You will find it easy to make some extra money with these 17 Halloween business ideas!
From costumes and decorations to party planning and catering, there is something for everyone on this list. So put on your thinking cap and get ready to make some money!
In this blog post, we will discuss simple business ideas that you can start up in time for the spookiest holiday of the year. Not only is Halloween a fun holiday, but it is also a lucrative one!
17 Halloween Business Ideas to Make Money
- Make Up Artist (AKA Face Painting!)
- Costume Creator
- Mask Designer
- Party Planner
- Spooky Baker
- Haunted House
- Spooky Scavenger Hunt
- Store Window Painter
- Lawn Decorator
- Social Media Content Creator
- Flyer Creator
- Pumpkin Carver/Painter
- Decoration Clean-Up Crew
- Themed Bartender
- Arts & Crafts for Kids
- Trick or Treat Tour Guide
- Babysitter
Halloween Make-Up Artist (AKA Face Painting!)
Face painting is one of the most lucrative Halloween business ideas because it is something that both kids and adults can enjoy. It is also a very affordable activity, which makes it a popular choice for partygoers.
In addition, face painting is a relatively easy business to start up, and there are many online tutorials that can teach you the basics. You can check out this list of 17 creative face painting ideas to help you get started!
You will find that this job is in demand throughout the whole month of October, particularly at venues that have kids. Zoos, private parties, school events, supermarkets… the list of face painting locations is endless! So if you’re looking for a way to make some extra money this Halloween, consider starting a face painting business.
Halloween Costume Creator
As a costume creator, you would be responsible for designing and creating costumes for people who need them. This is one of the more useful Halloween business ideas on this list because it allows people to have unique and memorable costumes that they would not be able to find in stores.
In order to be a successful costume creator, you need to have excellent design skills and be able to create costumes that are both stylish and accurate to the character or theme. The good news is that you don’t even need to have sewing skills to create costumes! Check out these no-sew Starbucks cup and Pac-Man costumes!
You may only be able to work with a limited amount of people each season so be sure to charge accordingly. It is also important to have a good understanding of the different materials that are used in making costumes so that you can create a variety of looks.
Halloween Mask Designer
Masks are a popular choice for Halloween costumes, and as a mask designer, you would be responsible for creating the masks that people will wear. This is one of the simplest Halloween business ideas because masks are easy to make and there is a wide variety of designs that you can create.
Additionally, many people do not want to commit to a full outfit or they waited until the last minute to put something together. An intricate mask can be a great statement piece that makes up for the lack of effort! Store-bought masks can be uncomfortable and pricey, which is why this is an excellent business to start.
To help you get started, check out this list of 20 easy Halloween mask ideas for adults and kids!
Halloween Party Planner
If you’re looking for a business idea that will allow you to help others celebrate Halloween, then consider becoming a party planner! This is a great Halloween business idea because it allows you to use your creative skills to come up with fun and unique party ideas.
In order to be successful as a party planner, you need to be organized and have a good understanding of the different elements that go into planning a successful event. Additionally, it is important to have excellent customer service skills so that you can ensure that your clients are happy with your services.
Spooky Baker
If you’re into baking and have a Halloween-themed menu, then starting a spooky bakery could be the perfect business idea for you! This is a great Halloween business idea because it allows you to showcase your baking skills and come up with creative recipes that will appeal to people who love Halloween.
For example, you could make cupcakes filled with fake blood or spider cupcakes. You could even make Halloween-themed hours-devours for the adults!
In order to be successful as a spooky baker, you need to have excellent baking skills and be able to create delicious and spooky-themed treats. Additionally, it is important to have a good understanding of what ingredients work well together to create the desired effect.
You may want to look into a commercial kitchen to be sure that you have the space necessary to handle a large volume of orders and make sure you are able to follow local food regulations.
Start a Haunted House
If you’re looking for an exciting business idea this Halloween, then consider starting a haunted house! This is an extremely popular activity during the holiday season, and it can be a lot of fun to run your own haunted house.
In order to be successful as a haunted house owner, you need to be creative and come up with new scares and thrills each year. Additionally, it is important to have excellent organizational skills so that you can manage all of the different aspects of running a haunted house.
The main thing you will need to start this business is a lot of open space for people to walk around in… ideally in a house! You might also need a few volunteers or employees to help run it.
For a simpler take on this activity, you can also do the classic “what’s in the box game”. All you need is a few gross items for people to stick their hands into and then they guess.. is it worms or spaghetti!
Run a Spooky Halloween Scavenger Hunt
If you’re looking for an interactive Halloween business idea, then consider starting a spooky scavenger hunt! This is an enjoyable activity for people of all ages, and it can be a lot of fun to put together your own scavenger hunt clues.
In order to be successful as a scavenger hunt creator, you need to be creative and come up with interesting clues that will lead participants through your haunt. Additionally, it is important to have excellent customer service skills so that participants have a positive experience.
This activity will also need a lot of open space to make it fun. You could do a neighborhood or park scavenger hunt for adults. For children, it might be best to stick to a backyard or throughout a house.
Halloween Store Window Painter
Window painting is another great Halloween business idea because it allows you to showcase your creativity and decorating skills. In order to be successful as a store window painter, you need to be able to come up with creative designs that will catch people’s attention. Additionally, it is important to have a good understanding of the different products that are available so that you can create a cohesive design.
Be sure to get paints that can be easily washed off of windows and perhaps a few stencils to make the process faster. You can also practice at home by decorating your own windows!
This is a great Halloween business idea because you can also sell the clean-up as an additional service. You can also build business contacts who may want you to also decorate for the other holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t far away after all!).
Halloween Themed Lawn Decorator
If you’re looking for a business idea that is both creative and festive, then consider decorating the lawns of your neighbors for Halloween!
This is a great way to get in the holiday spirit, and it can be a lot of fun to see the reactions of your neighbors. In order to be successful as a lawn decorator, you need to be creative and come up with fun and festive designs. Additionally, it is important to be able to work quickly so that you can finish all of your decorations in time for Halloween.
You will want to start this business in September, as most people will want to leave the decorations out for all of October. Similarly to the painting business, you can sell clean up services as well!
Seasonal Social Media Content Creator
If you’re looking for a business idea that is both creative and interactive, then consider creating Halloween-themed content for social media! This is a great way to engage with your audience and get them excited about the holiday.
In order to be successful as a social media content creator, you need to be creative and come up with fun and interesting ideas that will appeal to your audience. Additionally, it is important to have good writing skills so that you can create engaging and compelling content.
Flyer Creator
Creating Halloween-themed fliers and invitations is an easy way to make money. Both businesses and your neighbors who are throwing parties will surely be interested in your services! You can even create a few easy templates so that all you have to do is fill in the event details.
All you need to get started is a Canva subscription to design the fliers and a place to print them out! It can cost a few hundred dollars to set up your own home printing station, so I would recommend using a printing shop for your first year.
Pumpkin carver/painter
Pumpkin carving and painting is a fun way to decorate for the holidays. You can offer to create these spooky decorations yourself or run a workshop to help others make them!
Pumpkin painting is fun and easy for kids, plus you can even do a sip and paint for adults. These days, you can even decorate gourds or other fruits for a fun take on this classic Halloween decoration.
In order to be successful as a pumpkin carver/painter, you need to be creative and come up with fun and festive designs. Additionally, it is important to be able to work quickly so that you can finish all of your decorations in time for Halloween.
Halloween Decoration Clean-Up Service
When all the fun and festivities are over, there is always a lot of clean-up to do! If you’re looking for a business idea that is both festive and practical, then consider becoming a decoration clean-up specialist!
This is a great way to help your community get ready for the holidays, and it can be a lot of fun to see the results of your hard work. In order to be successful as a decoration clean-up specialist, you need to be organized and have a good understanding of the different elements that go into planning a successful event. Additionally, it is important to have excellent customer service skills so that you can ensure that your clients are happy with your services.
Themed Bartender
While we are on the topic of paint and sips, being a themed bartender is tons of fun! Many people throw events the weekend before and after Halloween, which gives you lots of opportunities to serve their parties.
Everyone loves a good theme, and Halloween in particular is a holiday that people love to party for! This is probably the most fun of the Halloween business ideas on this list… especially because you will probably earn some nice tips! Check out this list of 45 Halloween Cocktails to help you get started.
Arts & Crafts for Kids
If painting pumpkins is not up your alley, there are many other cute Halloween-themed arts and crafts that kids can enjoy. This is a great option for those of you who do not have a car to haul pumpkins or who don’t want to spend as much money on set-up costs.
Watercolors are an excellent choice for easy clean-up. You can also find materials like cups, colored paper, and cotton balls (for webs!) at your local dollar store.
Trick or Treat Tour Guide
Let’s be real, many adults get tired of being the trick or tour guide after a couple of years. Or maybe they want to throw a fun party themselves! A few weeks before Halloween, you can let your neighbors know that you are available to take their kids door to door on a short 1-2 hour-long trick-or-treating excursion.
You can even organize it by age range, as most parents will not want their younger kids staying out too late. On the other hand, pre-teens might be able to go out later in the evening as long as they have supervision.
The best part? You will probably get lots of candy too!
Babysitter
A classic Halloween business idea is to simply babysit. Some kids are too young to go out trick or treating… or maybe too afraid to go! Perhaps their parents are out of town or attending another event. No matter what the reason, there will always be a need for babysitters around the holidays.
Like some of the other ideas on this list, you may even be able to find clients who will need your services throughout the holiday season. Be sure to get proper certifications (such as CPR) for this kind of business, especially if you are watching younger kids.
Final thoughts on these spooky Halloween business ideas
Halloween is a great time to make money by providing festive services. You will also find that this is the most fun time of the year to start a business! Check out this article by Nerd Wallet for ways to market your halloween business.
If you’re looking for a business idea that is both fun and practical, then you should consider one of these options. With low start-up costs and the urgency of a looming holiday, you will be sure to find a few customers easily.
Have you run a Halloween-related business before? If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Kathryn Rucker is a sales consultant and content writer. With 7+ years of sales experience, she is passionate about helping businesses and individuals grow their sales pipelines by improving their online presence.
She has been traveling full-time since 2018 thanks to the location and financial independence she has gained from her business, Kat Rucker Consulting Group. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
Disclosures and Disclaimers: The above references an opinion and is for entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be investment or insurance advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for your financial planning. Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are ads/affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission (thanks!). Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
