Creative Colleague and Contractor Gift Ideas

Showing appreciation for your colleagues (affiliate) and contractors is crucial in fostering a mutually beneficial relationship. At the end of the year, it is the perfect time to give creative colleagues (affiliate) and contractors gifts. People will remember those who take the time to acknowledge them. This week, we will be discussing some creative gift ideas for colleagues and contractors that they will love and treasure. Feel free to share this post with other self-employed people.

Please note that these are affiliate links through Amazon. At no additional cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase.

Colleagues (affiliate) will be divided into two categories: those who work with you at the same level in the same company, also known as a workmate, teammate, partner, etc. This could be a manager you coordinate with from a company you work with on a regular basis. Or a peer owner who owns a business you may use regularly.

Meanwhile, working with subcontractors could involve people who work for you to help your clients (affiliate).  These individuals are typically sole proprietors or entrepreneurs who wish to be considered subcontractors and have their own clients (affiliate), in addition to you.

I divided the gift ideas into these two categories (Colleagues and Subcontractors) to clarify what to give to each of these coworkers. 

Remember to avoid everyday gift-giving items, such as mugs, calendars, keychains, and notepads. Everyone has so many of these items, so try not to add to their clutter.  

Note: The Amazon Associate links below are affiliate links. That means if you purchase something from Amazon after clicking through, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. The other links in this post are just online stores I love. I will not get a commission from these stores. Happy shopping!

Colleagues Gift Ideas

Colleagues might enjoy hobby gifts. Think about the conversations you had with your colleagues. Was there anything that they enjoyed talking about? Did they mention activities they do with their kids? It may give you direction on what to give them.

Things like food are always nicely received. Make sure you purchase a general gift unless you know they are willing to take risks and try something new. Pick fruit or nut baskets that don’t contain too many unusual items. No one wants to waste food. 

Make the gifts unique but convenient to the colleague’s location. 

I remember years ago, my boss gave everyone a gift card for a free ham from Honey Baked Hams Co., but what they didn’t realize was that I had to travel over half an hour to pick up mine. <sigh> 

Note: If you have colleagues in other states, consider visiting popular places near them and sending them a gift card.

Visit GoldBelly.com to explore specific regions of the U.S. that are renowned for their unique dishes. They have everything you may want for a recipient who is not from your area and misses home.

Consider the recipients’ dietary restrictions. 

Unique muffins or cupcake gift packs are nice gifts for colleagues. Especially if you are seeing them before the holidays, be sure to consider their dietary restrictions before purchasing these items. 

You can easily find gluten-free options these days. Below is one idea I found on Amazon (affiliate).

Yummy gift option!

Snack: Allergy Friendly Box: (20 Ct): Top 8 Allergen Free

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(affiliate)

Another option is to create DIY mason jar mixes for dry ingredients. They are also a creative way to share food items. If you find a recipe you like, you can make it in large quantities and save even more. I made a few of them over the years. I recently made one to give to family, clients (affiliate), and friends. HOMEMADE FRENCH VANILLA CHAI TEA MIX GIFT JAR DIY

Using what you know about the person to determine the gift is the best way to show them that you care.

Now, let’s discuss the gifts for Contractors.

Contractor Gift Ideas

You probably don’t always see your subcontractors, so keeping their gifts small and easier to ship will save you time and money.

I had clients send me things like a locally made fruit platter. Others gave me funds so I could pick my charity. Read the article “The Act of Giving Makes a Nice Gift if Done Correctly” from the New York Times for more advice on the topic.

Other clients have sent me products from Small Batch Kitchen. They are out of Lansdale, PA. They offer things your subcontractors may enjoy. The entire family loved it.

We also enjoyed sending food from popular local businesses, such as Di Bruno Brothers in Philadelphia, PA.

You can also give these subcontractors gifts from online stores. Some of my favorite stores for giving unique gifts are Uncommongoods.com and Etsy.com. You can purchase them and then ship them directly to them.

There are also places to ship things like wine or beer. If you live in Pennsylvania, you will need to ship wine through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control website for recipients.

Can I deduct gifts to colleagues or contractors on my tax return?

Remember that you can only deduct $25.00 per person as a gift in a calendar year. Read more about the details on the IRS website. If you wish to give to these people, please consult your accountant to determine the amount that is acceptable to spend and the best way to proceed.

I hope this post helped you decide on creative colleague and contractor gift ideas to give to them. If you want more ideas, visit our other gift ideas posts.