I own a small business that can really only be done in the warm weather months as it is outdoor entertainment. My full time job is burning me out and I’d like to move on from it, but need some winter and spring work to supplement my income. My wife makes pretty good money, so I really just need to match what I’m making now.
If you’re logical and have good self control learning to be better than a big portion of poker players can be a nice added income. It takes time to learn the game but it’s a great way to burn some hours. If you only play to gamble…well then you’ll be supplying someone else’s supplemental income ;)
Or you can start plowing snow for everyone.
Hunting Guide/Fishing Guide would be my dream job. You can make about $800-1000/day for Crappie fishing during the winter months if your area doesn’t freeze over.
Got a boat? Know how to fish Crappie? Can you get a USCG Captain’s license?
I run a small agricultural operation, so stockpiling in one season and burning through it in the other is just part of the business cycle. I just budget across the calendar year instead of monthly or quarterly.
What’s your summer skill set?
Can it be used in the opposite hemisphere during their summer season?
I used to work as a surf instructor and beach lifeguard in the UK. We all used to bugger off to Australia during the UK winter to chase the sun and make more money.
I own a swimming pool company, in my office season I work on infrastructure for the next year mixed with some vacation time as my summers are too busy to take a break. Take the down time to strengthen yourself and your company for the next year. You will make more during your next season to supplement the loss of downtime over the winter.
Are pools the kind of thing you can repair or upgrade in the offseason near you? I can imagine a climate range where you could do landscaping or deck resurfacing or something like that but it’s still too cold to actually be swimming.
Anyway, ignore me, just a random internet stranger thought.
I don’t own a seasonal business, but the ones I’ve worked with use the time to do all the “business” stuff they don’t have time for during the busy season. Lots of marketing collateral created, plans made, training, inventory, maintenance and repairs, that kind of thing. Although I knew one guy who had an ice cream shop in the summer and converted it into a soup shop in the winter. Made an absolute killing, retired at 50 to Florida. I like to imagine he sells ice cream year-round now.
And maybe soup! Old people love soup and Florida is full of them!