34 Unique Outdoor Business Ideas To Start In 2023

Are you interested in starting an outdoor business?

If you love the outdoors, then the thought of starting outdoor business ideas can be fun and profitable.

However, finding the best outdoor business ideas can be overwhelming. People are interested in outdoor activities, including swimming, biking, camping, hiking, etc.

Have an outdoor related business and want to get added to this list? Submit to share your story here.

Below we have listed some successful businesses that we have featured that excelled and have been kind enough to share their stories so future entrepreneurs can learn from them. Check them out:

1. Start a flight tours business

A flight tour business takes people on short flights to experience an aerial view. If you are into airplanes and love taking different people on tours, the flight tour business is a more expensive service that targets adventurous clients.

While starting a flight tour business may sound overwhelming, doing scenic tours the right way can be rewarding. Cover locations of interest worth seeing from the air and target affluent travelers. To market your business, take a couple of pictures covering different scenes to entice the target customers and make them want to experience the tours.

2. Start a hiking company

Are you passionate about backpacking and hiking? Starting a backpacking and trekking business can be a noble idea if you love everything about tours and travel and know all the tourist attractions in your neighborhood.

To start a hiking company, explore the hiking tour market, and create a business plan. Also, take photos of the hiking sites and the trails, then post them to your social media pages and website.

3. Start a private snorkel tour business

Do you enjoy watching fish and other underwater creatures? You could turn your love for underwater watching into a great snorkeling business. As much as snorkeling is a combination of entertainment and relaxation, starting a snorkel tour business is a fantastic way to earn income.

To get customers to your snorkeling tours, design an informative and colorful brochure depicting the entertainment and relaxation that snorkeling offers. Do not forget to record videos, share them widely on social media, and tag nearby restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds.

To run a successful business, you will need general knowledge and experience in snorkeling, first-aid training, and equipment. Also, due to the nature of this business, you will need to carry liability insurance and possibly a certificate identifying you as a tour operator.

4. Start a kayak store

Kayaking has shown steady growth in the last decade. According to data, touring kayaks anticipate revenue growth in the coming year. The demand for kayaks is attributed to increased awareness about fitness & health. Kayaking and rafting are effective cardiovascular workouts, and people across the globe are increasingly taking an interest in these sports.

If you love watersports, you can start a kayak store. Your business can focus on renting kayaks to water sports tourists or manufacturing and selling kayaks at wholesale and retail prices.

5. Start a home equipment business

There are some cool things about the home equipment industry that make it an appealing business. Starting a home equipment business isn't easy. To do it properly, you need the right tools and equipment. Starting a home equipment business will definitely improve your financial outlook but you need lots of capital to start one.

Having a successful home equipment business is largely dependent upon the training and experience of the owner. Starting a home equipment business can be ideal for people who want to start a business but don't want the hassle of managing a physical location.

6. Start a bathroom appliance business

Bathroom appliances include bathtubs, toilets, sinks, taps, toilet seats, wall cabinets, and other wired fixtures like showers.

Homeowners often install bathroom appliances for functional and aesthetic reasons. High-quality bathroom appliances also improve the property's value and make the house livable.

To start a bathroom appliances business, research the market and understand consumer preferences. You can offer sales and installation services or partner with a professional appliance installer to help install the appliances.

7. Start a hammock brand

Over the past few years, the demand for hammocks has shot up.

The global hammock market is projected to reach $639 million in the next few years.

The demand for hammocks is growing among campers and outdoor enthusiasts due to the ease of installation and use. Hammocks are lightweight and ideal for carrying around when going for outdoor backpacking and hiking trips.

With hammocks' popularity rising, starting a hammock line today can be profitable. To start your hammock business, research the market to find out who uses hammocks more. You can be a hammock maker, a wholesaler, or a retailer.

Register your business and apply for the certificates you need to run a successful venture.

8. Start a campervan conversion business

Campervan conversion is growing in popularity. The main reason behind its popularity is it is a cheaper alternative for buying a new campervan.

If you plan to start a campervan conversion business, you can offer the customers a readymade campervan or a camper van conversion service. A readymade campervan model is where you purchase a caravan, convert it into a campervan, then sell it to outdoor lovers, or even rent the camper van. As a service, a customer drives to your workshop and requests you to convert their van into a camper.

The readymade option offers a wider profit margin, but there is a risk of waiting longer to sell the campervan. Conversion as a service has less profit, but there is more certainty when getting your money back.

9. Start a bicycle company

A surge in exercise and heightened anxiety over public transportation during the Covid-19 pandemic are reasons more people have embraced biking.

Apart from being a form of exercise, using bicycles is also good for the environment as there are no emissions.

Therefore, starting a bicycle company can be a profitable venture. Research the market and choose a niche. Then, register your brand and focus on the production of high-quality bicycles.

10. Start a tour company

Starting a tour company is a great way to bring your love of travel to life. You can share your passion with others and help make their dream vacations come true!

There are many types of tour businesses, so choosing something you are passionate about and knowledgeable about is best. Here are a few of the most popular tour companies to start:

• Food & Drink Tours
• Adventure & Sporting Tours
• Sightseeing & Historical Tours
• Shopping Tours
• and many more!

It’s also essential to determine what mode of transportation you want for your tour company, as this will determine the initial startup costs needed for your company.

To get started, find out if you need a license to operate in your state. Some states require tour companies to be licensed, while others do not. If you are required to be licensed, talk with the licensing agency to find out what steps must be taken before you can apply for that license.

11. Start a pet store

Pet stores are retail businesses that sell animals and pet supplies. They are a leading industry category with sales of approximately $4.5B U.S dollars and positive sales growth of 2.7%.

You can set up a pet store in many places, like supermarkets, malls, or pet supply stores.

The first thing to do is to find a location for your store. A good place would be an area with many residential buildings, schools, and colleges as this will give you access to many customers. It would help if you also looked for a location near public transport as it will make it easier for people to come and visit your store.

12. Start a Backyard Plant Nursery

Do you have a gardening hobby and want to turn your passion into a profitable business with a minimum entry barrier?

Starting a backyard plant nursery is relatively easy, and the financial benefits can be rewarding. The secret to maximizing your profitability is specializing in plants that are in high demand, like vegetables and flowers.

To start, you can visit the nearby retail nurseries for seedlings and see what they stock and retail. To keep the startup cost low, consider using locally available materials.

13. Start an event planning business

Event planners handle different tasks related to making the business a success. Some of the event planner’s responsibilities include:

• Conducting research
• Creating the event design
• Finding an ideal site
• Arranging for food, décor, and entertainment
• Planning logistics to and from the event
• Sending invitations
• Supervising at the site etc

The events industry has grown enormously in the past year. According to research, consumers’ appetite for outdoor events is rising and will not slow anytime soon. Therefore, setting up an outdoor event planning and management company can be lucrative.

14. Start a drinkware brand

A drinkware brand sells home and houseware products like cups, koozies, mugs, and other drinking accessories. If you've decided to try and create a business selling drinkware, there are certain things you need to know. You can do it from the comfort of your own home. You can get started for free, avoiding the hefty cost of setting up a brick-and-mortar shop. And if you take advantage of the right marketing strategies, you could be on your way to making money within a few weeks. The demand for custom-branded drinkware in the workplace has increased substantially over the past decade.

15. Start a dance apparel brand

The dance apparel industry is a great opportunity if you love to dance or just have a passion for fashion.

Dancewear includes dance costumes that are worn specifically for dance practice or events. Generally, this type of clothing includes skirts, tights, arm warmers, belts, dance shoes, legwarmers, and leotards.

16. Start a bicycle accessories business

More people are cycling today than two decades ago. As the number of cyclists increases, the demand for bicycle accessories will keep growing.

17. Start a RV rental business

The RV rental business is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to make money selling and renting recreational vehicles (RVs). This is a booming industry that continues to grow each year.

An RV rental business provides an appealing option for travelers and holidaymakers exploring the country. Starting an RV company can be fun as it offers you the flexibility to work on your preferred schedule. You can schedule drivers and cleaners and ensure RV maintenance without appearing physically.

18. Start an animal bone cleaning service

The pristine-looking skeletons you see in museums or bright white skulls hanging from walls are real animal bones and skulls that were cleaned and preserved.

Cleaning animal bones may sound boring! But do you know that animal skulls and bones is a profitable business? Animal bones and skulls are not only a good display for residential and commercial places, but they are also a good teaching tool. Your clients can be hunters, anatomy professionals, conservationists, and pet lovers.

Therefore, starting a bone cleaning and bleaching business can be a great business.

19. Start a hiking guide

Do you love hiking? Imagine getting paid to do what you love! Hiking guides are professional hikers with vast knowledge of local trails and nature. Hikers hire local hiking guides to accompany and educate them during hiking expeditions.

If you are looking for an exciting outdoorsy entrepreneurship opportunity, you may consider becoming a hiking guide.

20. Start a golf apparel store

A golf apparel store stocks men’s and women’s golf clothing from leading fashion and sports brands.

To start your golf apparel store, ensure you source a vast selection of golf apparel to attract more customers. Ensure to stock old favorites and even the latest golf apparel releases so you can accommodate inquiries and guarantee effective results.

21. Start a speed boat rental business

Boat hiring and boat rental services are tapping into the booming tourism sector. Water activities have become a significant tourist attraction, especially in coastal areas. Thus, boat hiring and rental are among the most attractive maritime business opportunities.

22. Start a boating tours business

Boat tour is a relatively short trip taken for touristic reasons or fishing. If you are interested in water activity related business, you can start boat tours. Customers pay per hour or by distance covered.

23. Start a boat racing academy

Boat racing has become a popular recreational sport. Besides, clubs are organizing boat racing tournaments, a trend that has seen many people interested in the sport. Beyond the obvious fun and challenge, boat racing is a recreational activity.

Many people book classroom sessions at academies near them to learn boat racing basics. If you love boating or are interested in a boat business, consider starting a boat racing academy. Your boat racing academy has to be near a waterbody and have all the safety equipment before starting to admit learners.

24. Start a fishing vessels and boats business

A fishing vessel is a boat or a ship used to catch fish in the sea, lake, or river. According to statistics, rising demand for fishing equipment in fishery technology will boost the global fishing vessel market.

Starting a fishing vessel business can be a profitable venture. To start, research the market and identify the potential markets to focus on. Options in this business include manufacturing the fishing vessels, becoming a fishing vessel reseller, renting fishing vessels, or repairing damaged fishing vessels.

Before starting the business, research the necessary permits and licenses, and target the markets with high demand for your services.

25. Start a recreational boat rental service

Boat hiring and boat rental services are tapping into the booming market of the experience economy. Today, most consumers prioritize experience over material items. Boat rental services are necessary, not just for tourists but also for family, couples, friends, and even solo. Investing in the right recreational boat rentals can have a significant return on investment.

Listed are the steps to start a recreational boat rental service business.

• Register your business name
• Permit and licenses to operate
• Obtain equipment for the operation
• Hiring staffs
• Organize your business and activity flow
• Promote your business

26. Start a fishing boat charter business

Fishing boat charter service is offered by board owners to professional or recreational anglers at a set rate per time limit or customized rate to meet group needs.

Many people enjoy fishing. However, few people own the boat and other fishing equipment. Moreover, owning a fishing boat may not be economical for recreational anglers. Therefore, they prefer a fishing boat charter service.

If you own a fishing boat, you can start the charter service and earn good profits from your business. Target those on recreational fishing expeditions and even professional anglers who prefer to rent fishing equipment rather than own it.

27. Start a boat transportation business

Global recreational boating marketing is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5%. Given the projected growth, and boat hauling service is another profitable opportunity for trucking companies.

Boat transportation service targets boat owners within the tourism and fishing industries. If you want a promising trucking business idea, hauling boats for money is a great opportunity.

28. Start a children's party service business

A children’s party service takes care of organizing, managing, and servicing children’s parties.

Children's parties are a $9B industry, and it's expected to be worth more than $15B by 2026.

By being a children's party planner, you will be there every step of the way for planning, ordering materials, and making sure your customers are satisfied.

29. Start a party planning business

Party planning involves budgeting, establishing party timelines, selecting and reserving ideal party sites, acquiring permits, theme décor, and coordinating party catering and transportation.

Are you organized, creative, and client-focused? You can put those skills into starting a successful party planning business. To become a party planner, you must desire to help other people enjoy themselves. Besides, you need diplomacy, salesmanship, and multitasking skills.

30. Start a fishing tools and accessories business

Fishing is a profitable economic activity. To achieve a good catch, fishermen require high-quality fishing tools and accessories. Starting fishing tools and accessories business can be a profitable venture. To start, find a location where fishing is an everyday activity. You can start an online or physical fishing tool and equipment store.

31. Start a wine tour business

Wine tourists visit wineries and vineyards where they experience gorgeous views and learn more about wine production. There are plenty of places that wine tourists can visit. To start a wine tour business, create a profile of your area’s top wineries and vineyards. Include different activities related to the wine tour business.

Then, market the trips to those attractive locations, showing the features the tourists can expect to see there. Wine tour businesses offer their customers a mix of luxury private tours to big group tours.

32. Start a fishing business

Are you passionate about fishing and wishing to start a business? If yes, then the fishing business is fun and can be profitable if done right. Fish and fish-based food are consumed globally and can be a great source of nutrients.

There are different options if you are interested in starting a fishing business. You can start a fish farm in your backyard, do sea fishing, offer fishing classes, or rent fishing equipment to recreational and commercial anglers.

33. Start a jet ski rental business

Are you looking for a business you can start within the coastal locations? A jet ski rental business can be excellent if you target areas that attract water sports tourists. According to industry experts, the global market size for the water sports gear market will reach $55.2 billion in the next decade.

Therefore, starting the ski jet rental business can be a profitable business. To venture into the ski rental business, you may start alone or consider starting as a franchise partner. For an absolute beginner in this industry, a franchise would be advisable.

34. Rent party & events venue

Businesses use event venues for various purposes, including meetings, tradeshows, conferences, product launches, etc. On the other hand, individuals host birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations at event venues.

According to the latest statistics, the events industry is growing rapidly. Events provide a great marketing tool for businesses, and events are crucial for strengthening relationships.

The demand for event venues increases as individuals and corporates host more events annually. If you have some unused space and are enthusiastic about hosting events, you can start an events rental business.

To start, choose a niche, and market your business. You can focus on corporate events, social and entertainment events, or general venues suitable for any setting and party theme.

Join Starter Story

See exactly how online businesses get to millions in revenue

• 4,818 founder case studies
• Access to our founder directory
• Live events, courses and recordings
• 8,628 business ideas
• $1M in software savings

Join Starter Story