Seasonal Winter Jobs:
Working for Yourself

Looking for seasonal winter jobs but not interested or old enough to be an employee? Or maybe you need something a little more flexible? Then working for yourself might be the best answer! Fall and winter can provide great options for doing just that.

Some winter jobs can actually be started in the fall as daylight begins to fade faster and school gets into full swing. Consider these options.

• Landscaping help: Help with all those fall maintenance jobs that just aren't as fun as planting blooming flowers in the sprint. Clear out flower beds from the summer plantings, put down winter fertlizer or plant tulip bulbs for next spring. And, of course, you can rake leaves! Consider using the leaves to start a compost pile for the homeowner (with their consent) for great natural fertilizer in the spring.


• Homework helper: With school is back in full swing, parents might find they need help managing kids' homework (along with all the other activities). This can be a combination of babysitting and tutoring after school - especially helpful for parents who work or who have several kids in school.
• Dog walker: With the days getting shorter and colder, it can be hard for people to get a full walk in for their dogs. offer your services after school to get the walk in during the daylight. people who might not have opted for this in the warmer weather may find this a great option in the winter (and decide to keep it going!).

Some winter jobs are tied to the holiday needs and rush, others aren't. You can also combine jobs over the course of winter to fit your likes and schedule the best. Our ideas can work alone or in combination.

• Basic weatherproofing: This requires some basic handyman skills but nothing really specialized. Think about the basic home maintenance that can be hard for busy homeowners to get to - and make your list! Customers can pick and choose from the list which things they need help with. Consider adding weather stripping or draft-blocking plastic on particularly drafty windows. You can also caulk around leaky doorframes and windows.
• Gift wrapping: Many retail stores hand out boxes but don't offer wrapping services anymore. Set up your own wrapping service! People love nicely wrapped packages but struggle to find time to get all the supplies and do the wrapping - especially when there can be so many packages.
• Errand runner: Time can be in short supply anytime of year but the holidays seem worse. Set up an errand service (it works best if you can drive) to handle basic errands for customers. This can include basic groceries and dry cleaning drop off and pick up. For busy families, this can be an invaluable service - which just might turn into a year-round job!

These are just some of the many ideas to get you started. Need more ideas for seasonal winter jobs - or maybe ones where you work for someone else? Or maybe some help in advertising? Check out these resources.

• More winter job ideas: More job ideas for the season!
• Advertising your own business: Got a great business idea but no customers? You need to advertise. Get started with our tips on advertising.
• Winter jobs working for someone else: Wondering what options might be out there if you wanted to work for an employer? Check out this list.