For aspiring entrepreneurs, December is always an exciting month. With most of us taking a break from full-time work, Christmas is the perfect time for wannabe founders to get stuck into building a business plan ahead of the New Year.
Think you might know the next Steven Bartlett? Then a smartly chosen Xmas gift could provide the perfect boost to get their ambitions underway this year. But what do you buy for someone that will genuinely help them to start a business that isn’t a giant fistful of cash?
I asked real-life business owners what they wish they’d be given before they took the first step on their business journey. It turns out to be a long wishlist. Here are 16 fail-safe present ideas to surprise and delight the side hustle hero in your life.
Budget-friendly business gifts for under £20
1. Productivity journals
Give the gift of time this year with a monthly, weekly, or daily planner that will help to keep their entrepreneurial spirit on track and organised. Embossed, personalised notebooks are a particularly nice touch if they want to jot down notes. Bullet journals can also offer headspace and let them get their thoughts in order during the early planning stages.
2. Business books
The best business owners learn from the experts. But if you can’t afford a free lesson with famous entrepreneurs with Bill Gates, why not purchase a business book at less than £20 for them instead? Some of the biggest sellers this year include:
- The Dealmaker: Lessons from a Life in Private Equity by Guy Hands
- Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
- Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- You Coach You by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
3. Desk accessories
A jokey present for under £20 can still provide a big nudge to help them get their venture off the ground. Personalised desk name plates reading ‘CEO’ or ‘boss’ are one idea. If their business idea is developed (and you’re feeling creative) you could also design a branded mug or desk calendar with a unique chosen name and logo for an aspirational prezzie.
4. Blue-light blocking glasses
Founders spend a lot of time slumped over a laptop screen. Those who start their firm as a side hustle will also often work long hours, which can damage their eyes. You can purchase blue-light blocking glasses for as little as £10 on Amazon. Not only will this protect your recipient’s eyesight, but you’ll also help them to get some (much-needed) sleep.
5. Aromatherapy diffuser
Starting a business is one of the most emotionally-taxing challenges you can take on. A low-cost aromatherapy diffuser costs around £20 and, if you combine this with essential oils, your present will help to reduce feelings of anxiety and bring a sense of calm to your frazzled founder. Top tip: lemon oil is reportedly particularly good for reducing stress.
Mid-range business gifts for under £80
1. Software subscription
It may not feel like the sexiest Christmas present in the world. But a subscription to a website builder or project management software is a very practical gift that founders will certainly use. It also stops them spending their money on a platform they’re not sure they’ll like. Plus, with prices usually ranging from £10-20 per month, you’re sure to get your money’s worth.
2. Meal kit subscription
As we’ve touched on, entrepreneurs are very short on time. As a result, their diets are also famously poor. This Christmas, why not give your famished founder a subscription to healthy meal kits such as Grubby (£26 per month)? Or a gift card to Deliveroo? This gift will power their business brain and (should) stop them surviving off caffeine and greasy takeaways.
3. Audible subscription (£69.99 for one year)
Business podcasts have really surged in popularity this year. Purchasing an Audible by Amazon subscription will give your giftee access to millions of hours of audiobooks and podcasts they can use for both inspiration and relaxation.
🎁 As a free stocking filler, why not tell your entrepreneur circle about Speaking of Startups, our brand-new business podcast? Season one is available on Spotify today.
4. Conference tickets
Going to networking events is one of the best ways for founders to forge connections and cement your business idea. Many come with a hefty ticket fee however, which can put newbies off attending (particularly if they’re already daunted by the prospect of attending). Highlights in 2025 include Elite Business Live for fast-growth startups (£59 for a day pass).
5. Magazine subscriptions
If your giftee is based in a particular field, a magazine subscription is a smart way to speak to their interests and give them some insight into the business landscape they want to enter. Teccies will appreciate a WIRED subscription (£59.99 per year) while photographers or sustainability lovers might be best treated to a National Geographic (£45 per year).
Premium entrepreneur gifts for under £200
1. Coworking membership
Few of us have a fully dedicated office or study that we can pop into whenever we need some business brainstorming time. But with a coworking membership, founders can choose from any number of prime, city centre locations to set their first company up in style. Regus’ lounge membership, for example, costs £80 per month and is available in seven UK cities.
2. Noise-cancelling headphones
For aspiring CEOs who can’t make it to a coworking space, noise-cancelling headphones can be a godsend if they’re trying to block out the sound of screaming kids, TV background noise, or annoying flatmates (trust me, I know). BOSE is the top-rated brand for noise-nullifying headgear, with a premium pair costing around £170.
3. Ergonomic furniture
Their backs and hands will thank you for it. You can get your enterprising friend an ergonomic office chair for under £200. It will be far more comfortable than the kitchen table, helping to reduce injury risk. For a cheaper option, an ergonomic keyboard (around £70) can also do wonders to improve circulation and prevent wrist strain.
4. Smart suitcase or hand luggage
If they’re further along with their business idea, chances are your entrepreneur pal is now realising just how much time they have to spend travelling to roadshows, client meetings, and industry events. A smart suitcase that will help them to keep their meeting notes uncrumpled. Level 8 is a stellar brand that offers carry-on luggage for around £170.
5. MasterClass subscription (£120 for one year)
MasterClass is an online training platform that offers members access to over 200 recorded classes with some of the world’s greatest business professionals including Gordon Ramsey and Anna Wintour. If you know someone interested in dipping their toes into a new field, whether they want to become a sommelier or a dog trainer, MasterClass is the ideal gift.
6. News subscription
Subscriptions to news sites tend to be more costly than magazines. Why not give the gift of a digital subscription to the Financial Times for £40 per month? Or an annual subscription to The Economist for £109? It’s the perfect gift they’d never buy themselves.
