Make the most of your off-season: 3 tips for extra income

As summer draws to a close, you may find yourself winding down for the season. However, your slower months can present a unique opportunity to better your business and boost revenue. 

Here are three ways you can grow your bottom line, even when you aren’t running your typical tours and activities. 

1. Run a seasonal or holiday marketing campaign

The end of the year is prime time for consumer spending, making it an ideal period to ramp up your marketing efforts. Leverage this time with a festive email campaign or engaging social media posts featuring themes like “holiday gift ideas.” 

Help your customers give their friends and family the gift of experiences this year! Whether it’s through a Black Friday promo or a holiday-themed gift card campaign, you can easily capture new clientele excited to try your tours and activities. 

For inspiration, learn how one FareHarbor operator, Triton Charters, made an impressive $250,000 in only six days running a very successful Black Friday initiative. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner, now’s the time to start planning your promotions.

2. Market your gift cards everywhere and often

If you’re not already selling gift cards, this is your sign to do so! It’s a low risk, high reward revenue stream during your slow season — or all year round. They not only provide immediate income but also encourage customers to book with you in the upcoming season. 

To maximize your gift card sales, prominently feature them on your website, within your social strategy, or in a targeted email campaign. You can also consider running special promotions like “Buy One Gift Card, Get One 15% Off” to further entice buyers.

Gift cards are a popular present choice throughout the gift-giving season, so why not capitalize on it! 

3. Create new offerings specifically for the fall or winter season 

While this strategy may require the most amount of planning, it can easily bring in the highest reward. Whether you lean into the holiday spirit or adapt to the changing seasons, there are plenty of ways to build your profits in your slower months. 

If your tours run year-round, decorate your business, vehicles, boat, equipment, and more to make guests feel the festive spirit. You could also introduce a specific holiday-related experience, like a haunted hayride, drive-through lights show, or seasonal movie screening. 

For businesses that close during certain times of the year, you can start renting out your equipment or partnering with another local business to attract more customers to your area. 

To explore even more ways to earn extra revenue during your off-season, check out our detailed checklist on Compass!