17 Best Fitness Side Hustles to Make Extra Money in Your Spare Time

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Fitness Side Hustles

Do you want to earn some extra cash and stay in shape at the same time? There are plenty of creative opportunities out there that combine these two passions.

A fitness side hustle is a great way to tap into an interest or hobby while having the potential to earn money. Whether you’re providing a service or growing an online business related to fitness, there are plenty of opportunities to pursue your dreams while maintaining your health & fitness goals.

Here you’ll find details on 17 of the best fitness side hustles so you can explore how to monetize your passion for exercising and healthy living. Read on for more information about how each one works and which may be ideal for you.

Looking for more options? See our list of 150+ side hustle ideas.

The Best Fitness Side Hustles to Make Extra Money

These side jobs allow you to work in the fitness industry in one way or another.

1. Personal Trainer

If you’re interested in fitness and have the proper credentials or certification, you can pursue personal training as a side hustle.

To start, you can find a part-time job at a gym or fitness center. Another option is to create your own business and find clients independently. In either case, this side hustle allows you to earn extra income thanks to your fitness expertise, and it could even grow into a full-time job or business in the future.

If you’re not already certified, don’t worry. Earning a certification is relatively quick and can be done in just a few months. It’s worth the effort if you’d enjoy this line of work. Organizations like NASM, NCSA, and ACE Fitness offer convenient training and certification.

Online personal training is also extremely popular these days. You can create videos and classes through your website. Additionally, many personal trainers now offer their services through virtual platforms like Zoom or Skype.

Group fitness sessions or classes are also an option.

2. Coaching

Youth Soccer Coach

Coaching a sport is another excellent way to make money through your passions and interests. You’ll need to have a background in a particular sport – such as basketball, football, or soccer – and the ability to teach.

Coaching youth sports can be incredibly rewarding and is an excellent way to make extra money while staying active. Depending on the level of competition and your certifications, you may also be able to coach high school or college teams.

In some cases, coaching may be a seasonal side hustle. However, many leagues operate in different seasons, so it’s possible that it could be a year-round gig.

The income potential will vary depending on the level that you coach. Youth and recreational leagues typically won’t pay a lot of money. However, it’s still a great way to earn something extra while being around the sport you love.

3. Create and Sell Fitness Printables

If you’re creative and enjoy making content, creating fitness-themed printables could be an ideal fit. You’ll need to create attractive designs that appeal to your niche audience and provide value in some way. This may involve helping people stay organized with their fitness goals and tracking progress.

Printables are digital products that customers can download and print at home. This includes planners, organizers, checklists, trackers, and more (see our list of printables that sell best on Etsy).

There are endless possibilities for creating health and fitness printables like fitness trackers, diet trackers, meal planners, weight loss trackers, exercise guides, goal sheets, and more. If you’re looking for ideas, search Etsy to see what others are selling.

You don’t have to be a professional designer to create attractive printables. Canva is online design software that makes it easy (even for non-designers) to create beautiful printables. And if you don’t want to do the design work yourself, you can hire a freelancer on Fiverr to do it for you.

Once your designs are ready, you can sell them on Etsy or other digital marketplaces. Or, if you have a website or blog, you can also sell them directly. With a bit of time and effort put into creating quality products, this could become a steady source of income for you over time.

I highly recommend the E-Printables course from Gold City Ventures to learn more. It covers every aspect of creating and selling printables on Etsy.

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4. Create and Sell Meal Plans

Meal plans are a great way to make money while helping others improve their health. You don’t need to be an expert nutritionist, although having knowledge of nutrition certainly helps. There are plenty of courses available that teach you the basics and how to create meal plans for different goals (i.e., weight loss, muscle building, etc.).

You could create one-time meal plans or offer subscription-based services where customers receive a new one each week or month. You can also make custom meal plans for particular individuals, but this will require more time and effort (and you can charge more for it).

Once you’ve created the meal plans, you’ll need to find ways to sell them online. Etsy is a great platform, but you can also sell on your website or blog. If you want to turn this into a long-term business, it’s worth the time and effort to build your own site and audience rather than relying exclusively on other platforms like Etsy.

5. Start a Fitness Blog

Blogging is one of the most popular side hustles, and it’s no wonder why. You can turn your blog into a full-time income and a legit online business with the right dedication. You can use blogging to make money with your hobbies, including health and fitness.

It’s not easy to make money blogging, but it is possible. And for those who succeed, the potential is unlimited. It requires time and effort, but it may be worth pursuing as a side hustle if you’re passionate about health and fitness.

You’ll need to develop unique content ideas to engage your audience and provide value. You can grow your audience using social platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Building an email list of engaged followers will also help with the growth of your business.

Blogs can make money in several different ways, including advertising, affiliate marketing (promoting other companies’ products and services), sponsored content, and by selling your own products and services.

Please read How to Start a Blog to learn more.

6. Start a Fitness YouTube Channel

Yoga YouTuber

Videos have become an increasingly popular way to reach people and share information. YouTube is the perfect platform for those looking to make money while discussing health and fitness topics.

You can create videos on any topic related to health and fitness, from exercise tutorials to nutrition advice. You don’t need expensive equipment to start. You could even use your smartphone to begin recording videos. As you grow, you can start investing in better recording gear if you’d like.

Like blogging, it’ll take time for your channel to grow, but once it does, there are several ways to monetize it. Many YouTube channels make money through ads (the YouTube Partner Program), affiliate programs, direct sponsorships, and selling your own products.

Although many YouTube channels are already out there, opportunities still exist. With the increasing demand for video content, there are plenty of possibilities.

Another option is to start a YouTube channel to complement or supplement a blog. Video and written content work very well together, and YouTube could be a valuable source of traffic for your blog.

7. Start a Fitness Podcast

Podcasts have seen a massive surge in popularity over the last few years, and they’re an excellent way to reach people who are passionate about health and fitness. If you have experience or knowledge on any of the topics related to health and fitness, you can create a podcast.

It’s relatively easy to get started with podcasts. You only need decent audio equipment (a basic laptop will do) and editing software (like Audacity). You can upgrade your equipment after your podcast starts to gain traction.

You can monetize your podcast by using ads or sponsorships from companies that sell products related to health and fitness. You could also offer consulting services or promote affiliate products.

Even if you’re not a health and fitness expert, starting a podcast is an option. You could use an interview format where you’re the host, and your guests are the experts. In this case, the guests would provide most of the information, and you facilitate the show.

8. Start a Fitness Membership Website

Membership websites are an excellent way to provide content and value to your audience. They’re also great for making money from health and fitness-related topics.

You can set up a membership website using WordPress or Squarespace. The key is to provide exclusive content that people would be willing to pay for. This could include original articles, videos, fitness classes, recipes, or audio files. You can even build an active community (like a forum or Facebook Group) where users get value from each other.

Successful membership sites generate recurring revenue by charging a monthly or annual fee for access to the content. Of course, you’ll need to provide enough value that customers are willing to sign up and continue making payments, so they don’t lose access to the content. This online business model requires a lot of work, but the benefit is stable and predictable income once you have an established customer base.

9. Create Online Courses

Online Course Creator

Another way to make money from health and fitness-related topics is by creating online courses. Platforms like Skillshare allow you to create and monetize courses on practically any subject. This could include exercise technique videos, nutrition advice, or anything related to health and fitness.

While using Skillshare is an excellent way to start, the income potential is higher if you build your own website and sell the courses independently. Teachable makes it easy to create a website that hosts and sells your courses.

Online courses are a great way to reach people worldwide with your knowledge and expertise. You can also make significant money if your course does well. Some instructors have been able to make six-figure incomes through their online courses.

Creating online courses is a great option for those looking for more passive income streams from health and fitness-related side hustles. Although it takes a lot of time to create a course, it can be sold for years.

10. Freelance Writing

If you have a knack for writing, you can use it to make money from health and fitness-related topics. You can contact magazines, websites, or blogs covering these topics and offer your services as a freelance writer.

Blogs, in particular, offer outstanding potential for freelancing writing gigs. Active blogs always need new content, and many turn to freelance writers. Once you have a few ongoing clients, you may have a steady flow of work without dedicating time or effort to finding new clients.

Freelance writing is an excellent way to make money on the side while pursuing something you’re passionate about. The pay rates vary significantly depending on the job, but many freelance writing gigs pay very well.

11. Write a Book or Ebook

Writing a book or ebook is another way to make money from health and fitness. This could include publishing on nutrition, exercise routines, weight loss tips, etc. Several platforms allow you to self-publish your book or ebook for free or low cost. Of course, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the most popular.

Thanks to print-on-demand self-publishing, anyone can become an author. Writing a book or ebook could be an excellent option if you have professional credentials or certification, but that’s not 100% necessary.

Becoming an author can also help your career in other ways, aside from the income directly earned by selling books. Writing a book is an excellent way to brand yourself as an expert on a particular topic. Success with your book or ebook may open other doors and lead to new opportunities.

12. Start a Print-on-Demand Business

Books aren’t the only products you can sell through print-on-demand services. You can also sell t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, tote bags, phone cases, and more.

With this side hustle, you’ll create products for fitness-minded people. For example, you could design t-shirts with motivational phrases or statements emphasizing their passion for health and fitness.

The beauty of print-on-demand is that you don’t need to carry any inventory. The products are printed and shipped whenever a customer makes an order. The setup process is quite simple and doesn’t require much capital. All you need to do is create the designs, set up your store (you can use Shopify and Printful), and start marketing your products.

Print-on-demand is a great way for health and fitness enthusiasts to make money from their passion for fitness. With this side hustle, you’ll be able to express yourself creatively while making money.

Please read How to Start a Print-on-Demand Business for more details.

13. Referee at Sporting Events

Referee

If you’re passionate about sports and enjoy staying physically active, then refereeing is an excellent side hustle. You can make good money as a referee, especially if you become certified to work at higher levels of competition.

You’ll need to take the time to get certified in your state or region, but once you do this, opportunities will be available. Not only will you get paid for your work, but you’ll also get to stay physically active. Refereeing is an excellent way to combine health and fitness with making money.

14. Become an Influencer

If you have an Instagram account or other social media platforms, you could monetize them and make money from your health and fitness posts. As a fitness influencer, you would post about fitness-related topics to create content for brands looking to promote their services or products.

You don’t need millions of followers to be successful as an influencer. All you need is a good following and lots of engagement on your posts. You can reach out to brands that target the same audience as yourself and negotiate deals with them where they will pay you for posting sponsored content.

Influencer marketing platforms like GRIN and Creator.co help to match brands with influencers and micro-influencers.

15. Kitchen Cleanout Service

This side hustle is perfect for health and fitness enthusiasts who want to help others lead healthier lifestyles. You would offer your services as a kitchen cleanout specialist, helping people to get rid of unhealthy snacks, processed foods, etc., from their kitchens.

Your service could include tips on healthy eating, grocery shopping advice, and more. Depending on the clients you work with, you may be able to charge an hourly rate or a flat fee per project. With this side hustle, not only can you make money, but you also inspire others to live healthier lives.

16. Airbnb Experience Host

Hiking Group

Airbnb Experiences are a great way to make money while being active. You can design fitness-oriented activities that guests can book, such as guided hikes, yoga classes, cycling tours, and more.

As an Airbnb Experience host, you can set your schedule and rates while offering guests a unique experience. Plus, you’ll get the added benefit of staying physically active yourself.

17. Dog Walking

This side hustle is perfect for animal lovers who are passionate about health and fitness. Dog walking can be a great way to make extra money while getting some exercise in the process.

This is an easy service as long as you’re in good health. Many people don’t have time to walk their dogs or aren’t able to do it themselves.

Finding your first few clients and starting to make money is relatively easy. You can talk to dog owners you know to see if they need your service. Distribute flyers in your local area to promote your services, or post an ad on Craigslist. You can also use Rover, an app that matches pet owners with service providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I turn fitness into a side hustle?

There are many ways to monetize your passion for health and fitness. Some of the best options include working as a personal trainer, coaching, starting a YouTube channel, and becoming an influencer. There are ways to make money getting exercise (like dog walking) and other ways to make money by helping or teaching others (creating online courses or selling meal plans). It’s just a matter of finding the best fit for your situation.

How can I make a lot of money in fitness?

If you want to maximize your income potential, combining your passion for health and fitness with an online business is the best option. You could work as an online personal trainer and create videos that people can buy, build a membership website, start a blog, or create and sell online courses. These options allow you to use fitness to build a thriving and profitable business.

Is a fitness instructor a good side hustle?

Working as a fitness instructor or personal trainer can be a good side hustle if you have the necessary knowledge, experience, and certification. There are plenty of ways to work part-time around your existing commitments, and you can make a decent hourly rate.

Final Thoughts on Fitness Side Hustles

There are many options for health and fitness enthusiasts who want to turn their passion into a profitable side hustle. Whether you’re teaching classes, writing articles, or creating videos, there’s an opportunity to make money and stay active. The best part is that fitness side hustles allow you to earn money with your hobbies and interests so you can enjoy the work.


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  • Commission-free trades of stocks and ETFs
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  • Fractional shares
  • Access alternative investments
  • High-yield treasuries accounts
  • Social community of investors
  • User-friendly interface
  • Commission-free trades of stocks, ETFs, options, and ADRs
  • Powerful screening and charting tools
  • Free real-time level 2 data
  • User-friendly mobile app
  • AI monitoring
  • AI-powered price forecasts
  • Free investing courses
  • Commission-free trades of stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency
  • Buy fractional shares for any amount
  • Extended trading hours
  • Advanced reporting tools
  • Schedule recurring investments
  • IRAs now available
  • 24/7 customer service

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