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I am so excited to be sharing this 2021 gift guide, listing the BEST gifts for solopreneurs in 2021.
In this guide, I’ve shared gifts for the folks with side hustles, freelance gigs and businesses they’re running solo. I’ve done my darnedest to share gifts that I know I’d like to receive, as well as gifts I’m betting my business coaching clients would love.
Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
When it comes to getting a gift for a solopreneur or small business owner, I want to give you a heads up:
The absolute best gift you can give a solopreneur is to consistently post and share their business – even if you’re not a target customer. Ideally, 2 times per month.
The absolute best gift you can give a solopreneur is to consistently post and share their business
Being a solopreneur can be lonely and scary, and it makes the day, no the WEEK of a solopreneur when you share their business to your social media channels.
Here’s an example script:
- Wanted to pop in and give a shoutout to (solpreneur name) for his/her/their business, @BusinessName! I am so excited for you. [Link to Business Here]
#1: Ember Mug – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($129.95)
Ok, both my best friend and my copy editor (she takes care of editing the resumes I write for clients!) recommended this gift for solopreneurs! So I put it at #1, because both Kayli and Kate could not stop talking about it!
Kayli Woods is marketing consultant, writer and editor – and she’s serious about her coffee! “I cannot recommend these enough!” she shared.
Kate is getting her PhD at Harvard, and coffee is a MUST! (She also works as a consultant/solopreneur.). “I do a lot of writing and work at my laptop, and I love that my coffee stays warm,” she shared. “I talked about the Ember so much, my boyfriend bought one a week after I did1”
Get this mug here!
#2: REFERRALS – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs (FREE!)
This next gift idea for solopreneurs costs less than $20 – in fact, it’s pretty much FREE!
One of the best things you can do for the solopreneur in your life is to regularly post about their business + refer clients. It’s okay if you don’t think anyone you know will need it – the posts help so much!
A simple post like, “Hey all! Wanted to give a shoutout to my friend/lover/etc’s business (business name). They make/do (X thing). Check out their website!”
(This gift idea was echoed by Suma Jane Dark, a body positive photogapher in Portland, and Rachel Zilberg, a creative branding photographer in San Francisco!)
#3: Their Business Logo on a Coffee Mug – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($15+)
Ok, this next gift idea is pretty clutch, if I say so myself!
There are various shops on etsy that can take a logo file and create a custom mug – love it!
This is a great gift for solopreneurs, as they can then take selfies with their mug, go on Instagram Story while holding it, etc. It’s a genius way to promote your business without fully promoting it!
Get a mug printed as a gift for your solopreneur HERE!
#4: Their Logo on a Sweatshirt – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($25+)
Similar to the above (we love a mug!), another option is to get their logo or tagline on a sweatshirt!
Get a custom sweatshirt as a gift for your solopreneur HERE!
#5: Product Backdrops – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($45 +)
I asked this question on Twitter, and my friend, Avery, shared this gift idea for solopreneurs!
If your soloprneur sells physical products, then product backdrops are a life saver! They make it much easier to take your own photos!
Etsy has a bunch of different options, and giving these as a present to a solopreneur shows you did your homework!
Check out these gifts for solopeneurs HERE!
#6: Waterproof Notepad For Shower – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($9.25)
Ok, this one is a bit of a gag gift – I can’t personally recommend one of these, as I’ve never used this! We all get good ideas in the shower, and it can be hard to keep track of those ideas! The Aqua Note helps solopreneurs,
“Capture the great ideas you get in the shower before you lose them.”
I know a LOT of solopreneurs, and we’d all chuckle when opening this fun gift!
Snag this gift for solopreneurs here!
#7: Phone Holders for Tutorials – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($25.99)
My friend Toni shared this idea on Twitter! She shared, “I ‘d love one of those phone holders that holds your phone above so you can do a tutorial below it!”
These phone holders can be great gifts for bloggers and solopreneurs, because the phone is positioned so your hands go underneath it!
Nifty!
Snag this gift for solopreneurs here!
#8: 24/7 GeekSquad Tech Support – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($199.95)
One of the tough parts about being a solopreneur is the lack of an IT Department. You have to remember to install updates, etc, as well as troubleshoot issues.
For this reason, I love Geek Squad “Total Tech” support. (This is often sold as a add-on for tech purchases, and it can be purchased separately!)
It is *really* nice to be able to just take my laptop or other tech item into Best Buy and get help IRL!
Get this gift for solopreneurs here!
#9: Grocery or Meal Delivery Subscription – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Being self-employed or a solopreneur means that you have 17,412 things to do and have time for… maybe 8.
I tell my business coaching clients to buy back TIME, and the first place to do this is by delegating domestic tasks.
I recommend buying an Instacart membership for a year ($99), or considering a food delivery service like Misfits Market or a meal service like HelloFresh.
To see if this is a good gift idea, you can text your solopreneur and ask, “Hey! Do you have a recommendation for a grocery delivery service or app?”
“Hey! Do you have a recommendation for a grocery delivery service or app?”
Boom. Gift unlocked.
Giving a gift card as a present to a solopreneur can feel a little… inpersonal, so I’d include a note like this:
Hey (name),
I know you’ve been working super hard on your business! I snagged this gift card for you from (company name), to take one item off of your to-do list. I hope that this gift helps you grow your business. I am so excited to see where you take your business in 2022!
Xoxo,
(your name)
#10: White Noise Machine – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($45)
i got this white noise machine a few years ago, and I can’t stop talking about it!
Being a solopreneur often means finding time to work – often in places that aren’t quiet or easy to work in.
And, sometimes those loud places is the solopreneur’s own home! One of the best gifts for solopreneurs is this white noise machine, because it can cut down on the background noise.
Snag this gift for a solopreneur here!
#11: We Should All Be Millionaires – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($19.33)
I don’t recommend *just* giving a personal development book to someone, as that can make them feel #PersonallyAttacked!
Big no no!
But if you’re putting together a gift basket of giving someone multiple presents – and they love reading or listening to business books – then this book is a great gift for solopreneurs!
Snag this gift for solopreneurs HERE!
#12: A Day as Their VA – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Ok, so not everyone can gift this gift to their solopreneur – but it’s a great one.
Many solopreneurs need HELP – and not everyone can hire a VA (virtual assistant).
For this gift, make a little gift certificate, where you offer your time as their VA – for a full day (or 6 hours).
During that period, you can pack boxes, do online research, help make content or do other stuff VAs do!
#13: Laptop Purse – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($33+)
Ok, not everyone likes to use a purse.
BUT FOR THOSE THAT DO?!?!? This purse is around $33 – $40 on Amazon, and it has been such a gamechanger for me! It has different compartments to stay organized (as wall as a little like… seatbelt buckle thing for a laptop), but not so many pockets that folks need to dump it out to find stuff.
There is such a thing as too many pockets!
Snag this gift for a solopreneur here!
#14: Seamless Kit – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($72.99+)
Ok, so this won’t be a gift for all soloprneurs. But if your solopreneur bestie owns a business where they sell physical products, or they’re a content creator, then a seamless kit (the backdrop) can be a great gift. (Note: you don’t have to get green!)
They can use this setup to take photos and make content, helping them level up!
Snag this gift for a solopreneur HERE!
#15: Soundproof Headphones – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Being a solopreneur often means working amidst noise – and boy oh boy, can it be distracting!
I recommend snagging a pair of over-the-ear headphones for your solopreneur. BOSE is the standard, but there are also great $99 options!
Snag this gift for solopreneurs here.
#16: Charging Bank – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($30)
Solopreneurs spend a LOT of time on their phone – and it sucks when your phone dies! From answering customer inquiries through the Shopify app to posting to Instagram Story or TikTok – these critical business activities require the phone be ON, lol!
A great gift to give a solopreneur is a charging bank for their phone, which enables them to work on the go and get the most out of their day!
Snag this charging bank for your solopreneur HERE!
#17: An Empty House – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
I asked folks on Twitter, “Solopreneurs & Self-Employed Folks – What gift would you love?”
I chuckled to myself when reading Patty Ryan Lee’s response: “Air BnB for my family for a week while I stay home in silence and get work done.”
Love it! And Airbnb does have giftcards!
(Booking an Airbnb in Salt Lake City? Check out my review of a local Airbnb here!)
#18: Business Cards – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Contrary to what some phone mobile apps (that sell “digital business cards”) may try to tell you, business cards are a MUST for solopreneurs.
When giving out my business cards, I jot down a note about our conversation before handing it to someone. There’s something about the act of handing a business card that is just.. magical.
I like to use Moo for my business cards!
Snag this gift for your solopreneur HERE!
#19: Laundry Service – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
I’ve never used a laundry service for myself, but my bests in NYC rave about how rad their laundry service is.
Doing laundry takes so much time, and it’s a task that can take up a lot of brain space. (Have you spent a lot of time mentally running through your to-do list? It takes up a lot of brainspace!)
I don’t have a specific laundry service to recommend, but getting a gift certificate to a highly recommended laundry service can be a great gift for a solopreneur. (I’d ask folks in your neighborhood Facebook Group or NextDoor!)
#20: Packing Cubes – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($15.99)
WHEW! Packing cubes are a life saver! These are one of the best gifts for solopreneurs, because they save so much time!
I have these packing cubes from Amazon, here!
#21: A Big Magnetic Whiteboard – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Does your solopreneur love to brainstorm?
Solopreneurs need space to brainstorm, and sometimes an 8×11 piece of paper just isn’t going to cut it!
Fully self-employed folks often don’t have access to a conference room with a LOT of whiteboard space, so many folks buy their own large whiteboard! (Note: For best results, I recommend getting a magnetic whiteboard!)
I have this large magnetic whiteboard in my cart!
Shop here!
#22: Quote Poster – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($15.99)
Does your solopreneur love to share quotes to their Instagram Story? If so, I would check etsy for different quotes that are similar.
I love this quote posters!
#23: RAD ROLLERS – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($65+)
Ok, I haven’t tried these – but my friend and client, Kait Coats, shared these as a great gift for solopreneurs. (Kait is a body positive fitness instructor (as well as influencer), corporate wellness consultant and coach!)
Says Kait, “Keep massage balls at your desk! Then you can roll on your wrist/neck/shoulders when you’ve been hunched over all day. RAD rollers are a great company.”
#24: Online Course – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Next up on our list of best gifts for solopreneurs is one of my favorite gifts for solopreneurs – an online course!
Now, this gift can be tricky, because you need to know what course your solopreneur wants! It isn’t a good idea to find some random course on Google.
A great gift (for you and your solopreneur) is a MasterClass membership! During the holidays, they run a 2-for-1 special! I wrote a full review on my thoughts on MasterClass here!
Or go directly to the MasterClass website HERE!
#25: Away Luggage – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($225+)
Ok, so I haven’t bought Away luggage yet, but it is on my list!
If you are looking for gifts for a solopreneur who loves to travel or travels A LOT, then an away luggage carryon or set of suitcases is a genius gift.
The Away luggages have a lot of different rad features (I’m obsessed with the charger bank thing… in the carry-on), and they have a super stellar warranty!
Check out this gift for solopreneurs here!
#26: Headshots – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Ok, in the world of solopreneur-ship (hyphen intentional), good photos are so critical! They’re important for a website, branding, speaking gigs, social media, etc.
When putting together this gift for a solopreneur, I recommend being a little sneaky in your approach. Ask them, “Hey, do you have a photographer you recommend or want to work with? A friend is looking for a photographer.”
Then, BOOM! Contact that photog and ask for their rates!
#27: Phone Case with Business Card Holder – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Ok, remember further on up where I shared that a set of business cards is one of the best gifts for solopreneurs?
Taking that a step further is to get them a phone case that can hold business cards! This is great for the person who loves to network!
Get this gift for solopreneurs here!
#28: Marquee Light Box – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($31.99)
This next gift for solopreneurs is super fun! If your solopreneur loves quotes and sayings, then I would get them this marquee light box!
They can customize it with their own motivational quotes!
Snag this gift for a solopreneur here!
#29: 4 Hour Workweek – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Another one of my go-to recommended books for small business owners and solopreneurs is “The 4-Hour Workweek.”
Now, books in the personal development section have to be a bit… cheesy. It’s what works for them!That said, this book has so many valuable tips and insights – and I’ve reread it almost every year for the last 10 years!
This book is a great gift for solopreneurs, because it’s super actionable! It’s not just vague “Rah! Rah!” cheerleading advice!
Snag this book here!
#30: Adjustable Desk – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs ($249 ++)
Ok, so I have this table from IKEA that has an adjustable height (I’m currently looking for the best adjustable height desk for my home office).
If your solopreneur wants to be able to both stand and sit, I recommend looking into this! Now, this gift probablyyyy won’t be a surprise – but that’s ok! Wrap up the desk in a cool manner, or set up a short scavenger hunt so they can find it!
Boom! Fun gift!
(PS, if you find a great brand that makes adjustable height desks that you’ve tried and loved – or you own a brand that makes adjustable height desks – please drop me a note here! I am OVERWHELMED trying to find the best adjustable height desk.)
#31: Mobile Car Detailing – Best Gifts for Solopreneurs
Being a solopreneur means that time can be short – and eating in the car happens. Aaand, because time is scarce it is hard to take the time to clean one’s car.
Aaand it doesn’t feel great to drive a car that’s a DISASTER ZONE inside. For this reason, I recommend gifting a solopreneur a gift certificate or membership to a mobile car detailer.
NOW! Give this gift with caution – if you’ve been judgy or rude getting into the car of your solopreneur, then this is a BAD GIFT.
But, if you’ve heard your solopreneur share that they wish they could get their car detailed – then this might be a good gift!
What to read next —>
Looking for more posts like this? Here are a few posts to read next:
- 7+ Tips for Planning a Vacation with Your BFFs
- How to Start a Blog That Earns $$$$
- 5 Tips for Managing Taxes as a Solopreneur
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