Starting Your Own Outfitter Business

If you want to start your own outfitter business, you will need to have the passion and motivation for the outdoors and nature. With a solid plan of action, you can finish startup with ease and you can proceed with the licensing, purchasing of supplies, and advertising.

Determine the permits that you need to get before full operations.

How to Start Your Own Outfitter Business?

Before you decide to start an outfitter business, you should know what the business is all about. An outfitter is someone who takes clients out to experience nature through fishing activities, hunting, camping, horseback riding, etc. If you’re the owner, you should possess survival skills and deep knowledge about the wilderness. With this type of business, you also need to hire other outfitter professionals so you can accept many clients. If you lack experience, you can always undergo survival training. Find local classes or you can also take an online course.

Explore the outside world. You can check out the wilderness areas in your town or city. Take note of the weather conditions, hazards, marine life, lakes, flora, wildlife, streams, and the local rules on outdoor sporting. Aside from the survival training, you can also take up horsemanship courses, CPR certification, first aid courses, and hunter’s safety courses. Certifications are usually given after you’ve finished the courses. It would be best to choose your niche carefully. Create unique services to compete with other outfitters in your place. It’s up to you whether you will focus on fishing adventures, camping, hunting or horseback riding. With enough resources, you can offer all these things.

Buying Supplies and Securing License

The supplies and equipment that you need will depend on the specialization of your business. For instance, if you focus on horseback riding, you will need a barn, bridles, saddles, feed, etc; in the case of fishing, you will need inflatable boats, patch kits, oars, fishing equipment, life jackets, and many others. Once you decide to offer all these activities, a great percentage of your capital will be used up in purchasing equipment and supplies. Hiring staffs is vital to help you with the daily operations of the business. It would be best to hire the ones with an existing certification; by doing so, you can simply conduct an orientation and cut down training costs.

Secure the needed license that you have to obtain in your local area. Also, you will need to purchase insurance. You have to think of a special event that can attract potential clients to avail of your services. Almost everyone loves to explore nature and if you can offer free food, beverages, and other relevant activities, you will surely increase your competitiveness in the market. The outfitting business can be very rewarding but only if you love the outdoors. With passion and drive for nature, and outdoor activities, this is the right business for you. Good luck.

8 Comments

  • nic kenyon said on September 5, 2012
    I am looking to start a outfitting business any tips?
  • Alex Barsby said on November 28, 2012
    Hello, I am a young guy looking to start my own hunting outfitting business, hunted all my life have location on our farm with lots of our own land and accessible land, in middle Saskatchewan, what kind of licenses do I need and how to get tags and such, need lots of help. thanks.
  • Dana Stone said on February 20, 2013
    I am in the beginning stages of writing up business plan for a backpack and kyak outfitting company. Trips would be in Washington and Colorado. If anyone would like to know more, please let me know.
  • John Zelena said on April 12, 2013
    Wilkesbarre and Lehigh Valley, PA. Starting a local outfitter for kayaking , hiking, biking, camping. Love the outdoors and looking into insurance. Anyone know any good companies for a small business?
  • Chad said on June 11, 2013
    I'm in Kane PA and I really want to start up an outfitting business that will do guided fishing/camping/canoeing/snow shoeing, sell the gear, etc in the Allegheny National Forest. I have no idea where to start. Tips would be great!
  • Bailey said on July 28, 2013
    @Dana Stone, I'm interested in the same type of outfitting in the state of Colorado. I'm working on my raft guide license currently. It would be great to talk to you about the whole idea of opening an outfitter. Perhaps we have information we could exchange. Please contact me at bailey.e.smith@hotmail.com
  • Jason Dodson said on March 9, 2015
    My business location would be in the Southeast states. I am very young with a financial background to start an outfitter business. I have been hunting/ guiding for a very long time now. My business would consist of Hunting, Fishing, Camping etc. I would like some direction in where to start to begin this journey. I know buying a business is much smarter than trying to begin one from scratch. I have no idea where to start to get this process in motion. My future goal is to be able to sell hunting equipment and market the products through the show. Hopefully one day create my own product once I have established capital. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Jason Dodson
  • rene said on April 18, 2015
    I am interested in starting an outtfitters business in my area which is north east Ontario. I am cold starting it, so I need to know where to start?

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