As the holiday season approaches, you’ll find numerous gift guides flooding the internet. But there’s a noticeable gap when it comes to gift ideas for the individuals who dedicate themselves to their businesses year-round— entrepreneurs.
While tangible products have their place, what entrepreneurs truly value extends beyond material possessions. Take a new approach to your Friendsgiving or Christmas gathering with this list of 15 thoughtful holiday gift ideas for entrepreneurs, along with suggestions to make the gifting process easier. If you just happen to be the self-employed in this equation, use this to build your entrepreneur’s holiday wish list.
1. Books for Professional Development
When it comes to knowledge, you could never have enough. Gift your entrepreneur friend books to help with their personal and professional development goals.
2. Branding or Graphic Design Package
If they’re just getting started or in the process of a hard reset, refined brand messaging and digital assets will be essential. Purchase a branding or graphic design package to help them jumpstart the process.
3. Business Courses and Education
Experience is the best teacher, but there’s nothing like being a student of the game. Purchase that business course they can’t stop talking about to help grow their practices and expertise.
4. Business Registration Fees
The initial startup costs for businesses can add up quickly. Alleviate some of the costs by offering to pay for the registration, license, permit, or certification needed to legally operate their businesses.
5. Business Consultation
At some point, your entrepreneur friend has expressed the need to start something new or outsource services. Offer to invest in a business consultation with the professional they’re looking to work with.
6. Co-Working Space Day Pass
For remote entrepreneurs, working at home every single day can call for a change of scenery. Rent a room for the day at a local co-working office that has a view or plenty of attractions and restaurants in the vicinity.
- Feathernest CoLearning Group – Las Vegas, NV
- The Culture Collab + Memphis, TN
7. Event Registration Fee
You’ve likely heard your entrepreneur friend speak about an event or a room they would love to be in to grow their business and network. Surprise them with a new experience by gifting tickets to an upcoming conference, summit, or expo that aligns with their goals and industry.
8. Insurance
Whether brick-and-mortar or remote, every entrepreneur needs business insurance for liability purposes. Surprise your friend by paying for the insurance premium for a month or two.
9. Intellectual Property Protection
Don’t let your friend start that business and lose it because it’s not legally protected. Offer to pay for or contribute to protecting their intellectual property through federally registered trademarks, copyrights, and business contracts.
10. Membership Fees
There are many professional membership organizations and communities that your entrepreneur friend would likely love to join. Pay their annual membership dues or cover the renewal fee to support their professional growth.
11. Photoshoot/Content Session
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and in this digital era, having quality photos and headshots is key. Help your entrepreneur friends set the tone for the new year with a branding photoshoot or content session at a local studio.
12. Professional Business Services
Has your entrepreneur friend mentioned needing a publicist? Hiring a bookkeeper to keep track of finances? A virtual assistant to handle delegated tasks? Offer to pay for a month of those services.
- Regan Farley, Publicist
- Brittany Johnson, The SOULpreneur Empire – VA + Consulting Agency
13. Professional Cleaning Services
For those who are friends with entrepreneurs who haven’t quite mastered balance and need a little help around the house, hire a professional cleaning services company. Treat them to deep home cleaning, organizing, car detailing, or laundry services. Simple gestures that benefit their lives at home go a long way.
- Sole Organizer [Maryland]
- Moms Do It Best Cleaning Company [Georgia]
14. Subscriptions
The monthly subscriptions to the countless apps, software, and programs needed to run a business can go into the thousands as it grows. Give your entrepreneur friend an annual subscription to one of their most-used or must-have apps or programs.
15. Wellness Day
If you’ve seen the “behind-the-scenes” life of an entrepreneur before, you know how rough it can get when they’re in the trenches. Treat them to a wellness day with massages, spas, or salon trips.
- Salon Journey – Upper Marlboro, MD
- Glam House Oakland – Oakland, CA
- Pearl Salon Suites – Atlanta, GA
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