Gift guide
Know someone starting a service business?
A business kit is a practical gift. At checkout, Gumroad lets you send it to their email as a gift, so there’s nothing to ship. There’s a free card to print and hand over on the day.
Holiday season 2026
The holiday season for a home service business
Six things that bring in work and money from November to mid-January, and set up next year. Each one links to a free tool or guide, and to the kit if you want everything ready-made.
- 6 things to do
- 3 free calculators
- 12 free guides
Dates
Dates to plan around
- ThanksgivingFill the week before with pre-holiday cleans and yard work.
- Black FridayAnnounce your gift certificates.
- Small Business SaturdayRemind local customers you sell gift certificates.
- Cyber Monday
- Christmas EveLast day to sell gift certificates for Christmas.
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s DayPrice changes and 2027 plans take effect.
- Estimated tax paymentThe IRS due date for the fourth 2026 estimated tax payment.
The plan
Six things to do this season
Pick the ones that fit your trade. The links go to free tools and guides first.
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1 · Early November to Dec 24
Sell gift certificates
A house clean, a car detail or a spring lawn package makes a gift people can’t buy in a shop. You’re paid in December, and the person who uses it comes recommended by a customer you already have.
- Pick amounts that match real jobs, not round numbers.
- Number every certificate and log it when it’s sold and used.
- Check your state’s rules on expiration dates and fees before you print.
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2 · November to mid-December
Offer a holiday clean
Offer a one-off deep clean for before the guests arrive. Quote it from your own time and supplies, put what’s included in writing, and ask happy one-off customers if they’d like a regular visit in January.
- Price the job from your hours and supplies, not a competitor’s flyer.
- Write down what’s included, room by room.
- At the end of the visit, offer a regular slot.
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3 · Installs in November, take-down in January
Add Christmas light installation
If lawn care, pressure washing or handyman work slows down in winter, hanging holiday lights uses the ladders, truck and customers you already have. Quote install and take-down together, and say in writing who owns the lights.
- Price per foot by height, plus a fee per job for the two visits.
- Decide whether you lease the lights or hang the customer’s own.
- Write the take-down date into the agreement.
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4 · Sign before the first storm
Sign snow removal contracts
Sign seasonal contracts before the first storm. Price a push from your own minutes, miles and winter costs, offer a seasonal price with a cap, and plan the storm-day route before you need it.
- Price one push from your time and miles, then add depth tiers.
- Set a seasonal price with a cap on the number of pushes.
- Plan the route in order of who needs to be clear first.
Free guides
Ready-made
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5 · December to Jan 15
Close the year’s books
Catch up the year’s income, expenses and miles while the work is quiet, and set money aside for taxes. The fourth 2026 estimated tax payment is due on January 15, 2027.
- Match every deposit to a job and every expense to a receipt.
- Add up business miles from your log.
- Work out what to set aside before the January 15 payment.
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6 · Late December
Plan 2027 and set new prices
Use the quiet weeks to set targets for next year and review your prices. If your costs went up, tell customers in writing at least 30 days before a January price change.
- Set a revenue target and the number of jobs it takes.
- Check each price against what the job costs you now.
- Send a short price increase letter, then a reminder.