13 Business Ideas for Summer – Small Business Trends

With summer fast approaching, it’s time to think about potential business ideas that might work for the season. Summer tends to be a better time to start a new business because people are more likely to spend money on seasonal businesses and new ventures. This article will explore how to get started with a small business idea that you can launch in the summer.
What is a summer company?
A summer business refers to local businesses that primarily operate during the summer season or have the majority of their revenue earned during the summer months.
READ MORE: 3 tips for running a successful seasonal business – all year round!
Why You Should Start Your Own Business This Summer
Summer can be a great time to brainstorm and pitch small business ideas for beginners because there’s a lot of potential for success with summer business ideas. Here are a few reasons to consider starting your own summer business:
- Revenue: Summer business ideas can lead to a lucrative seasonal business for extra income.
- Hiring is easier: You can get extra help for your business more efficiently by hiring a local student or students for a summer job where they can earn extra money.
- Funding: You can get a small business loan based on your ideas for the summer months and start a business with more capital.
- Take advantage of the warm weather: With so many tourists and people traveling during the season, you have a wider target market for your business idea.
Best Summer Seasonal Business Ideas
There are many great small business ideas you can consider when starting your own business. You can build a profitable business based on the needs of the area, what tourists/travelers are looking for, and other seasonal factors that lead to high demand for particular services or products. We’ll look at some of the best business ideas to get you started
1. A pool cleaning company
A great business idea is to offer pool maintenance and other services to area pool owners, especially in the summer when pools are used more often. Most pool owners are looking for extra help during the summer, which makes it easier for customers to enter.
2. Summer camps
A summer camp is a great idea for small business owners looking for a purely seasonal activity. A summer camp can be a lucrative business idea to keep kids busy and having fun during their summer vacation. You can rent sports equipment and plan other activities to keep the kids busy while creating a cool summer experience for them.
3. Trade in souvenirs
If you are looking for a low cost business idea, starting a small souvenir business may be right for you. It is relatively inexpensive to buy inexpensive souvenir items wholesale, and you can set up a small store during the summer as a flexible business model.
4. Planning and setting up local events
For areas with many local events during the summer, you can offer event planning and/or setup services. This could include planning the event itself, from start to set up on the day. Depending on the business opportunity and available resources, this may also involve staging events, including transportation, equipment set-up, tear-down, etc.
5. A food company
Food businesses are a great summer business idea that tends to become popular, especially when it comes to cold foods quickly. If you are looking to make a small investment rather than starting a restaurant, consider starting a food truck such as an ice cream truck. Costs are relatively lower and food trucks have an easier to manage business structure. You can find more information online, including whether a business license is needed and how to start your own ice cream truck business.
6. Open a local retail store
Seasonal retail stores, like a local grocery store, could be an easy business to start in the summer, especially if the surrounding area lacks options to create more customer opportunities for seasonal items.
READ MORE: How to use seasonal products to increase sales
7. Start a Farmer’s Market
If your area is known for local produce and produce, or if residents are in need of fresh produce, you can start a small local organic farmers market by working together. The Farmer’s Market could operate by renting space and become a weekly event. It can be a great way to make residents and tourists more aware of what the area has to offer and a way for residents to access fresh produce.
8. Original craftsmanship and art
Special skills such as arts and crafts are another avenue to earn money during the summer. For example, you can create a quirky arts and crafts store and sell your products with relatively low start-up costs for materials and products. Selling arts and crafts is a perfect business idea for female entrepreneurs looking to monetize their formal education and skills. You can also hold one-day workshops and events to teach kids, as it’s a great way to earn money and keep the kids busy during the summer months.
More summer business ideas for students and entrepreneurs
If you’re looking for more business ideas, here are some other ideas for small businesses that do well in the warmer months.
9. Photography business
If you are looking for extra income, a photography business can help you generate money. This could include working with commercial clients such as local businesses or photographing events such as weddings and graduations.
10. Transportation Services
If transportation is lacking in your area, consider a company where you could offer transportation services. Services could include taxis for personal trips and group trips, bus transportation from area to area, or ride-sharing services for busy summer months.
11. Car wash business
Car wash services are great for the summer months because it’s easy to buy all the tools without spending a lot of money upfront. You can start by offering car wash services to locals and neighbors and expand into the area based on demand.
12. Mini-golf course
If you are looking for something quirky or unique, consider starting a miniature golf course. For example, you can create a pop-up golf course for the summer or rent space and start your own business designing a permanent mini-golf course. Create fun marketing materials for the course to attract customers and offer summer deals to generate more business.
13. Cleaning services
Cleaning services are in demand all year round and are easy to get started if you know how to get cheap, quality cleaning products. A cleaning business can include house cleaning, business or office cleaning, window washing, and even landscaping services for cleaning lawns and gardens.
Which businesses thrive in the summer?
Many businesses make money during the summer, especially when positioned as summer businesses. These include:
- Cold food trucks such as ice cream
- pool cleaning company
- summer camps
- Souvenir shops
Which company is best for all seasons?
Some options are well suited for a year-round business because they will always attract customers. These businesses could include:
- Grocery or retail stores
- Original craft and art businesses
- Transportation Services
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