Everyone knows someone who’s self-employed. Whether it’s the stylist who cuts your hair, the passionate home cook now slinging the world’s best grilled cheese from the food truck down the street, or the former HR pro turned consultant, entrepreneurs come in all stripes.
What can you give these visionary and creative folks when the holidays roll around? I’ve been self-employed since 2018 as a writer and a business owner, and I’ve discovered that the right gift can both lift your spirits, and make work easier and more fun all year round. To gather gift ideas for every type of entrepreneur, I went to the source and spoke to 25 of them, from CEOs to designers. Here’s what they told me, plus a few of my own favorites.
Get cozy
Sometimes working for yourself means long hours, which is when some creature comforts can help entrepreneurs stay focused, grounded, and calm while they work. I keep soft, plushy slippers and a cozy blanket around, plus an electric kettle, an attractive mug, and my favorite herbal teas.
Business book ghostwriter Dr. Marcia Layton Turner swears by the Ugg slippers gifted by her son: “Since I work in a home office and try not to wear shoes indoors, they are perfect and have kept me comfortable and warm for at least a couple of years.”
It turns out I’m not alone in my cozy blanket love: Jazz Cole, founder of Multilingual & Philanthropic Inc. adores the electric blanket given to her for Christmas several years ago: “I love that thing for days when I’m stuck working at home during the cold winter, and my sweater just isn’t cutting it. I sit at my desk a lot, and it’s nice to sit on a warmed chair or have it draped over me while I work.”
Allan Hou, Sales Director at TSL Australia, found that temperature swings in his office broke his concentration while working: So when he was gifted a high-quality wool blanket, he was thrilled. “It may seem silly to throw it over my shoulders during work sessions, but the lightness actually helps me stay relaxed during stressful client negotiations.” Choose a cozy blanket big enough to drape over a chair, but not so big that it’s unwieldy.
Ugg slippers
Sunbeam electric blanket
Quince cashmere throw
Make the home office a pleasure to be in
Every morning, before I see a client or read a single email, I light a candle, set an intention, then write for a while before blowing out the candle and moving on with the rest of my day. This simple ritual helps me bring some pleasure and intentionality to my workday, and makes the time I devote to my craft feel sacred and special. You don’t need a fancy scented candle to do this ritual, but if you love a good candle like I do, some of my go-tos are The New Savant, Brick + Mortar, and JD and Kate.
Home decor designer Joanna Buchanan loves using scent in her space too: her favorite gift is a room diffuser for her office from Ortigia Sicilia: “Not only does it remind me of a memorable family vacation we took to Cartagena, but the packaging is endlessly inspiring!”
New Savant candles
Brick + Mortar candles
JD and Kate candles
Ortigia Sicilia diffuser
Office supplies they’ll want to use
Most entrepreneurs probably have a mountain of office supplies already, so gifting something thoughtful and unique will make the difference between a gift that gets thrown in a drawer and one they can’t wait to reach for.
For those who love to write things down, a nice pen is a thoughtful reminder of you that they can carry with them always, and that will get plenty of use. Anneke Short of the Camden Watch Company received a YSTUDIO brassing pen from her husband that she swears by. “I love the solid weight of it,” she says, “Which slows me down just enough to think more carefully as I sketch or note down ideas.” This particular pen also develops a patina over time, giving them a beautiful gift that continues to evolve just as they do.
A good desk can can also help someone who works from home stay energized and productive rather than exhausted and sore from sitting. Stephy George of the Creative Muggle and her husband exchanged Vernal standing desks for the holidays, and feel much better while working as a result.
Entrepreneur Jeff Tilley loves his Timeular eight-sided time tracker, which provides a physical way to track how you’re spending your day. “This gift helped me understand my inefficiencies at the time and build my discipline and routines,” Jeff said.
For workers logging long screen time, try blue-light-blocking glasses that fit their style. Gianluca Ferruggiav of DesignRush says these top the list of his favorite gifts, helping him stay focused and energized rather than exhausted (or even with a headache) after long sessions of staring at a screen.
YSTUDIO brassing pen
Vernal standing desk
Timeular 8-sided time tracker
For the entrepreneur on the go
Investing in gadgets to make travel easier and more comfortable is the gift that keeps giving year-round.
Jamie Banks, founder of Change of Scenery, frequently travels with work products, which means juggling multiple bags. She swears by the Rydir Band to hold her tote bag to her suitcase, which frees up her hands while she navigates the airport.
Tom Saxon, cofounder of Swoop Vending, was gifted a magnetic phone holder that has become indispensible: “It’s allowed me to take supplier calls, join virtual meetings with venue managers, and even conduct video calls with overseas manufacturers.”
For the frequent flyer, a comfortable eye mask can be the difference between a restful flight and a stressful one. Krista Ruane swears by hers, adding “They’re not just for airplanes: They’re helpful for insomnia and perimenopause midnight wake-ups!” Try this one from Asutra, stuffed with lavender and flax seeds, for an extra relaxing treat.
DreamX CEO Alexandr Korshykov says: “The most useful gift I’ve ever received is a high-quality reusable water bottle. It sounds simple, but it changed my workday. Now, I drink more water, get distracted less searching for drinks, and always stay energetic and focused. A small thing that has a huge impact on productivity.”
The best water bottles will hold up to being dropped without cracking, won’t leach plastic flavor into the water, and are easy to clean. I like this 40oz Hydroflask bottle, which is big enough to stay hydrated without frequent refill trips to the sink.
Or, splurge on a good coffee tumbler. For all the jokes out there about coffee-fueled business owners, many entrepreneurs do love a good cup of coffee or tea. Kate Thompsett of Happy Glorious UK uses hers to stay both warm and caffeinated, as she keeps the shop doors open to invite customers in (along with the cold). Choose a travel tumbler that seals tightly and stays warm for at least a few hours. My pick is the Yeti travel mug, a gift I received when I opened my business and a go-to for work road trips.
Dominic Richards, Director of the Zentive Agency, says a collapsible coffee mug was one of the most memorable gifts he’s ever received. These are perfect for entrepreneurs who need to pack light. Choose one made from stainless steel, like the Sea to Summit Detour mug, rather than plastic, for a more durable option.
Rydir band
Andery magnetic phone holder
Silk eye pillow
Hydroflask waterbottle
Yeti Mug
Stainless steel collapsible mug
after newsletter promotion
Headphones and earplugs
When the world is your office, you can’t count on silence. Co-working spaces, coffee shops and other public spaces get loud, and even working from home can be noisy when you cohabitate with partners and pets. The solution? Earplugs or headphones.
I personally swear by two pairs of Loop earplugs: the Experience for interacting at loud events, and Quiet for focused work. They’re reusable, require no charging, and come in dozens of fun colors. I never leave home without them.
For meetings, I rely on Beats Flex, which have a microphone on a cord near my mouth, rather than far away like many pod-style headphones, and with less bulk than some other options. Susana Saeliu, founder and CEO of Pluto Pillow, relies on a recently gifted pair of Nothing Ear (3) for her meetings: “They have a Super Mic function on the case that’s been fantastic when I’m on the go and have to take calls in a busy and noisy environment.”
Loop earplugs
Beats earbuds
Nothing earbuds
Self-care is just as important as caring for your business:, and it often falls by the wayside. For entrepreneurs facing burnout, grinding through a busy season, or just under a lot of stress (who isn’t right now?), self-care focused gifts are a thoughtful way to show you see them, and to help them find some calm amid the chaos.
I rely on daily meditation and other wellness practices to support all my work and also teach them to my entrepreneur clients. Every year I gift private experiences like energy-work sessions, private coaching, or gift certificates for massages and sound baths alongside physical gifts. Fellow entrepreneurs I spoke with love receiving these as well as thoughtful self-care objects.
Laide Olambiwonnu of Pickytarian’s morning routine was transformed by an Ember coffee mug gifted by a friend: “The Ember keeps my coffee at the perfect temperature for hours, which means I can actually savor it. Now I deliberately spend 30 minutes each morning just drinking my coffee – no laptop, no emails, just sitting and thinking. As an entrepreneur who’s always rushing, this mug basically forced me to build a mindful morning routine.”
Angie Ringler, founder of Tangie, swears by her anti-fatigue balance board: “It’s been such a game-changer. Instead of just standing still, I’m constantly shifting, stretching, and moving. That little bit of movement keeps me energized.”
Andrew Martin, founder of Crisp Resumes, received an unexpected gift of a hand therapy ball, and doing hand therapy exercises helps reduce stress and keep him grounded during long workdays. They’re also helpful for reducing the impact of repetitive motion, like typing on a computer.
Ember Mug
Anti-fatigue balance board
Hand therapy ball
Make daily life tasks easier
From meal prep to cleaning, the activities of everyday life don’t stop when you start a business, and it can be overwhelming trying to keep it all together.
“My mornings significantly influence the way the rest of the day is going to develop,” says Ethan Heine, President of Suntrek Solar, but being a mother and businesswoman means she’s often too busy for a good breakfast. A professional-quality blender is the most useful present she’s ever received: Now she tosses greens, fruit, and protein into the blender for a healthy breakfast that keeps her going all day. I swear by the Vitamix Legacy 5200, which I’ve had for 15 years (it also won The Guardian’s best overall blender).
Another good option? An air fryer. Natalie Duvall of March Muses says her air fryer is the best gift she’s received. “It makes meals quicker and easier, but it’s also given my tween and teenager more independence too. If I’m in the middle of work, they can throw something together safely for lunch or dinner, and I don’t have to worry about them setting the house on fire!” I love the versatile Our Place Wonder Oven, which has an air fryer setting along with options for toasting, roasting, and more.
Other ideas? Gift your favorite tea lover an attractive electric kettle (designer Molly O’Neil is a fan of this Laura Ashley model). Or, invest in an electric mop: My Bissell Spinwave doesn’t make cleaning tasks go away, but it does make them go much faster.
For entrepreneurs that need to look pulled together to impress clients and colleagues, simple tools to streamline beauty routines can be a huge benefit. Honora Slomowitz swears by the Lehmani gel nail kit she received as a gift: “Having salon-quality nails I can apply at home or on the road in 20 minutes makes me feel polished and confident. Since research shows people form an impression within seven seconds, being well-groomed helps me be taken seriously right from the start.”
Artist Helen Ridley relies on a gifted Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer for quick, effective styling: “As a live illustrator, I attend a lot of events from weddings to corporate parties, book launches, retail pop-up events and more. Looking good is just as important as my fashion illustrations on the day.”
Vitamix Legacy 5200 blender
Our Place Wonder Oven
Laura Ashley electric kettle
Bissell Spinwave electric mop
Lehmani gel nail kit
Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer
Practical is magical
Sometimes the really nuts-and-bolts practical gifts that improve our quality of life immediately are the perfect thing to receive. Sky Nobles of Fizz & Foam mobile bar says one of her favorite gifts is a Costco-sized box of individually packaged lens wipes. “I use them for literally everything, cleaning my reading glasses, cleaning my sunglasses when working events, even cleaning phone screens, camera lenses/screens, and more.”
A box of someone’s favorite on-the-go snack, paying for a year’s subscription to Canva Pro, or a box of cleaning wipes might not sound like the most exciting gift to you, but for a new entrepreneur who’s tight on funds, they can be a lifesaver.
Is there something they seem to run through quickly? Or a problem they bring up frequently? Sometimes a refill of frequently-used items or a simple solution to an ongoing problem is just what the doctor ordered.
Tips for choosing great gifts for entrepreneurs
Choose quality over quantity: everyone is swimming in cheap conference swag and office supplies. One or two intentionally-chosen items that are high quality will remind your favorite entrepreneur of you every time they use them, and won’t end up in a landfill.
Mix it up: entrepreneurs are insatiably curious, driven, and hungry to try new things, so an experience can make a great companion to a physical gift they can unwrap. Think a sound bath, gym sessions, a 1:1 session with an entrepreneurial coach they admire, or a workshop.
You could also gift an experience that speaks to interests outside business: Writer Ariel Kanter recommends improv classes; Alexandra Jones swaps crafting classes with her best friend; Megan Shepherd recommends going digital with a Masterclass subscription.
Meaningful matters: some of the most impactful gifts are ones that show you see the person behind the business. For lawyer Martin Gasparian, it was simply a basketball; Character Counter founder Sofia Perez appreciated a book about her favorite artist; Nikos Psyllakis received seeds, which sparked his interest in planting and later served as the inspiration for his work.
Literary agent Sally Ekus loves experiential gifts that come with a way for her to use them, like a massage gift certificate paired with an offer to provide childcare.
