45 Fitness Related Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]

Updated: July 24th, 2023

Interested in starting a fitness business in 2024?

We put together 45 of the best fitness businesses you can start in today.

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other fitness businesses to help you see what it really takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Become a mobile personal trainer

Do you love helping people through their fitness journey? If you want a great side hustle to earn extra income, consider becoming a personal trainer.

The fitness trainer side hustle can be an adamant industry to earn good money. However, once you develop a reputation as a good trainer, you can get more clients through referrals. You need to register for the certification course to start offering personal trainer services .

To attract your first clients, consider online advertising, and seek referrals from every customer.

How much you can make: $600 — $8,333,333/month

How long does it take to build: 532 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 4 hours/week

How I Started A $60K/Month Personal Training Company

Live Fit, a personal training company founded in 2011, grew from earning $80,000 in their first year with two trainers to earning over $760,000 in 2019 with 12 trainers and two locations, thanks to a focus on building trusting relationships and providing a variety of services to clients.

About
Chris started Live Fit about 13 years ago
Revenue
Chris grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost Chris $50000 to start the business
Read by 8,003 founders

2. Start an archery range business

3. Start a snowboards business

4. Start a balls manufacturing business

5. Start a canoe and kayak tours business

6. Start a sports club business

7. Start a baseball batting cage business

8. Start a badminton academy business

9. Become a skiing instructor

As a skiing instructor, skiing skills, experience, and excellent teaching skills are required.

The minimum qualification to become a skiing instructor is achieving the level 1 Ski Instructor’s qualification. The level 1 qualification is a stepping stone to becoming an internationally-recognized Snowsports instructor.

To acquire trainers’ certification, you must complete the level 4 ski instructor qualification, which takes a couple of years to complete.

10. Start a sports wear store

If you’re a fitness enthusiast looking to start your own business, why not consider opening a sportswear store? This unique venture offers many opportunities to cater to athletes’ and fitness enthusiasts’ needs.

From trendy workout gear to high-performance athletic shoes, your store will be a veritable cornucopia of fitness gear.

Not only will you have the chance to help people find the perfect gear for their workouts, but you’ll also be able to provide expert advice and guidance on the latest trends and technologies in the sportswear industry.

Plus, with the rise of athleisure fashion, your store will appeal to a wide range of customers, from professional athletes to fashion-conscious fitness enthusiasts.

Consider offering personalized services such as custom fittings and specialized gear for specific sports or activities to stand out from the competition.

You could also host events and workshops to engage with your community and build a loyal customer base. A sportswear store can be a lucrative and fulfilling business venture with the proper marketing and customer service strategy.

So, if you’re ready to start your entrepreneurial fitness journey, consider opening a sportswear store today!

How much you can make: $12,500 — $660,000/month

How long does it take to build: 4504 days (?)

How I Created A $12.5K/Month Patented Heelless Running Shoe

The DIFFERENCE co-founder developed a patented heelless running shoe that eliminates heelstrikes, grossing an average of $12,500 per month within the last two months, primarily targeting runners and the medical community.

About
Olguy started the DIFFERENCE almost 8 years ago
Revenue
Olguy grew the business to $12.5K/month
Costs
It cost Olguy $200000 to start the business
Read by 7,838 founders

11. Start a billiards hall business

12. Become a sports blogger

The sports blogger business involves creating a website or platform where you write about various sports topics, share insights, and engage with an audience interested in sports.

To start this business on a budget, you’ll need a computer, an internet connection, and basic writing skills.

Begin by choosing a specific niche within sports (like a particular sport, team, or type of content) to focus on.

Consistently create high-quality, engaging content and promote your blog through social media and online communities to build an audience over time.

Monetize your blog through methods like affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and advertising once you have a steady flow of visitors.

How much you can make: $250 — $18,400/month

How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)

How long does it take to build: 10 days (?)

I Started A $200K/Year Baseball Newsletter On Substack [10K+ Subscribers]

Craig Calcaterra's daily baseball and culture Substack newsletter Cup of Coffee has amassed just under 10,500 subscribers, with over 3,300 paying monthly ($6) or annual ($65) subscriptions, achieving average monthly revenue of around $18,400 and growing.

About
Craig started Cup of Coffee over 3 years ago
Revenue
Craig grew the business to $18.4K/month
Costs
It cost Craig $200 to start the business
Read by 4,752 founders

13. Start a sports shop business

A retail sporting shop provides sports equipment such as balls, bats, gloves, sticks, rackets, clubs, and protective gear.

Entrepreneurs can set up a sports shop at a strip mall or sell their products online. Renting a shop at the strip mall will require a little money to pay the rent, but depending on the entrepreneurs’ approach, it could be more profitable.

How much you can make: $100,000 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How We Invented A $2.5M/Year Four-Way Volleyball Net

CROSSNET, the world's first four-way volleyball game, went from $74,000 in revenue in 2018 to $2,250,000 in sales in just one year by attracting customers through social media, email marketing, and exclusive distribution agreements with retailers like Target.

About
Greg started CROSSNET over 7 years ago
Revenue
Greg grew the business to $1M/month
Read by 11,539 founders

14. Start a swim school

How much you can make: $1,000/month

31-year-old earns up to $1,000 a month from her swim school side hustle aimed at ‘smashing’ stereotypes
About
Paulana started Black People Will Swim over 4 years ago
Revenue
Paulana grew the business to $1K/month
Read by 23 founders

15. Start a golf instruction business

How much you can make: $165,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Built A $1.98M/Year Business Planning Golf-Inspired Vacations

Golf Trip Junkie founder Sean Petersen shares how he turned his passion for golf and travel into a profitable business, with average monthly revenue of $165,000, by designing personalized golf vacations for middle-aged men and companies looking for a unique corporate outing experience.

About
Sean started Golf Trip Junkie almost 9 years ago
Revenue
Sean grew the business to $165K/month
Costs
It cost Sean $50000 to start the business
Read by 3,371 founders

16. Start a cycling club business

17. Start a boxing center business

18. Start a bounce house business

The bounce house business provides inflatable structures for parties and events. These structures, also known as bounce houses, are designed to provide a fun and safe space for children to play and have a good time.

To start this business, you must invest in a few bounce houses, a reliable transportation method to transport them to events, and insurance to cover any accidents or injuries. You must also market your business and reach out to potential clients to book events.

To operate this business successfully, you must ensure that your bounce houses are well-maintained, clean, and safe. You should also be reliable and provide excellent customer service to build a good reputation in the community.

19. Start a windsurfing coaching business

20. Start an indoor games academy business

21. Start a campground business

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast and looking for a business opportunity, a campground business might be a perfect fit for you.

To make your campground a success, it is essential to choose a location that is easily accessible to your potential customers.

Secondly, offer amenities such as showers, restrooms, and a camp store to make your guests' stay more comfortable and enjoyable and leverage social media and local advertising to promote your business and reach more customers.

Providing exceptional customer service will create a positive and memorable experience for your guests.

22. Start an athletic club business

23. Start a chess school business

How much you can make: $8,300/month

From $17/hr to 6-Figure Side Hustle

This case study showcases how a transition to an online recurring membership model can lead to a successful six-figure business, as Elite Chess founder Jeff earns five times more than when he was teaching chess at summer camps for $17 an hour.

About
Jeff started Elite Chess about 12 years ago
Revenue
Jeff grew the business to $8.3K/month
Read by 772 founders

24. Start a basketball academy business

25. Start a bungee jumping service

Bungee jumping is an action-filled recreational activity involving head-first jumping from a tall structure. If you have bungee jumping experience and are interested in earning from the business, consider starting the Bungee jump.

Bungee jumping is becoming a popular entertainment. However, starting the sporting activity can be cash-intensive. The business demands upfront startup capital for equipment buying, licensing, and marketing.

26. Start a shuttle cock making business

27. Start a nutrition guides business

How much you can make: $1,000,000/month

HVMN and Ketone IQ: Next-Level Metabolic Health with Ketones | Michael Brandt, Co-Founder & CEO

HVMN, co-founded by Michael and Geoffrey, disrupts the market with its ketone-based products, making health benefits accessible beyond fasting and low-carb diets, boasting a $6 million contract with the US Department of Defense and a considerably cheaper price of Ketone-IQ launched in 2022.

About
Michael started H.V.M.N. over 10 years ago
Revenue
Michael grew the business to $1M/month
Read by 642 founders

28. Start a fitness center

Are you interested in starting a business that revolves around health and body fitness? How about setting up a fitness center?

A fitness center business is a health, recreational, and social facility geared towards exercise and other physical activities. These centers serve people who may want to do workouts to get into shape and improve their overall health.

The health and fitness industry is one of the fastest-growing industries today. Some factors behind the sector’s popularity include a health-conscious population who want to avoid lifestyle-related illnesses, social media influence, and a shift towards better healthcare.

Starting a fitness center business can be a fun and profitable venture. If you plan to start the business, secure a good location, and equip your fitness center adequately. You may choose to operate entirely online or a hybrid model where you have the physical fitness center and the online one.

How much you can make: $20,000 — $39,875,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

I Built A $240K/Year Business While Deployed In Kuwait

BioFit is a fitness studio that offers safe and effective exercise through high-intensity training (HIT) methodology, using adaptive resistance exercise (ARX) machines that can achieve results in as little as 20 minutes a week, with an 80% closing ratio, over 70% client retention, 125 clients, and an average monthly revenue of $20k.

About
John started BioFit over 5 years ago
Revenue
John grew the business to $20K/month
Costs
It cost John $100000 to start the business
Read by 2,842 founders

29. Start a karate studio business

30. Start an online sports shop business

How much you can make: $2,500 — $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

These Childhood Friends Designed A $1.2M/Year Stand Up Paddleboard

Thurso Surf, founded by childhood friends, has quickly grown to become one of the best SUP brands in the highly competitive mid-range market, selling thousands of boards in dozens of countries since its launch in 2018, with traffic increased 16X since their first year in operation.

About
Shenglong started Thurso Surf almost 8 years ago
Revenue
Shenglong grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Shenglong $5000 to start the business
Read by 3,329 founders

31. Become a football referee

32. Start a sports memorabilia business

33. Start a health consultations business

Healthcare consultants share expertise, advise and guide healthcare organizations to make proper business decisions that promote growth and benefit their customers or patients.

To become a health consultant, you must have a related degree and earned experience. as a health consultant. You will focus on administrative efficiency, legal compliance, work environment, and procedural flow to help healthcare organizations thrive.

34. Become a sports photographer

Do you want to combine your love for photography with your favorite sports? as a sports photographer, you get the chance to capture all exciting sports moments and sell the photos to sports fans, newspaper companies, and stock photography websites.

35. Start a sports bar

People drink when they are happy or depressed. Opening a sports bar can be an excellent opportunity to earn money no matter their mood.

Are you looking for a strip mall business idea? You can start a sports bar at your nearest strip mall. You can sell take-away wines, spirits, whiskey, or beers and have a sitting place for customers who enjoy drinks at the bar.

36. Start a martial art school

The martial arts school is a business idea that teaches various martial arts styles and techniques to students of all ages and skill levels. Martial art includes karate, taekwondo, judo, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, among others.

To start this business, you will need a space to hold classes, such as a gym or studio. You will also need to hire instructors or be an instructor yourself with knowledge and experience in the martial art(s) you plan to teach. Depending on your martial art style, you may also need to purchase equipment, such as mats, gloves, and pads.

To operate this business successfully, you must market your school to potential students through social media, word of mouth, or local advertisements. You will also need to keep your instructors updated on the latest techniques and trends in the martial art industry and ensure that they provide students with a safe and welcoming environment.

In addition to offering classes, you could host tournaments or events, such as belt testing or sparring tournaments, to provide additional opportunities for students to showcase their skills and progress. Providing a variety of classes and events will help keep students engaged and interested in your martial art school.

37. Start a sports scout business

38. Start a sport coach training business

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 142 days (?)

39. Start a tennis academy business

40. Start a sports magazine publishing business

A sports magazine publishing business is a venture that involves creating and distributing magazines that cover various sports and athletics-related topics. These magazines can be printed or digital and can focus on a specific sport, such as football or basketball, or they can be more general and cover a range of sports.

To start a sports magazine publishing business, you must first identify your target audience and determine the type of content most appealing to them. This could include in-depth analysis and coverage of specific teams and players, as well as general sports news and events.

Next, you must create a business plan and determine your budget. This will involve calculating costs for printing, distribution, and marketing. You will also need to consider how you will monetize your magazine, whether through subscriptions, advertising, or a combination of both.

To succeed in this business, you must have a strong passion for sports and a deep understanding of the industry. You will also need excellent writing and editing skills and strong marketing and business acumen. It is also essential to adapt to changes in the industry and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the world of sports.

Overall, a sports magazine publishing business can be a rewarding and exciting venture for those passionate about sports and with the skills and dedication to succeed in the industry. With careful planning and hard work, this business can provide a platform for sharing your love of sports with others and building a loyal readership.

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

41. Start a video game parlor

A video game parlor is a business that provides a space for people to play video games, either on a console or computer. The business typically charges customers an hourly or daily fee to access the gaming systems and may also offer food and drinks for purchase.

To run a successful video game parlor, it is essential to have various games available for customers. This can include the latest and most popular games and older classic titles. Keeping the gaming systems and equipment well-maintained and in good working order is also essential.

Another critical aspect of running a successful video game parlor is creating a welcoming and enjoyable customer atmosphere. This can include comfortable seating, clean and well-lit facilities, and friendly and helpful staff. It is also essential to have strict rules for behavior and enforce them to ensure a positive experience for all customers.

Finally, it is crucial to have a strong marketing and advertising strategy to attract and retain customers. This can include social media campaigns, advertising in local publications, and hosting events or tournaments.

Overall, a video game parlor can be a fun and lucrative business opportunity for entrepreneurs passionate about gaming and creating a positive customer environment.

42. Start a sports camps business

A sports camps business is a summer camp that focuses on various sports activities and skills development for children and young adults. To start this business, you will need to identify a location for the camp (such as a sports field or gym), hire experienced coaches and instructors, and create a schedule of activities and programs. You will also need to market the camp to potential customers and handle registration and payment processes.

To start a sports camps business, you must research and understand the local market and competition and identify any necessary permits or licenses. You should also develop a business plan that outlines your target audience, pricing structure, and marketing strategies. Once you have a clear plan, you can begin securing funding (if needed) and setting up the camp location.

Finally, you must market the camp to potential customers and handle registration and payment processes.

43. Become a yoga instructor

The first step to becoming a yoga instructor is obtaining a certification from an instructor-affiliated institution near you. Your next step should be drawing up a business plan considering various projections. Finally, determine whether to open a brick-and-mortar establishment, offer online yoga classes, or a hybrid model.

The option has far more responsibilities for brick-and-mortar establishments, like paying rent and utility expenses. Also, check business-zoning requirements and acquire the required licenses. Proper marketing strategies will help you build clientele fast and grow your business.

How much you can make: $60,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

How I Started A $60K/Month Personal Training Company

Live Fit, a personal training company founded in 2011, grew from earning $80,000 in their first year with two trainers to earning over $760,000 in 2019 with 12 trainers and two locations, thanks to a focus on building trusting relationships and providing a variety of services to clients.

About
Chris started Live Fit about 13 years ago
Revenue
Chris grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost Chris $50000 to start the business
Read by 8,003 founders

44. Start a sports t-shirt making business

A sports t-shirt design and distribution business are one of the most profitable ideas you will want to start today. Sports Tee shirts are popular items within the fitness industry, which makes them an amazing opportunity for upcoming fashion entrepreneurs.

How much you can make: $475,000,000/month

Kevin Plank started Under Armour in his grandmother’s basement

Under Armour, the American sports equipment and sports apparel manufacturing company, started from scratch in 1996 with an initial product of a synthetic base layer that wicks away sweat, and has since expanded their range to include football, cross-training, and running shoes, with 2019 revenues of $5.27 billion.

About
They started Under Armour over 28 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $475M/month
Read by 973 founders

45. Start a sports copywriting business

A sports copywriting business involves creating written content related to sports, such as articles, blog posts, advertisements, and social media posts, for sports teams, athletes, or sports-related companies.

To start a copywriting business with $50K or less, you’ll need a computer, an internet connection, and basic software for writing and communication.

Begin by building a portfolio of sample sports-related content to showcase your writing skills. Next, reach out to potential clients, such as local sports teams, sports blogs, or sports apparel companies, and offer your services.

As you gain clients and build a reputation, you can reinvest profits to expand your business further.

How much you can make: $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

We Offer Premium Services For E-Sports Arenas Worldwide [$3.6M/Year]

Esports management software company ggCircuit has doubled its revenue every year since inception and amassed $4 million in revenue in the past year alone, while offering services to over 700 customers globally and projecting double that in revenue over the next 12 months.

About
Zack started ggCircuit almost 10 years ago
Revenue
Zack grew the business to $300K/month
Costs
It cost Zack $50000 to start the business
Read by 2,939 founders

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.