
You can be of service! Acting as a:
- Wellness coach
- Job coach
- Online dating consultant
Coaching is a good fit for remote work, either through online courses, video calls, or a hybrid model.
5. Freelance Writing
After a slow summer season, freelance work starts to pick up through the fall and winter months. Businesses need high-quality copywriters for seasonal blog posts, newsletter marketing, and online campaigns as they prepare for the holiday season.
Bundle your work with SEO optimization for even more earning potential.
Of course, copywriting isn’t the only type of writing available. You can write resumes, blog posts, social media posts, magazine articles, white papers, and so much more! Use platforms like Fiverr, Problogger, and Upwork to connect with clients.
6. Social Media Management
Upcoming holidays mean businesses will be investing in new marketing campaigns. Be a part of this booming season as a social media manager.
Help businesses market new promotions and prepare for big spending holidays (hello Black Friday!) with carefully curated social media calendars.
Companies like BELAY, LiveWord, ModSquad, and VaVa Virtual Assistants hire independent contractors for these roles.
7. Virtual Styling
Virtual stylists can capitalize on the back-to-school season, as both kids and adults refresh their wardrobes.
Consider selling fall lookbooks, curated fashion boxes, upcycled sweaters, or thrifted bundles based on your clients’ needs.
8. Organization Services
There’s an increased demand for organization and decluttering services before the holidays; most of us could use a bit more structure in preparation for the chaotic season ahead!
Offer virtual or in-person decluttering services, helping your clients build and maintain organization systems that best work for their lifestyle.
9. Seasonal Yardwork
If you prefer physical labor, the colder months provide plenty of outdoor jobs. From raking leaves to outdoor home repair, homeowners need extra assistance through the fall and winter weather.
Depending on your climate, this can also include snow removal, salting sidewalks, and removing ice hazards.
Seasonal Holiday Fall Business Ideas
From Halloween to Thanksgiving, fall is ripe with celebrations (and business opportunities). These seasonal business ideas capitalize on the fall season holidays.
10. Halloween Costume Rental
Renting Halloween costumes can be a profitable side hustle, with customers paying a premium for quality costumes. Costumes will require some initial investments, but they will provide income for years to come.
Rent costumes for kids, adults, and even pets!
11. Virtual Event Planning
The event industry is extra busy in Q4, with holiday events starting as early as October. Provide services as a virtual event planner, organizing:
- Thanksgiving or “Friendsgiving” dinners
- Halloween parties
- Corporate events
- Staff holiday parties
- Fall weddings
12. Seasonal Photography Sessions
Photographers can turn their passion into a profitable venture through family, couple, and even pet photo sessions! Bonus – fall leaves make an amazing backdrop for a fall photoshoot.
Offer seasonal promotions to reach new clients and grow your business.
13. Custom Holiday Cards
If you’re an artist, consider selling custom holiday cards to celebrate the season. Stationery can include greeting cards, table place cards, gift tags, and more.
Etsy is a great place to sell from home and reach a built-in audience looking for handmade goods.
Product-Based Fall Business Ideas
With iconic scents and fall motifs for inspiration, there are endless seasonal products to offer future customers.
14. Themed Gift Boxes
With the holidays ahead, pre-made gift baskets are a great seller. Lean into the trending “boo basket” filled with Halloween goodies, make cozy self-care bundles, or fill a box with classic fall treats.
Looking to expand past fall? Offer seasonal subscription boxes, with themed baskets for each month of the year.
15. Seasonal Body Care
There are plenty of easy skin care recipes available for you to try. Experiment with making your own body butters, lip balms, scrubs, and bath bombs. Opt for nostalgic fall scents like pumpkin spice, apple cider, and chai.
With custom labels, your homemade body care is ready for a craft fair or Etsy shop!
16. Fall Wreaths
Wreathmaking can be a profitable business, with customers paying top dollar for seasonal faux floral creations. Stay up-to-date on the latest fall wreath trends and get creative!
17. Autumn Bakery
Are you a baker with a world-class cookie recipe? Share your goods with your community through a home-based bakery. Prepare seasonal desserts like pumpkin cookies, pecan pie brownies, and apple crisp.
Remember to check the required permits based on your location. Some baked goods are labelled as “low-risk” and can be sold at farmers’ markets without a commercial kitchen.
18. Seasonal Print-on-Demand
A print-on-demand service is a great way to stay on top of seasonal trends. Plus, you won’t have to handle printing or shipping details! Upload your designs with fall motifs or seasonal quotes to be printed on mugs, t-shirts, and more.
For more information, check out this helpful post: How to Start a Print-on-Demand Business From Home.
19. Home Fragrance
Scent is one of the most powerful senses because it’s tied to memory. This is especially true for holiday scents that transport us to moments of comfort, family, and celebration. You can make and sell fall home fragrances that bring on these memories with scents of pumpkin spice, caramel apple, cedarwood, and clove.
Try making candles, wax melts, room sprays, or linen sprays.
20. DIY Craft Kits
Cozy season = crafting season! Sell DIY craft kits with everything someone needs to create a work of art. Ideas include crochet kits, macrame, scrapbooking, embroidery, and more.
21. Fall Kids Activity Kits
Activity kids are great for keeping little ones busy during holiday dinners or on rainy weekends.
Create printable or physical activity kits for kids, including games, crafts, scavenger hunts, and whatever else you dream up!
22. Handmade Crafts
If you’re a cozy crafter yourself, you can start a profitable side hustle by making and selling your handmade goods. From knitting to jewelry, there’s a big market for thoughtfully made, giftable items.
Content Creation Fall Business Ideas
Content creation could be the best small business idea for you; it offers minimal startup costs and plenty of creative freedom.
23. Ambient Videos
Looking to find a niche market in the entertainment space? Consider ambient videos on TikTok, Instagram reels, and YouTube. These cozy videos include soothing sounds and corresponding visuals. From ASMR to lo-fi compilations, you have plenty of creative (and monetizable) options.
While this may sound unconventional, your target audience will love it.
24. Fall Printables
Creative small businesses can make seasonal printables for events, crafting, home decor, and more. The best part? This can become a passive income source through repeat sales.
25. Seasonal Blog or Newsletter
Writers should consider writing blog content or regular emails as a fun income source. Write on seasonal topics, include SEO content, and consider monetization opportunities as you grow.
26. Fall Recipes + Meal Plans
One of the best online business ideas is to create seasonal ebooks or meal plans. Include fall-inspired recipes that make folks want to get in the kitchen. Then, enjoy a passive income source for years to come.
27. Digital Journal Series
An interactive journaling series is a unique way to earn extra money. Provide subscribers with daily journaling prompts, inspirational content, and immersive extras, like custom playlists.
Final Thoughts on Fall Business Ideas
These fall business ideas are ideal for anyone looking to capitalize on seasonal holidays and consumer trends. And with the proper planning, you can transform your fall-time side hustle into a year-round business!
It’s also worth noting that the average person’s productivity rises by 32% in October, making now the perfect time to launch your fall business, according to Inc.
Ready to jump in? Grab this free business plan template, and get to work!
