5 Tips to Help You Prepare Your Small Business for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is one of the busiest and most profitable times of the year for small businesses. No matter what your business, planning ahead can be the difference between success and failure.

Here are five practical tips to help you get your business holiday-ready:

1. Plan Early

It’s never too early to start planning. Take the time to really understand your customers and the products or services that are most popular within your business. Look back on data from the past few years for trends and analyze that information to determine popular products, peak shopping times, and customer inquiries. Then use that information to forecast inventory and staffing needs, store displays, and begin thinking about your marketing calendar in terms of sales, communications, and shipping cutoffs. The more prep work you put in, the more likely your business will be successful this holiday season.

2. Establish an Online Presence (or Straighten it up if you Already Have One)

It’s 2025, if your business isn’t online already, it needs to be. We’re talking about a website and social media. Wider audience visibility and enhanced credibility mean greater opportunities for growth.

Small businesses can especially benefit from having a website, when done professionally. A well thought out, professionally designed website helps establish trust and helps to legitimize your business. With an uptick in hybrid retail shopping, where customers are researching online and buying in-person or vice versa, this step is crucial. According to research done by SurveyMonkey, More than half (56%) of consumers prefer shopping both online and in-store equally, rather than one or the other, and that nearly 2 in 3 U.S. adults completed some portion of their transaction online and then picked it up in person (Gutierrez,2025). More importantly, your website needs to be functional, easy to use, and visually appealing to your customers, not only for desktop, but for mobile as well.

Much like having an established website, having a presence on social media is equally essential. Social media is a place where small businesses can showcase their personality and really establish a bond with their customers because the interactions feel more personal. Social media, done correctly, can be a driving factor in the exposure your brand gets and the loyalty your customers form. It is an easy way to keep your audience informed and can be a great tool to help your business stand out during the holidays. 

3. Create a Strategy and Launch a Marketing Campaign

There are plenty of effective ways to connect with your customers during the holiday season. Leverage email marketing, social media, and even SMS when possible to stay top of mind. Get creative with your outreach and use enticing promotions to encourage purchases. Everyone loves a good deal.

• Bundle popular products

• Make a “Limited Time Offer”

• Create gift guides

• Offer free shipping or holiday wrapping services

• Do a giveaway

4. Stock up on Inventory

As mentioned earlier, it's essential to keep a close eye on your sales and stock up on your best-selling items. Having extra inventory on hand—especially for top performers—helps you stay ahead of demand and navigate the seasonal slowdowns that often occur during the holidays.

Think creatively with your inventory strategy. For example:

• Offer a bonus basket where customers who spend over a certain amount receive a free gift.

• Create pre-made holiday gift baskets for shoppers looking for quick, ready-to-go presents.

• Show appreciation with a thank-you gift for loyal customers who’ve made significant purchases throughout the year.

Small gestures like these can drive more sales and strengthen customer loyalty.

5. Prepare Your Team (and Yourself)

The holidays can be a hectic time and it is important, particularly for small businesses, to ensure staffing needs are covered, whether online or in-person. Your team should be well trained, schedules should be made clear, and communication regarding expectations of efficiency, workload, customer service, and other aspects specific to your business should be well understood.

Most importantly, carve out time in your own schedule so you can be fully present and bring your best energy when the holiday rush hits.

BONUS TIP: Follow up with your customers to learn what you can do differently next year to make their experience better and evaluate your businesses performance. This means pay attention to what inventory or services did well and which ones did not. Use this information to cut back on items that didn’t do well and restock items that did, or offer incentives for popular services.