Crowded malls, 5 a.m. store openings, pine trees on the roofs of cars, and a 10-foot inflatable Santas in front yards across the country—yep, the holiday season is once again in full swing. With all the hustle and bustle that comes with the winter festivities, getting a home business up and running is the last thing on people’s minds.

Admittedly, it’s understandable. December is about decorating the house, frantically shopping for the perfect gift, spending time with family, or enjoying a good meal and way too many sweets. Besides, it’s well known that most home-businesses go through a lull after Thanksgiving, so why not follow conventional wisdom and wait until January to take the plunge?

The short answer: because you’ll make more money and be better at your business by starting now. Here’s why:

1. Think ahead, and work smart

On the surface, getting up before dawn the day after Thanksgiving and waiting in line to save $300 on a television or five bucks on an action figure seems to flirt with the definition of insanity. But not only are you saving money on gifts you planned to buy anyway, you’re getting your shopping done ahead of time. The lesson? Think ahead, and work smart.

If you’re going to work from home, you’ll eventually have to put the time into the business. The amount is up to you, but no matter what some networkers claim, you don’t get money for nothing. So why not get started now while you have some time off from work and there are more hours in the day? It will help you learn the ropes of your business and develop your work-from-home mindset moving forward.

Finding the right work/life balance is essential to home-business success, so use the holidays as your training wheels. Many networking newbies find it difficult to work with no one looking over their shoulder, an issue that’s compounded when other distractions (kids, spouse, returning gifts, etc.) enter the equation. If you can set aside time for your business during the holidays—and stick to it—you won’t miss a beat when the kids go back to school and the Christmas tree comes down.

And if you subscribe to the notion that January is prime time to build your business (more on that soon), you’ll want to make sure your operation is humming smoothly and efficiently by then. Many network-marketing companies offer training programs you’ll need to navigate before getting started—why not take a few hours and get them done while the kids are playing with their new toys?

Enjoy the downtime, but use it constructively.

2. The first time usually isn’t the charm

The worst place to be the day after Christmas is in the customer service line at a major department or retail store. Hundreds if not thousands of people, eager to rectify the mistakes of family and friends and get the present they really want, flood overworked clerks with returns and exchanges. It’s proof that no matter how well we think we know something (“That sweater for dad seemed like the perfect gift at the time, so why’s he taking it back?”), it’s still really easy to make a mistake.

A home business is no different. There are growing pains every step of the way, and the faster you iron out the kinks and fine-tune your approach, the less time it will take you to achieve your goals. The first time you pick up the phone, it’s unlikely your sales pitch will make Donald Trump take notes. But after a month of refining your technique and familiarizing yourself with the business, you’ll turn prospects to team members in no time.

3. Everyone could use a little extra cash this Christmas

Remember that “conventional wisdom” from earlier about home-business signups trailing off during November and December? Most people accept this as fact without really digging below the numbers. If they did, they’d learn they’re missing a valuable opening to increase the size and scope of their operation.

Here’s the secret: most networkers take the final two months of the year to themselves because they can, not because no one is interested in joining their team. There are just as many people open to your opportunity today as there are in June—likely more this season with the economy in the shape it’s in—you just have to find them. Work leads, talk to friends and family, introduce yourself to strangers at Christmas parties and let them know what you do and how they can join. Potential prospects are everywhere.

If you’re starting a business, chances are you’re in it to make money. Well, so is everyone else, and if they like your opportunity, the fact that there are no more pages left on this year’s calendar won’t deter them from joining immediately. Keep that thought in mind as you ponder whether or not to make the work-from-home transition in the next few weeks.

So grab a cup of eggnog, spend some time with your family, and then sit down in front of the computer and either find a business you love or work on the one you have. Start now, and you’ll give yourself the gift that keeps on giving all year long.