20+ Gifts for the Entrepreneur in Your Life

The holidays are almost upon us—do you have all of your gifts ready?

I’ll admit, I only just finished ordering presents for everyone on my list (and I’m crossing my fingers that they all get here on time!).

But maybe you’re still feeling at a loss for what to get the entrepreneur on your list. After all, they’re starting a business (or maybe running one); they need something that will make their life easier.

Or, maybe you’re the entrepreneur—feel free to share a link to this post with your friends and family (hint hint). We won’t judge.

For entrepreneurs who need to keep track of great ideas

1. Moleskine notebooks

A classic, and a favorite around our office, these sleek, handy little notepads were suggested multiple times!

They come in multiple sizes and colors, both lined and unlined, to suite a variety of note-taking styles.

2. A Moleskine Evernote Smart Notebook

Taking the beloved Moleskine one step further is their partnership with Evernote, which allows you to digitize your notes.

Essentially, Moleskine has created a line of notebooks with specially lined pages that, when photographed with the Evernote app, become searchable, digital versions of your handwritten notes. A must for entrepreneurs who like to keep things old school, but would also like to integrate Evernote’s great technology into pen-and-paper notes.

3. A whiteboard with markers

For entrepreneurs who love a good brainstorming session, why not a nice big whiteboard?

With to-do lists a mile long, a whiteboard is something any budding entrepreneur would appreciate.

4. Some great pens

These Sharpie Fine Point Pens are a favorite around the office, and they would make a great gift for any entrepreneur—maybe with a few Moleskines? Just don’t use them on that whiteboard!

For entrepreneurs who want to learn more

5. A great book (or several) on entrepreneurship

Where do we even start? We’re huge fans of Lean Planning here at Palo Alto Software, so “The Lean Startup” is definitely a good place to start, as is “The Art of the Start.” A few other great reads: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and Rand Fishkin’s “Lost and Founder.”

6. A Kindle

With so many great books on entrepreneurship, a Kindle or other e-reader might be the perfect gift for an entrepreneur. With a seemingly endless amount of ebooks, they’ll be able to enjoy your gift over and over again.

For entrepreneurs who are ready to start and run their businesses

7. An annual LivePlan subscription

We’d be remiss in not recommending our own business planning software here; a subscription to LivePlan would make a great gift for the entrepreneur who needs to write a plan to seek a loan or investment.

But, one of LivePlan’s superpowers is actually in better business management. Connecting LivePlan to Quickbooks Online or Xero puts mere mortals in the driver’s seat with an easy to use business dashboard at their fingertips. It’s the gift of no more spreadsheets.  

Between December 3rd and 19th, 2018, we’re offering a LivePlan gift card option, perfect for the holidays. Click here to check out.

8. A Square card reader

If you know that your favorite entrepreneur is planning on accepting card payments and needs a small, convenient mobile payment processor, why not look into giving them a Square card reader?

The process of accepting payments can be a hassle, so anything that solves this problem is bound to make a fantastic holiday gift.

If you’re not sure Square will fit their needs, you can read more about our favorite payment processors here: The Best Mobile Payment Processor.

9. A subscription to Evernote Premium

Evernote’s free service is great, but a budding entrepreneur (or even a more seasoned one) would likely appreciate the increased functionality of Evernote’s premium edition, which lets users turn their notes into presentations, sync across their devices, access notes even when offline, and more.

For entrepreneurs who need a boost to take on the day

10. A great coffee-making set up

Late nights and early mornings are inevitable for entrepreneurs. How about making that process easier with some great coffee? An Aeropress coffee maker, the ever-fancy Chemex, or my personal favorite pour over method all make great cups of coffee. Pick up some beans from your favorite local roaster, and you’re in business.

11. A Hydroflask

To keep their coffee or tea toasty, a Hydroflask is a great gift. These vacuum-sealed wonders keep hot things hot and cold things cold, and won’t spill in a bag or backpack, which is great for entrepreneurs on the go.

For entrepreneurs who need to stay connected

12. A portable wallet charger

I am notorious for being suddenly unreachable due to a dead phone, and this can be a real issue for someone starting or running a new business. This thin, portable charger fits easily into a wallet, making it possible to stay connected at all times.

13. A backup phone battery charger

On that note, any type of backup phone battery is a solid bet. If you’re running a business or in the process of starting one, it could mean more than a small hassle if your phone is constantly dying. Check out Digital Trends’ list of the best portable phone chargers.

For entrepreneurs who like to take chances

14. An executive decision maker paperweight

In the same vein as the magic eight balls we all remember from childhood, this amusing paperweight will make any tough decision for you. (We at Palo Alto Software take no responsibility for any negative fallout that may result from leaving important business decisions up to a paperweight, however.)

For entrepreneurs that need to relax

15. HeadSpace or Calm App subscription

A meditation app can be just enough of a reminder to take time out and breathe in the new year. Too much stress can lead to burnout and can make the challenges of growing a business seem insurmountable. Just a few moments of calm each day can really help.

16. A miniature zen garden

A fun addition to any entrepreneur’s desk, this mini zen garden is a cute way to take a break from a busy day. Give this to your favorite stressed-out entrepreneur—they may roll their eyes at you, but they’ll secretly get a kick out of it.

17. A yoga class pass

Another fantastic way to help your favorite entrepreneur relax is the gift of yoga. Simply head over to your local yoga studio (preferably one close to their place of work or home) and pick up a pass or a gift card!

For entrepreneurs who have it all (or who don’t like clutter)

18. Something intangible

Celeste Peterson, our director of people development, says maybe a thing isn’t the right choice. “Some business owners don’t want more stuff to clutter their busy lives,” she says.

“Get that person a gift card, subscription or membership for something they need, and save them some money and time. An Audible membership so they can listen to books on the way to the office, or a gift certificate to their favorite lunch cafe might be perfect.”

For entrepreneurs ready to establish a social presence

19. A decent camera

While potentially one of the more costly presents, a camera will greatly help any entrepreneur who is looking to improve their social presence, allowing them to take great shots for their Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter feeds, or upload Youtube videos. To get started, check out this list of the top cameras for bloggers and small businesses.

20. An octopus tripod

Another great addition to any entrepreneur’s social media arsenal is this flexible, light tripod, which works both on flat surfaces and oddly shaped ones. It works with both a traditional camera and includes a cell phone mount, making it easy to take anything from product pictures, to marketing videos on the go and from any angle.

For entrepreneurs who need to tune out

21. A pair of noise-canceling headphones

Whether it’s a busy office or a noisy coffee shop, to get work done sometimes you need to block out the noise around you. Some noise canceling headphones are a huge asset when it comes to working distraction-free.

Bose is considered by many to be the gold standard, but there are plenty of options. There are even those that aren’t necessarily billed as noise canceling but still do a pretty nice job, like my personal favorite Sony MDRXB950AP/H Extra Bass Smartphone Headset (I’m wearing them as I write, and I’m a frequent busy coffee shop-worker).

For accident-prone entrepreneurs

22. A washable keyboard

Accidents happen, but for an entrepreneur in the throes of planning or running their business, they can be hugely inconvenient. Spilled a cup of coffee? Little one knocks over their juice? This washable keyboard will be a lifesaver.

For entrepreneurs whose offices could use a little help

23. A Bluetooth speaker

To help liven up a new home office, a Bluetooth speaker like this one from Bose is a great bet. Larger versions would also make a great gift for an entrepreneur who is opening up a small shop and needs help setting the mood.

24. A dose of (non-cheesy) motivation

Whenever I need great prints, I turn to Etsy. Some of my favorites, which are sure to brighten up any new office and inspire greatness? This sweet floral-themed print, this bold, awesome statement, and one of my personal favorite quotes on a mug, courtesy of Ron Swanson.

25. Something fun and playful (and, yes, a little nerdy)

Check out sites like ThinkGeek and UncommonGoods for cute, unique gifts that would brighten up any workspace. My favorites? This BB-8 desk lamp, or this set of mini Harry Potter characters, which would look awfully cute on a desk.

For entrepreneurs who have an exercise habit (or would like to build one)

26. A GPS watch or other activity tracker

If your favorite entrepreneur is a budding fitness enthusiast, they might appreciate an activity tracker like those made by Fitbit, or a GPS running watch if they’re a runner. I personally use a Garmin GPS watch and a Fitbit Flex 2 and love them both.

For entrepreneurs on the go

27. A nice laptop bag

Making travel to and from work and meetings easy, a sturdy, professional looking laptop bag is a must-have. Timbuk2 messenger bags are always classic and sporty, and I’m a big fan of this canvas and leather messenger or this felt one.

For entrepreneurs who need to look sharp

28. Design-it-yourself button-down shirts

I’ve never seen anything quite like OriginalStitch, which allows you to customize shirts to create seemingly endless combinations. Does your favorite entrepreneur have lots of meetings, presentations, and networking opportunities coming up? This could be a great, unique gift.

For entrepreneurs who never stop planning—even in the shower

29. Aqua Notes waterproof notepad

I’m not sure what it is about a good shower, but sometimes the best ideas come at the strangest times. This cute waterproof notepad means ideas won’t ever go forgotten because they couldn’t be written down.

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