It doesn’t matter if you are just starting your adventure with running a fitness business or you are already a gym owner or personal trainer with many years of experience. It is worth following trends and offering customers new products and innovative fitness business ideas that will attract them.
Key Takeaways
- There are many new trends in earning money in the fitness industry, the main ones are related to new technologies, growing health awareness and customers' search for new challenges.
- The more creative and innovative your fitness business ideas are, the bigger earnings you may expect. Read about Gym Pricing Strategy.
- Introduce an IT management system to your fitness business that contains such useful modules as: fitness scheduling software, gym staff management software or gym member management software.
15+ Fitness Business Ideas to Meet the Newest Fitness Trends
The fitness business ideas we want to share with you combine elements of technology, personalization, unique experiences, and targeted niche markets to create innovative fitness businesses.
By focusing on creativity and addressing specific customer needs, these concepts aim to stand out in the competitive health and fitness industry and attract a dedicated clientele.
How much can you earn? Well, it depends. Check here: Is Owning a Gym Profitable?
1. 24 Hour Gyms
Running a gym which is available 24/7 may seem like a difficult and risky task. However, if you use properly developed tools to offer such fitness services, you can count on a large number of customers. E.g. shift workers, early birds or night owls.
If you are interested in this subject, read our another article about 24 Hours Gyms
So how can you make these fitness businesses easier? By implementing a good gym management software gym owners can create a safe, efficient, and welcoming environment for their members around the clock.
Some of the most useful features for this kind of gym or fitness studio are:
- Gym pos system – a useful function of the gym management system which enables the customers to come in and out with convenience, without any assistance required.
- Gym check-in system – a touchless solution for entering and leaving the gym without staff required.
- Custom branded fitness app – develop a mobile app for your clients. It will help them with simple and quick booking, canceling and making up classes.
As a fitness business owner, wherever you are, you can access WodGuru from any device connected to the internet. Our mobile app gives you full control over your gym, regardless of your location. Check on your gym whenever you feel like doing that. It will make your fitness business profitable and easy to run.
Manage your gym
like a pro
Get more online bookings and increase your gym profit
2. Pet-friendly Fitness Classes (e.g., "Doga" - dog yoga)
Pet-friendly fitness classes, such as “Doga” (dog yoga), are an innovative and engaging way to combine the love for fitness with pet companionship. These classes offer a unique opportunity for pet owners to bond with their pets while participating in physical fitness.
Doga, for instance, involves practicing yoga poses that incorporate gentle stretches and massage techniques for dogs, promoting relaxation and physical well-being for both pets and their owners.
Such classes often create a fun and supportive community atmosphere, encouraging socialization among participants and their pets. Beyond the physical benefits, pet-friendly fitness classes can help reduce stress, enhance mental well-being, and strengthen the emotional connection between pets and their owners.
These classes cater to the growing demand for inclusive fitness activities and capitalize on the trend of integrating pets into various aspects of daily life.
3. Eco-friendly Outdoor Boot Camps
Eco-friendly outdoor boot camps are one of the fitness business ideas which combine the appeal of high-intensity workouts with the growing consumer interest in sustainability and nature.
These group fitness classes utilize natural settings, such as parks, beaches, and forests, which not only reduce the need for expensive fitness equipment and overhead costs but also provide an invigorating environment that enhances the workout experience.
By promoting a green approach – emphasizing exercises that use natural terrain, bodyweight, and minimal, eco-friendly equipment – trainers can attract environmentally conscious clients.
Moreover, the unique outdoor setting can command premium pricing due to its distinctiveness and the added health benefits of exercising in fresh air and sunlight.
Additionally, marketing these boot camps as eco-friendly can draw media attention and partnerships with environmental organizations, further boosting the trainer’s visibility and clientele.
This alignment with sustainability trends not only appeals to a broad audience but also fosters a community committed to health and environmental stewardship, ensuring a loyal and growing customer base.
4. Virtual Fitness Classes
- VR workouts: Immersive digital environments for cardio exercises
- AR coaching: Real-time guidance and exercise demonstrations
- Multiplayer experiences: Virtual group classes and competitions
- AI personalization: Tailored workouts and intelligent coaching
- Biometric tracking: Comprehensive performance analysis via wearables
- Hybrid options: Combining in-person and remote participation
Virtual reality workouts use VR, AR, AI, and wearable tech to create engaging, personalized workout experiences, making exercise more enjoyable and potentially improving fitness adherence.
5. Circus Arts and Acrobatics Fitness Center
Circus arts and acrobatics fitness centers can be highly profitable for trainers due to their unique appeal and growing popularity. These facilities offer a diverse range of classes, including aerial silks, trapeze, acrobatics, and contortion, which attract clients seeking novel and exciting fitness experiences.
The specialized nature of these skills allows trainers to charge premium rates for classes and private sessions. Additionally, these centers often cater to various age groups, from children to adults, expanding the potential client base.
The visually impressive nature of circus arts with special fitness equipment required (like scarfs, hoops, poles) also lends itself well to social media marketing. It may help trainers attract new clients and retain existing ones through showcasing spectacular performances and student progress.
Furthermore, these centers can generate additional revenue through hosting events, parties, and performances in the fitness world, creating multiple income streams for trainers.
6. Corporate Team-building Fitness Challenges
- Popular ideas: step challenges, virtual races, team sports tournaments
- Benefits: improved morale, productivity, and workplace relationships
- Implementation: set clear goals, ensure inclusivity, use tracking apps
- Best practices: create positive environment, offer incentives, celebrate achievements
- Measure success: through participation rates and employee feedback
These challenges, when tailored to company culture, foster a healthier, more cohesive workplace.
Corporate team-building fitness challenges can be highly profitable for a personal trainer for several reasons:
- High demand: Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of employee wellness and team building, creating a growing market for fitness-based corporate programs.
- Premium pricing: Corporate clients often have larger budgets for team-building activities, allowing trainers to charge higher rates compared to individual or small group sessions.
- Bulk bookings: Corporate challenges typically involve large groups, providing trainers with consistent, high-volume work.
7. Fitness-themed Escape Rooms
One of the unusual fitness business ideas are fitness-themed escape rooms. They are interactive experiences combining exercise, puzzle-solving, and teamwork. Physical challenges and clues in themed rooms may include obstacle courses, strength training, and cardio activities.
They’re popular thanks to offering a unique alternative to traditional workouts, blending mental and physical challenges. They also foster teamwork and social interaction.
Profits for fitness businesses, organizing this king of challenges are, among others:
- Premium pricing for specialized experiences
- Attracting diverse clientele
- Corporate team-building opportunities
- Encouraging repeat visits with varied themes
- Merchandise and add-on sales
- Additional revenue from events and parties
- Scalability with multiple themed rooms
- Cross-promotion of other gym services
8. Immersive Workout Environments
Immersive workout environments are revolutionizing fitness by creating engaging, effective workout experiences. VR workouts allow users to exercise in virtual worlds via headsets, offering diverse experiences of virtual fitness challenges – mountain climbing or boxing.
Immersive gym spaces feature wrap-around screens that respond to user movements and are compatible with various fitness equipment. These environments are custom-designed with virtual settings and integrate with popular fitness apps, often including gamified elements for increased engagement.
The benefits of this fitness business idea are substantial: increased motivation and enjoyment, a perception of lower exertion during high-intensity workouts, and a wide range of workout options, including cardio and strength training.
However, challenges such as initial equipment costs, space requirements, and potential motion sickness for some users need to be addressed.
Future trends point to AI integration for personalized workouts and an expanding range of VR fitness options, ensuring these tech-driven environments continue to evolve and enhance the fitness world.
9. Personal Training Concierge
More and more people would like to invite an on-demand personal trainer to come to a client’s home or workplace. This growing fitness trend reflects the increasing demand for convenience and personalized fitness solutions in our busy modern lives.
On-demand trainers offer flexibility in scheduling, eliminate commute time to gyms, and provide tailored workouts in familiar environments. This service is particularly appealing to those with hectic schedules, parents who can’t easily leave home, or individuals who feel uncomfortable in traditional gym settings.
For a personal trainer, this model offers the potential for higher earnings, a diverse client base, and the ability to build strong, long-term client relationships. As technology continues to facilitate easy booking (check class booking software) and communication, the on-demand personal training market is likely to expand further, catering to a wide range of fitness needs and preferences.
Interesting? Check How Much Does a Personal Trainer Cost.
10. Adaptive Fitness Programs
Inclusive fitness initiatives are designed specifically for individuals with disabilities. These programs tailor exercises to meet the unique needs and abilities of participants, ensuring accessibility and safety.
This kind of program requires incorporating specialized gym equipment, modified techniques, and skilled personal trainers. They enable individuals with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments to engage in physical activity, improve their health, and enhance their quality of life.
These programs foster a supportive community, promoting social interaction and empowerment, and making fitness accessible to everyone regardless of their abilities.
11. Hybrid Fitness Studios
We talk about combining traditional gym facilities with virtual classes and coaching.
This business model offers flexibility by allowing members to access workouts both in-person and remotely, catering to diverse schedules and preferences. Hybrid studios can provide a wider range of services, from equipment-based training at the physical location to on-demand digital content accessible anytime, anywhere. This model helps retain members by accommodating their changing needs and lifestyles while potentially attracting a broader customer base.
This fitness business idea may appeal especially to people who cannot or do not want to find time to commute to the gym frequently.
12. Fitness Programs for Special Groups of Clients
There is a gap in the fitness services market that is worth filling. Some groups do not receive an offer tailored to their needs. These groups are: senior citizens, children, families, couples.
By offering specialized programs, you can become known and appreciated in the fitness industry.
- Specialized Fitness Programs for Seniors: Tailored fitness programs for the elderly to improve mobility and health.
- Kids Fitness Programs: Fun and engaging fitness activities designed for children.
- Postnatal Fitness Classes: Specialized classes for new mothers to regain fitness safely.
- and more.
13. Fitness Space & Equipment Rentals:
Renting out high-end fitness equipment for home use is one of the fitness business ideas which base on making life easier for your customers. It provides a convenient solution for individuals who want access to professional-grade gear without the commitment of purchasing it.
This service allows users to enjoy the benefits of top-tier fitness equipment in the comfort of their own homes, making it easier to maintain their workout routines and achieve their fitness goals.
Equipment rental companies often offer flexible rental periods and delivery options, catering to the varying needs of their clients.
Renting out space for fitness professionals to hold classes or training sessions addresses the growing demand for flexible and accessible workout venues. These rental spaces are typically equipped with essential amenities and can be customized to suit different types of fitness activities, from yoga and pilates to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and martial arts.
This model provides fitness instructors and personal trainers with an affordable and professional environment to grow their businesses, attract clients, and conduct sessions without the overhead costs associated with owning a studio.
14. Mind-Body Studio
These non typical fitness businesses are dedicated to holistic practices such as yoga, Pilates, and meditation. They provide a serene and supportive environment where individuals can focus on their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
By offering a variety of classes that emphasize mindfulness, flexibility, strength, and relaxation, mind-body studios cater to those seeking a balanced approach to fitness.
These centers often feature tranquil settings, experienced instructors, and a community-driven atmosphere that encourages personal growth and self-awareness. Through their focus on holistic practices, mind-body studios help individuals reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and achieve overall wellness.
Sounds nice? Check How Much Does a Yoga Studio Make.
15. Extreme Climate Training Facility (e.g., Hot Yoga, Ice Baths)
Due to the fact that there are not many such facilities, you can quickly stand out on the market with your unusual fitness business.
An Extreme Climate Training Facility offers unique and intense fitness experiences by incorporating elements like hot yoga and ice baths. These facilities are designed to challenge the body and mind by exposing individuals to extreme temperature conditions, enhancing physical and mental resilience.
Hot yoga classes, conducted in high-temperature rooms, promote flexibility, detoxification, and cardiovascular health. Ice baths, on the other hand, provide recovery benefits by reducing inflammation, soothing sore muscles, and boosting circulation.
These training facilities are equipped with specialized climate control systems to create and maintain the desired conditions safely and effectively. By providing a variety of extreme climate-based workouts and recovery sessions, these facilities attract fitness enthusiasts seeking to push their limits and explore new dimensions of physical conditioning.
The combination of intense heat and cold therapy not only diversifies the fitness regimen but also offers holistic health benefits, making Extreme Climate Training Facilities a distinctive and appealing option in the fitness industry.
16. BONUS: Ninja Warrior Training Studio
There are many fitness enthusiasts who would like to try to fight for a title of Ninja Warrior, but there are not so many clubs which can help with that.
Prepare your members to take part in Ninja Warrior competitions! Run systematic training sessions that will build their strength and resistance. Show different kinds of activities, the most crazy ones and those which are completely unknown.
Invent your own obstacle course and surprising tasks. Your members will never be bored and will definitely recommend you further.
How Can You Help Yourself in Running a Fitness Business?
Introducing new fitness business ideas requires improving the entire functioning of the gym. If your gym automation is what you look for, trust the best gym manager software.
Try for free how to:
- perform administrative tasks easier thanks to gym automation system manage customer accounts quicker in your gym membership management software
- control HR comfortably, because you have gym staff management software
- perform your marketing more effectively through marketing software for gyms
Manage your gym
like a pro
Get more online bookings and increase your gym profit
FAQ
Profitable opportunities exist, but success requires careful planning and adaptability. Location, business models, costs, competition and management are the factors which influence success. Success rates of fitness businesses are 81% first-year survival and 60% by fifth year.
Global fitness market is expected to reach $6.73 billion by 2027. Profitability varies by business models:
- Personal training business: $40,000-$100,000 annually
- Gym owners: 10-20% profit margins
- CrossFit gyms: $300,000 average revenue, 27% profit margin
- Boutique studios: Potential $50,000-$100,000+ annually
The most creative fitness business ideas include:
- Virtual Reality Workouts: Immersive exercise experiences using VR technology.
- Eco-Friendly Outdoor Boot Camps: Sustainable fitness programs in natural settings.
- Personal Training Concierge Services: Trainers who come to clients’ homes or workplaces.
- Mind-Body Studios: Centers focusing on holistic fitness practices like yoga, Pilates, and meditation.
- Pet-Friendly Fitness Classes: Workouts that incorporate pets, like “Doga” (dog yoga).
- Hybrid Fitness Studios: Combining in-person and virtual fitness experiences.
Modern and innovative fitness business ideas include virtual reality workouts, mobile fitness apps, boutique fitness studios, pop-up fitness classes, on-demand fitness streaming, eco-friendly outdoor boot camps, corporate wellness programs, fitness equipment rentals, senior and kids fitness programs, postnatal fitness classes, mind-body studios, hybrid fitness studios combining in-person and virtual experiences, and adaptive fitness programs for individuals with disabilities. These ideas leverage technology, personalization, and unique experiences to meet the evolving demands of the fitness industry.
