Sports and Fitness Related Business Opportunities

The healthcare and fitness industry has been riding on the wave of public health consciousness and awareness, exemplified by the success of shows such as The Biggest Loser. The boom in businesses and jobs in the fitness industry in particular as been phenomenal, especially since the Internet Age has provided myriads of opportunities for both businesses and clients to interact with each other.

The fitness industry has been traditionally dominated by the sports and fitness clubs. There are usually well-established businesses or franchises which appeal to a wider market and demographics, and uses their size and turnover to entice consumers with their products and programs. For those looking for a solid business model and opportunities, this essentially translates to an initially significant financial commitment, followed by steady and continuous return on investment and profits.

However, there is a second market to emerge from the fitness industry. This has been brought about due to the accessibility of technology coinciding with the demand or desire by the population in general to improve their fitness.

There are two primary reasons for people who want to improve their fitness - health or beauty, both of which are driven by personal motivation(s). The businesses that cater for both groups of people (apart from the traditional business models) do so by providing either personalized training and/or product to assist with their training. There are also two primary models for operating such businesses/franchises. You can either operate as a sole entity or as part of an existing business or franchise. For example, many gyms have contacts with personal trainers, who offer their services to the clients of the gym, but also promote their own businesses. On the other hand, with the advent of new and emerging technologies, it is also easy to create your own website or other low-cost advertising medium and run a small personal training business.

There exists a third model, where a business can be build upon connecting the suppliers with the vendors, the businesses with potential clients, or perhaps a combination of both. This requires a more complex business model, but does not incur the operating costs required by the other models described above. This real cost in this approach is the time and effort needed to work out the most efficient ways to link people and business together.

Not surprisingly, each area of the sports and fitness industry has its advantages and disadvantages, and each business model also has its own benefits and downside. Committing to a business or franchise in whichever area requires the careful analysis of the individual’s financial and personal capabilities.

In summary, the fitness industry is all about promoting self-improvement, much in the same way as the fashion or cosmetic industry. However, the critical difference is that while fashion and cosmetic don't have a lasting effect, a person's fitness and well-being is a permanent change, whether it is to their lifestyle or habit. Therefore, the key to finding opportunities in the fitness industry is to be focused on promoting a holistic approach to one's health and fitness. Add to this a real passion to deliver the best results for their customers, and the desire to help them achieve their personal goals, and you've got a winner no matter which area you want to set your sights on in the fitness industry.