Editor’s note: This article was first published in October 2022. The references to people training at home since Covid and to the healthy-lifestyle trend reflect 2022.
Here are some business ideas that can be profitable for entrepreneurs who love sport. The opportunities in the sports sector are huge. A healthy lifestyle is on trend, which opens up an enormous playing field for entrepreneurs, with all kinds of business options, from those that need a small investment to those that require a large one.
That’s why we’re going to share some profitable business ideas in this sector where, as we always say, your success as an entrepreneur will also depend on your creativity and your marketing skills.
12 profitable business ideas in the sports sector
1. Sports-themed restaurant
This business idea can take many forms. There are already restaurants specialising in all kinds of food for specific groups: vegan and vegetarian restaurants, or places specialising in high-calorie or high-protein meals for fitness and bodybuilding fans. In some, the drinks are usually protein shakes. All of that, combined with tasty food, can make you a go-to name in the sports world.
2. Sports club
In principle, a sports club is a non-profit association, although there are always ways to make money from it with a small investment. Membership fees are usually the best way to fund a sports club. Once it’s up and running, members can enjoy certain perks for belonging to the club. It’s a matter of getting advice on how to make a sports club profitable, although in this case, let’s hope it isn’t done just for the money.
3. Sports blog or channel
Both a sports blog and a sports-themed YouTube channel tend to have millions of people willing to follow the advice of someone who knows how to guide and advise them, because in this field every coach has their own methods and theories about what works best.
The good thing about starting this kind of small business is that you can do it part-time, without leaving your current job, until the time comes to take the leap and live 100% from it, earning more money by selling your own products or through affiliate products.
See also: Telling your story can also be a profitable business
4. Non-contact boxing
Several small businesses already set up in small premises that need only a modest investment. As a rule, it’s a few punchbags and some small machines where people blow off steam and learn to box with an instructor. These small studios usually do well, and the results for clients tend to be pretty good.
5. Sporting goods shop
Whether it’s a physical or an online shop, this is usually a profitable business: you source different products (international, national or local) and sell them. In many cases, it’s a good idea to combine product sales with your own sports venue. You can sell sports shirts, gloves, footwear, protein shakes and all kinds of supplements. You can even launch your own brand.
6. Bike sales and repair
Bikes have become a product in high demand. We’ve already shared 4 business ideas around customised bicycles. Even so, it’s worth doing a little market research to see whether what’s on offer in your area already meets all the demand. Bike customisation and repair is a growing business. Don’t forget that you could also take on a franchise or talk to a manufacturer about creating your own bike brand.
7. Yoga teacher
Yoga has become an ideal way to earn extra income or build a profitable business, since physical and mental wellbeing are very much in vogue. The good thing about starting this kind of business is that in many cases you can begin at home or even outdoors. If you rent premises, the investment is minimal, because yoga doesn’t need any machines, just a spacious, minimalist room. Many entrepreneurs started with a couple of classes a week to earn some extra money and ended up turning it into a full-time business, with every day of the week filled with several hours of sessions.
See also: Small businesses that grew during the crisis
8. Home personal trainer
Since Covid appeared, more and more people have decided to skip the gym and work out at home. That’s where some fitness trainers come in, offering guidance online as well as in person.
Most of the benefits you can get at a gym, you can also get at home, but you’ll need someone to show you how to train to get the most out of it. From sports coaching to nutrition advice, and from online to in-person training, if you enjoy physical conditioning, becoming a personal trainer and charging a fee your clients can afford can earn you a lot of money in this sector.
9. Boot camps for weight loss and breaking bad habits
When we shared some business ideas for small towns and villages, we included this increasingly popular idea. These military-style camps can last up to seven days, and while most people go to lose weight, they can serve many other purposes, such as building discipline and habits.
Sometimes we lack that initial push to get started, that dose of discipline. At these camps they give you the initial push and try to instil the habit you’ll then have to keep up. People who want to quit smoking also attend, and for those seven days at least, the instructors will make the habit hard for you and give you the initial push to give it up.
In this kind of business, everything depends on your creativity and the hook you use to attract clients.
10. Martial arts and self-defence
Get in shape and learn to defend yourself at the same time. It’s undoubtedly a great selling point, and demand is high these days. As with a yoga studio, a dojo or martial arts school doesn’t need much investment beyond renting the premises. And, obviously, you’ll need experience in martial arts, or a partner who can teach them.
11. Canoe and kayak rental
The outdoor games and recreation industry is also booming. For this business you’ll have to consider many initial obstacles, such as the regulations and permits you need in your city or country, and the location where you’ll offer the service.
These businesses usually set up at reservoirs that people visit, and in some cities they even have permission from the local council so people can canoe along the river. Even so, what’s most in demand are routes out in the countryside where the river can be a bit of a thrill.
12. Climbing school
This business can run indoors, as entertainment and play, or as a school that teaches people how to climb. Then there’s real climbing, as a route through the mountains or the countryside. Either way, it’s a small business with demand, where you can make money from day passes or from renting out climbing equipment. And you can combine it with the previous idea, canoe and kayak rental, so people can immerse themselves in a full-blown adventure.
Since Tinder came along, this business has been in high demand, because I imagine that adventurous hiker-and-climber spirit looks good in profile pictures 🙂
All in all, anything to do with health, nutrition and a healthy, adventurous lifestyle is a business opportunity today for any entrepreneur who wants to innovate in these sectors. Although sometimes you don’t even need to innovate, and the most profitable thing is simply to copy a business model others have already used.
See also: 20 small business ideas for aspiring entrepreneurs
Featured image: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
