5 Ways to Turn the Holiday Slowdown Into an Opportunity

5 Ways to Make the Most of the Holiday Slowdown 🎄

The holiday season is here, and if you’re like most contractors, things tend to slow down a bit. Jobs wrap up, clients focus on family plans, and new clients keep saying, “call me after the New Year.”

It’s easy to see this slowdown as a problem—but let me tell you, it’s a huge opportunity.

This can be the best time of year or a very stressful one. My philosophy on the holidays is simple: don’t forget what they’re all about. Family, friends, and dare I say most importantly, God. This is a time to be thankful and limit stress. Spend time with the people you love and let them know you love them. This also applies to clients, co-workers, and subcontractors. Take time to reconcile disagreements. In construction, we all make mistakes, but you never know where reconciliation might lead.

Here are five things you can do to make the most of a slower season.

1. Organize Your Office and Workflow

Take the time to think through your daily routine. Tidy up the office and task your employees or office manager with getting the physical location in order. I’ve been working for a client in Tennessee lately, and one of the things we noticed was their office wasn’t the best-kept place. These things happen—we sometimes forget to keep a tidy home—but they’re also important. How you do one thing is how you do everything.

This is also a great time to build or refine your workflow. Back up to a 100-foot view and consider how you go about each day. Do you simply put out fires from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a coffee and lunch? Or do you actually chip away at the important things? Look at your schedule and time-block. Even if all you can spare from firefighting is an hour, do it each day. It’s like gym time—before you know it, you have abs again.

2. Strengthen Your Online Presence

Your next client is likely going to check you out online before giving you a call. Is your website looking sharp? Does it say exactly what you do? Do your Instagram and LinkedIn profiles showcase your best work?

This is a good time to improve the copy on your site and put up better photos. Last year, I helped a client do this, and just with some simple copy changes, their site’s Google ranking went to the first page of search. That’s the kind of change that can make a big difference for your business.

3. Review Your Financials

How’s your year been financially? Have you looked at your profit margins lately? The holidays are the perfect time to sit down and get clear on where your money went this year—and where it should go next year.

You have to do taxes soon anyway, so talk to your accountant. If you made money, is it time to give to your charity or church for the tax write-off? If you’re losing money, dig in and figure out what costs you can cut next year.

My yearly financial review has been a game changer for me. I have saved millions on taxes and costs just by dedicating a day in early December to going over my finances. Do not sleep on this.

4. Plan and Build Your 2025 Pipeline

Don’t wait until January to think about your next big job. Use this time to reach out to past clients with holiday greetings (and maybe a reminder that you’re available for future work). Networking with other professionals, like architects or designers, is also a smart move.

Go to holiday parties if you get invited. These are the perfect networking places, and people are in a charitable and good mood. One December, I sent handwritten holiday cards to my best clients. One of those cards turned into a phone call, which turned into a job that kept me busy all through spring. A little goodwill can go a long way.

5. Invest in Personal and Professional Growth

Finally, don’t forget about yourself. This is a great time to learn something new—whether it’s a skill that’ll improve your craft or a business practice that makes your company run smoother.

Last year, I learned all I could about Notion. It wasn’t the most exciting way to spend evenings, but I have a new skill now, and it’s helped me stay more organized. Take some time to reflect, too. What worked this year? What didn’t? Write down some goals for 2025. Having a clear vision makes a big difference when things start picking up again.

Wrapping It Up

The holiday slowdown doesn’t have to be downtime. Whether you’re organizing, marketing, planning, or growing, there’s a lot you can do to set yourself up for success. Pick one or two of these tips and get started. Come January, you’ll be glad you did.

And hey, don’t forget to take a little time off to recharge. You work hard all year—you’ve earned it.