Mature man and woman opening their shop for Christmas.

Prepare your business for the holiday season

Get your business ready for the holiday rush with BBB’s expert tips.

Back to BBB's holiday HQ

Ready to gear up for the holiday hustle? Let’s make this season a success!

As the holiday season approaches, it's crucial for businesses to prepare and maximize their potential. Our expert tips cover everything from organizing inventory and crafting effective marketing strategies to ensuring customer satisfaction and boosting sales on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Get ready to make the most of this busy time and create a memorable experience for your customers

      

Featured articles

Working woman at gift shop. She wearing casual clothing, checking online shop with phone to receive new orders from customer
Prep your business for the holidays

The holiday season is officially here. Here are BBB's tips for ensuring a profitable end of the year.

Get your business holiday-ready
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Max out sales on Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday and Cyber Monday

These days are key events for businesses to kick off the holidays. Learn best practices to boost your sales.

Kick start your holiday profits
Corporate business people meet and drinking on a celebration event in a luxury hotel restaurant

Boost your business this holiday season with charitable giving

To help small business donors give wisely on GivingTuesday and throughout the holiday season, BBB recommends that businesses in the US take time to check out charities such as verifying that they are properly registered with applicable state government agencies, usually the office of the attorney general or secretary of state. 

For Canadian businesses, the Canada Revenue Agency has a searchable list of registered Canadian charities.

For more tips, visit Give.org, the website of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

Giving tips for small businesses

      

Holiday inventory tips

Get your inventory ready for the holiday rush! Discover tips for organizing stock, forecasting demand, and ensuring you have the right products on hand to meet customer needs.

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How to prepare and organize your inventory for the holiday season

The holiday season is a make-or-break time for many businesses, and proper inventory management is key to meeting customer demand without overstocking or running out of popular items.

5 tips to optimize your holiday inventory
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Don't lose customers over out of stock items

Whether you run an online store or a brick-and-mortar business, out-of-stock items could cost you not only revenue but also customer relationships. Knowing how to handle “stockouts” is important to your business.

How to handle a 'stockout'

          

Holiday sales and marketing tips

Boost your holiday sales with effective marketing strategies! Explore creative ideas to attract customers, promote special offers, and maximize visibility during the busiest shopping season. Learn how to avoid scams by spotting them early.

Young smiling businesswoman in smart casualwear and eyeglasses looking at you in studio
Tips for Small Business Saturday

Leverage Small Business Saturday to attract new customers and boost sales by promoting unique offerings and engaging with your community. 

Tips for Small Business Saturday
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10 holiday marketing ideas to boost brand engagement

As the holiday season approaches, prepare for one of the most critical times of the year with holiday marketing tips to help you maximize brand awareness.

Holiday marketing tips
happy Smile Confidence Young Man Truck Driver In Business Long transport.
Avoid falling for a business scam

Stay safe this holiday season with BBB’s expert tips on avoiding common scams against businesses. Learn how to protect your personal information, spot red flags, and educate your employees.

Top 12 business scams
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Answering customer complaints

How thoroughly and frequently does your company track comments left by clients? Knowing what to do when a negative review or complaint appears online about your company is important since it may significantly impact your business’s reputation.

Tips for answering customer complaints

Additional holiday resources

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Holiday shopping tips

The holiday season is one of the busiest shopping seasons for consumers. BBB has tips to help consumers make smart shopping decisions, find the best deals, budget for gift-giving, and make gift returns and exchanges. 

See holiday shopping tips for consumers
Photo of sad businesswoman working at her home for Christmas holidays
Don't let scams ruin the holidays

Stay safe this holiday season with BBB’s expert tips on avoiding common scams. Learn how to protect your personal information, spot red flags, and shop confidently.

Know the signs of a holiday scam