Running seasonal businesses can be hectic but profitable

While most businesses have 12 months to make a profit, seasonal operations have a much shorter window of time.

"We do almost all of our business in two to three weekends," says Teresa Meier, co-owner of Meier Horse Shoe Pines in Jackson.

Meier's business includes a retail Christmas shop and a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm, as well as freshly made wreaths, pine roping and centerpieces.

"We'll usually sell between 500 and 600 trees on the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December," she says.

For American Ice Cream in Jackson, the selling season is much longer.

"We usually open in March and stay open through November," says Sarah Thompson, who co-owns the ice cream, sandwich and snack business with her father, Jim Thompson. "If the weather is good, we'll open as early as mid February," she adds.

With some seasonal businesses, the prep work starts months before the selling season begins.

"In early January, I go on a buying trip and buy everything for the store for that year," says Joannie Smith, co-owner of the Yule Log Cabin, a Christmas shop in Commerce, Mo. "Then in June, we start pricing merchandise. We totally 'flip the store' to look completely different every year, so it takes a lot of preparation."

Weather can play a big part in the profits of a seasonal business.

"We are open every day from the first of April through Labor Day weekend, unless the weather is dangerous," says Rachel Zahner, who co-owns Ty's Summer Sno with her husband, Tyson. The snow cone business has locations in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Meier also notes that the weather plays a big part in her business.

"We are very weather-dependent," she says. "We might be open a third weekend if the weather is good and we still have a good selection."

The advantages of a seasonal business range from the excitement for the upcoming selling season to anticipation of time off when the season is over.

"I like having time to clean (out the store) and start out fresh each year," Smith says. "I don't want to have customers walking around in the mess (when we are setting up)."

A short selling season has it peaks and valleys.

"At the beginning of the season, there's an excitement," says Zahner. "Customers are ready for it because it's been gone and they know it will only be here for a limited amount of time. But, by the end of the summer, we're exhausted and really need a mental break (from the business)."

When the selling season is over, business owners may have mixed feelings.

"I always look forward to having a big block of time off," says Thompson. "But then I miss it and get bored when it's over."

Several seasonal business owners work other jobs as well. The Smiths own River Ridge Winery, the Zahners own Tyson Zahner Photography and the Meier family members have various other jobs.

"I work at the University of Missouri Extension Office in Jackson, and my husband Steve is the postmaster at Altenburg, Mo.," Meier says.

The main drawback of owning a seasonal business seems to be budgeting the money made during the selling season.

"We still have to pay rent during the offseason," says Zahner. "Since we get no income from that business for seven months, we have to be good at budgeting."