34 Unique Outdoor Business Ideas To Start In 2024
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
Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable surge in the popularity of aerial sightseeing as people increasingly seek unique and thrilling experiences.
This trend has opened up an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to start a business in scenic air tours and tailor-made flight experiences.
This business model allows you to take advantage of the growing demand for awe-inspiring aerial views of picturesque locations across the country while giving you the flexibility to set your own schedule.
By providing your clients with an unforgettable experience, you will be creating memories that they will cherish for a lifetime.
So, if you are passionate about adventure, beauty, and flexibility and want to turn it into a profitable business, the aerial sightseeing industry could be the perfect venture for you.
How much you can make: $43,000 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 210 days (?)
Envi Adventures, a Troutdale, Oregon-based air tour business, grew from making $7,000 in a month in its first year to over $30,000 a month in its second year, using Instagram and influencer marketing to create an interactive, personalized experience for guests.
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.
How much you can make: $5,000 — $11,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 80 days (?)
Hobnail Trekking Co. is a side-hustle adventure travel company that offers treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp and has sent 23 Americans on this journey, while grossing close to $60k since launch.
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.
How much you can make: $60,000/month
Five Star Thailand Tours has grown from humble beginnings, selling boat tours from a rented wooden beach shack, to generating revenues in excess of $750,000 per annum, with room for further growth, by offering mid-range, semi-private boat tours for travelers seeking quality service at an affordable price.
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.
How much you can make: $100,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $66 (?)
Oru Kayak's founder Anton Willis discusses how he turned a passion for kayaking and design into a $5 million per year business selling origami folding kayaks, discussing their launch on Kickstarter, and how they have built and retained a passionate customer base.
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.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $65,000/month
How long does it take to build: 650 days (?)
Moki Doorstep, a vehicle rooftop assistance step, raised $110,000 in sales and sold 3,000 units during their month-long Kickstarter campaign and licensed their product after immediate interest from a larger company, with their product now available in major retailers like REI, Dicks Sporting Goods, Pep-boys, and Duluth Trading Post.
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.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 540 days (?)
Founder of RinseKit shares how he designed a portable pressurized shower that generates over $1.5M in sales per year and achieved great success with Kickstarter and appearing on Shark Tank, while providing advice on designing, prototyping, and manufacturing your first product.
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.
How much you can make: $200 — $80,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $49 (?)
Maca founder Ben started a direct-to-consumer handmade Mexican travel hammock business from scratch, generating sales through partnerships with Vanlife and RV communities and utilizing product reviews to build social proof and customer trust.
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.
How much you can make: $220,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Bryan+Jen Danger broke away from the 9-5 to create ZENVANZ, where they create campervan conversions, and their bootstrapped business now makes $8k a month with no marketing costs.
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.
How much you can make: $25,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
"Co-founders of State Bicycle Co. reveal how they bootstrapped their company to over $50M in annual sales and produced over 100,000 bikes by creating a trusted brand through word-of-mouth and social media, sponsoring talented riders, limited-edition releases, and focusing on product quality."
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.
How much you can make: $3,750 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
How Jessica Baumgart founded a successful food tour business in Denver, which broke even and started making a profit after just three months, generating $20,000/month in revenue from offering different food tour experiences.
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.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,833,333/month
How long does it take to build: 238 days (?)
Mechanical engineer and avid bike rider Mike Leon turned his hobby of creating a safe bike-to-leash attachment for his service dog into a 6-figure business, shipping from hundreds to thousands of 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leashes per year to dog owners, military and law enforcement, and search and rescue teams.
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.
How much you can make: $5,000/month
Camelliashop.com, a small US-based plant business specializing in Camellias and Tea Plants, increased its business 200% within one month of launching its ecommerce website in 2007.
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
To start this business on a budget, begin by honing your organizational and communication skills.
Next, create a detailed business plan outlining your services, target market, and pricing structure.
Utilize free or low-cost online tools for marketing, and consider starting small by offering services for smaller events before expanding your business as you gain experience and resources.
How much you can make: $20,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Akshay Patel's event rental and decor business, Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, saw an average ticket price of $2,000, as their advertising budget decreased from $20k to $5k, leading to 40% of their clients coming through social media advertising, 30% from expos, and 30% online in google, yahoo, and other platforms.
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.
How much you can make: $115,000 — $12,000,000/month
BruMate is a successful insulated drinkware brand focused on the adult beverage community, with a flagship product that generated $2.1M in sales in 2017 and is now doing over $1.1M per month in sales, with plans to do $20M this year.
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.
How much you can make: $8,000 — $17,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Learn how Dance Dress Couture launched The Ballroom Box, a quarterly subscription box targeted to the ballroom competitive industry, and grew it to double the number of subscribers with each box released, while also providing tips on attracting and retaining customers.
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.
How much you can make: $500 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Israeli entrepreneur Michael Shenkerman co-founded Seatylock, developing and manufacturing innovative high-end bike locks including its first-ever product, a hybrid bicycle seat and lock combination that raised $44,000 in a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013, with sales growing steadily each year to around $120,000 a month today.
17. Start a RV rental business
An RV rental business involves acquiring a fleet of recreational vehicles to rent out as campers for travelers and vacationers.
As an RV rental business owner, you supply motorhomes equipped with living essentials for road trips and outdoor getaways.
With flexibility around RV classes from luxury to budget rates, building inventories and customizing rental packages can create diverse revenue streams.
For hospitality-inclined founders seeking an accessible franchise, an RV rental company presents a promising venture as pandemic-weary travelers prioritize domestic trips focused on flexibility and the outdoors.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
ROAMERICA, a campervan rental company founded by Taylor Hood and Gretchen Bayless who quit their full-time jobs to focus on their business and have expanded their fleet quickly to meet the demand of adventure-seeking customers, with most of their web traffic coming from organic Google searches and a focus on social media and brand awareness.
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.
How much you can make: $2,000/month
Dermestidarium is a successful side business that uses flesh-eating beetles to clean animal bones for display, started by Carla Brauer who had no hopes of it turning into a business, but grew it into a busy side-hustle and more recently a primary work with client base growing each year.
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.
How long does it take to build: 280 days (?)
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.
How much you can make: $20,000/month
Nationwide Auto Transportation ships approximately 4,000 vehicles per month and has served more than 50,000 customers, offering custom services such as help for clients who cannot find suitable carriers for their vehicle.
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.
How much you can make: $400 — $2,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
The Little Teepee Company founders created an extra special sleepover business in 2019, generating around $2000 per month, until the pandemic hit and resulted in cancelled bookings and refunds, but they adapted their business model and now attract customers through Google searches, email campaigns, Instagram and Facebook marketing and word-of-mouth referrals.
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.
How much you can make: $3,500 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 6 hours/week
Akshay Patel's event rental and decor business, Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, saw an average ticket price of $2,000, as their advertising budget decreased from $20k to $5k, leading to 40% of their clients coming through social media advertising, 30% from expos, and 30% online in google, yahoo, and other platforms.
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.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $85,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Roscoli Wine Club founders, Alessandro Pepe and Lindsay Gabbard, share how they built a wine club that is about to cross the 1,000 member mark with annual revenue of 1 million euros after just about 3 years, offering Italian wines from small producers, farmed organically, minimal sulfites added, and providing every member with a 10-minute video of the winemaker's story.
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.
How much you can make: $100,000/month
Captain Experiences, a platform for booking outdoor sports guides, has reported booking over 47,000 hours in outdoor sports and partnering with over 1,200 guides since launching in March 2020, with a 4.9/5 star review average.
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.
How much you can make: $3,500 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Akshay Patel's event rental and decor business, Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, saw an average ticket price of $2,000, as their advertising budget decreased from $20k to $5k, leading to 40% of their clients coming through social media advertising, 30% from expos, and 30% online in google, yahoo, and other platforms.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
