How to Make 6 Figures As A Fitness Instructor? (11 Best Ways in 2024)

Updated: September 9th, 2024

So you want to make six figures as a Fitness instructor? Good for you! Being a Fitness instructor is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.

In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a Fitness instructor - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)

Starting an eCommerce store could be a strategic move to help you make six figures as a fitness instructor. By selling fitness-related products like workout gear, supplements, or even personalized training programs online, you could tap into a broader audience beyond your local clientele. The convenience and efficiency of eCommerce mean you could reach customers who prefer shopping from their computer, tablet, or smartphone without stepping out of their homes.

The advantages of an eCommerce business—lower overhead costs, increased flexibility, and a wider reach—make it a viable side business or even a full-time venture. With a well-designed website and payment processing software, you could seamlessly offer a range of inventory and make the buying process straightforward for your customers. This additional income stream could significantly boost your earnings, helping you hit the six-figure mark with more ease.

How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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2. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)

Starting a freelance writing business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a fitness instructor and even help you to make six figures. You could leverage your expertise in fitness to write articles, blog posts, eBooks, or social media content for health and wellness brands, websites, and publications. This flexibility allows you to work from home and create your own schedule, seamlessly integrating it with your fitness instruction responsibilities.

To be successful, you should have strong writing skills, an ability to meet deadlines, and an entrepreneurial mindset. By staying up-to-date with current writing tools and trends, and maintaining proper communication skills, you could attract more clients and command higher rates for your expertise. Ultimately, this dual career could open up new revenue streams and elevate your overall earning potential.

How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)

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3. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)

Starting a social media marketing agency could provide you with a lucrative side business to supplement your income as a fitness instructor. By leveraging your existing knowledge of the fitness industry, you could attract health and wellness brands as clients, helping them to enhance their online presence and reach through strategic social media campaigns.

With automated social media marketing tools, you wouldn't need to invest a significant amount of time daily, allowing you to focus on both your fitness career and your agency. Building a robust agency portfolio would enable you to showcase your expertise and attract a steady stream of clients, potentially leading you to earn a six-figure income.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week

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4. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)

Leveraging social media to become an influencer could be a lucrative way for you to earn six figures as a fitness instructor. By establishing credibility in the fitness niche on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, you could attract a vast audience interested in your expertise. Your engaging content could include workout routines, health tips, and motivational posts that resonate with both fitness enthusiasts and beginners.

Brands are keen to collaborate with influencers who can authentically promote their products and services. As your following grows, opportunities for paid partnerships, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing could increase, supplementing your income significantly. By strategically positioning yourself as an influencer, you could not only enhance your earning potential but also build a strong personal brand in the fitness industry.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)

How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)

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5. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel could be a powerful way to supplement your income as a fitness instructor and move towards earning six figures. With YouTube's established monetization system, coupled with its incredible popularity, you could generate substantial revenue by sharing your fitness expertise. Whether it's through ad revenue, sponsored content, or merchandise sales, the opportunities are vast for entrepreneurial-minded fitness professionals who are passionate about content creation.

You could use the platform to showcase workout routines, fitness tips, and nutrition advice to attract a broad audience. Success won't come overnight, but by consistently creating valuable content, you could grow your channel to meet the requirement of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, thus joining the YouTube Partner Program and starting to earn money directly from your videos. This side business could eventually evolve into a significant income stream, allowing you to reach your six-figure goal more swiftly.

How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

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

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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6. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)

Starting an online course could significantly boost your income as a fitness instructor by allowing you to reach a global audience without the limitations of in-person sessions. As an entrepreneurial-minded professional, you could identify gaps in fitness education and create specialized digital classes around these topics, offering engaging video lessons and supplementary materials.

This venture presents the potential for passive income as students pay for self-paced or cohort-based courses, providing flexibility and scalability. Additionally, with relatively low startup costs, you could effectively monetize your instructional talents and serve a community of eager learners seeking convenient, high-quality fitness education.

How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)

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7. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)

Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income as a fitness instructor. By sharing your expertise, workout routines, nutrition tips, and personal fitness journeys, you could attract a broader audience interested in your insights. Given that 77% of internet users read blogs, this platform allows you to reach potential clients worldwide.

Monetizing your blog through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or selling your own fitness programs and merchandise could generate substantial additional revenue. Since blogs are ranked as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, your credibility as a fitness expert could build trust and drive more engagement. With approximately 409 million people viewing over 20 billion pages each month, your blog has the potential to become a significant income stream, helping you reach your goal of making six figures.

How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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8. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)

Starting a podcast could significantly supplement your income as a fitness instructor by allowing you to share your expertise and passion with a wider audience. You could choose a niche within fitness that you're passionate about, such as nutrition, workout routines, or mental wellness, to attract dedicated listeners. With relatively low startup costs, including basic recording equipment and an affordable hosting platform, you could launch your podcast on a budget.

Once established, you could promote your podcast through social media and online fitness communities, building a loyal following. This growing audience could attract sponsors or advertisers interested in your niche, providing an additional revenue stream. By leveraging your podcast, you could also market your fitness services and products, driving more clients and sales, and ultimately helping you achieve a six-figure income.

How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week

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9. Digital products ($261K/month)

Creating digital products can be an excellent avenue for supplementing your income and potentially making six figures as a fitness instructor. With the ease of creating information-based products such as eBooks, online courses, or subscription-based membership sites, you could share your expertise with a global audience. These products are not only popular but also allow you to reach more clients than you could ever meet in person.

Furthermore, digital products require minimal overhead and no inventory, making them a low-risk, high-reward investment. This flexibility enables you to sell directly from your website, maximizing your revenue without added logistical concerns. By leveraging your fitness knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit, the possibilities to scale and diversify your income through digital products are endless.

How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month

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

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

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10. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)

Starting a career coaching business could be a great way for you to make six figures as a Fitness Instructor by leveraging your motivational skills and human resources expertise. By providing personalized guidance and strategy services, you could help clients navigate their professional transitions and growth opportunities, offering customized sessions for resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement goals.

With the flexibility for in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a diverse client base that benefits from your specialized advice and accountability. This entrepreneurial endeavor would allow you to monetize your natural motivational abilities while setting your own schedule, ultimately supplementing your fitness income and paving the way to a lucrative and fulfilling career.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

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11. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)

As a fitness instructor, you could supplement your income and potentially make six figures by becoming an affiliate marketer. By promoting products or services related to fitness, such as workout gear, supplements, or online training programs, you would earn a commission for each sale made through your referral.

This business model allows you to leverage your existing expertise and audience without needing to create or own products yourself. With minimal upfront investment, you could generate substantial additional income by driving traffic and sales to other companies' products. This way, you can capitalize on your fitness knowledge and expand your revenue streams effortlessly.

How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

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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.