Yes, the fitness industry is a good career move with lots of options. While most people only think of personal training when it comes to the fitness industry, fitness offers many other opportunities.
For example, when you work in a gym chain, there are many career options to pursue in the corporate office, such as marketing, finance, IT, and operations.
Is the Fitness Industry a Good Career?
Yes, the fitness industry can provide a great career path for the right person. If you love fitness and living a fitness lifestyle, a career in fitness has many opportunities beyond being a traditional personal trainer, such as, an online personal trainer, owning a fitness franchise, manufacturing fitness equipment, supplement distribution, fitness education, social media fitness ambassador, fitness software development and fitness industry consultant.
Another career path is working for companies supplying products and equipment to gyms. Equipment manufacturers have a significant global presence, and you can find roles such as sales, marketing, and operations involving international travel.
Supplement companies also need quality-control managers, marketing, nutritionists, and other business-related functions. If you love fitness and wish to join the industry, many promising careers are available, especially if you think beyond the gym environment.
This article looks at the career opportunities in the fitness industry and some different ways to make money.
Why Is There Demand for Fitness Services?
Modern lifestyles and convenience foods have left 1 in 3 people in the western world clinically obese and at least 2 out of every 3 people overweight. Recent events had many people spend more time at home living sedentary lifestyles, which may have increased these numbers.
Over 36.5% of adults in the US have obesity, with another 32.5% overweight. Only a third of the population falls within the healthy weight range. Hence, the need for fitness coaches and other services. People are actively looking for skilled professionals who can help motivate and push them to lose the extra pounds and get in shape.
A fitness industry career is gratifying because you get to help others regain their vitality, live healthily, and enjoy life. You also help them gain confidence. First, however, you need to pick the right job and pursue a profession that suits you. It could be something you are good at, love doing, or have studied in college.
Here are four great reasons why the fitness industry is an excellent career move:
- The job naturally helps you get fit or live healthily. Most people who have regular jobs find it difficult to schedule time for the gym. Therefore, pursuing a career in fitness helps you meet your fitness goals. For example, if you work as a personal trainer or fitness coach, you are practically always at the gym and have no excuses not to work out. Fitness coaches, trainers, and even gym owners in good shape naturally sell their services inadvertently.
- You make a difference to your clients and help them reach their fitness goals. You get to make life-altering changes to how your clients live their lives and feel about themselves.
- A career in the fitness industry is work that feels more like a labor of love. If you already love training, working out, and keeping fit, you get to do what you love.
- Owning a fitness center or running a boutique personal fitness business makes you your own boss. As a result, you enjoy complete flexibility, create your work schedules, and control your work-life balance.
8 Ways to Make Money in the Fitness Industry
The fitness industry is not a get-rich-quick business. Those who achieve success in the industry love helping people improve their lives. Recent events saw many gyms struggle as people turned to digital channels to stay fit and healthy. However, there are numerous other ways to make money online and offline. These include:
- Move your fitness business online. You could start online classes to reach more people at once and scale your business.
- Sell Workout plans and market your business online to gain traffic you can convert. You can offer your fitness plans as downloadable videos or PDFs on your online store.
- Launch a fitness app to make your digital studio more accessible to clients. They can view your workout videos and other content on smartphones, TVs, and tablets.
- Sell fitness products. More people now prefer working remotely, making them a ready market you can serve. Thus, you can sell fitness products such as fitness trackers, resistance bands, foam rollers, jump ropes, fit boards, exercise balls, and supplements.
- Sell custom meal plans if you have some background in nutrition or culinary. You will specifically customize each custom meal plan for individual clients, taking into account age, taste, and weight.
- Become a brand ambassador. If you command a large online audience and engagement, you can become a brand ambassador for companies in the fitness industry. You can promote a brand on your social channels in return for cash, free swag, and affiliate commissions.
- Become a consultant and help organizations looking to develop fitness programs for their members.
- Buy a fitness franchise, manage your location and help others get fit. Once you have one successful location, there are many additional opportunities with the right franchise network.
The Bottom Line
The fitness industry is full of exciting, flexible, and financially rewarding opportunities for growing and establishing a successful profession. The jobs available within the sector can suit various personalities, meet different aspirations, fulfill numerous personal interests, and suit diverse skill sets. So start working on building your career, brand, and following today.