How to Start a Wilderness Training Business

Start a wilderness training business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Wilderness Training Business
2. Form your Wilderness Training Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Wilderness Training Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Wilderness Training Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Wilderness Training Business
7. Get Wilderness Training Business Insurance
8. Define your Wilderness Training Business Brand
9. Create your Wilderness Training Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your wilderness training business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is very important. Read our detailed guide on how to name your business. We recommend checking if the business name you choose is available as a web domain and securing it early so no one else can take it.

What are the costs involved in opening a wilderness training business?

Start-up costs range from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on your experience/certifications and what necessities you already own. The following should be considered when budgeting for your investment:

• Training and certification — While you may have a great deal of experience in this field, certification will help you gain credibility.
  
  
• Location — Some wilderness instructors choose to hold classes on their own land while others rent out space for a daily fee.
  
  
• Transportation — If you hold all classes on-site, your out-of-pocket expenses for transpiration will be fairly minimal.
  
  
• Equipment — You will need to supply all your students with the right gear.
  
  
• Licenses and insurance — Work with a licensed insurance agent to ensure every aspect of your business is covered. Work like this could result in injuries, so it’s important that you are covered against any legal liability.
  
  
• Website and marketing — There are many free website tools available on the market today. Just make sure your branding, website, and social media presence supports your brand.

What are the ongoing expenses for a wilderness training business?

Aside from insurance and marketing, you will spend most of your monthly budget on curriculum-related expenses. This includes special gear and equipment and food, lodging, and transportation for longer courses. You may also incur freelance fees or payroll expenses for classes that include teaching assistants or guest speakers.

Who is the target market?

Your target audience will ultimately align with the types of courses you offer and their level of difficulty. Adequate and transparent descriptions of all courses will help avoid confusion and ensure students get the most out of your training. You may choose to target a particular age and skill level, or you may choose to offer courses for the whole family. Be sure to look at your content to determine your target market.

How does a wilderness training business make money?

Depending upon the coursework you offer, participants will be charged a per-day, weekend, or weeklong fee. Class fees should cover the cost of all materials and, in the event of longer courses, food and lodging.

How much can you charge customers?

The amount you charge will range anywhere from $100 to over $1,000 per person, depending on your experience, the course outline, and the duration of the course.

How much profit can a wilderness training business make?

Much like your ongoing expenses, your annual profit is tied directly to the specifics of your business model. However, due to the specialized skill and training involved in this business endeavor, a well-marketed wilderness training school has the potential to generate significant annual profits.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Your credibility as a wilderness expert is directly tied to your business’s success. To maximize profits, you will need to work consistently to establish a name for yourself within the community. 

Consider authoring books on the subject and writing guest blogs on related websites. Attending conferences and acting as a guest speaker will benefit you in two ways — you will earn extra income and advertise your business simply by being on the roster. If you own and operate off your own land, you can also rent out your space to other survivalists when not using it for your own coursework.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your wilderness training business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a wilderness training business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a wilderness training business business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

Have you spent years outdoors learning what it takes to survive off of what the land has to offer? Do you enjoy sharing your passion for nature and teaching others what you have learned through your experiences? If so, a wilderness training business may be right for you.

What happens during a typical day at a wilderness training business?

While you might expect your days to be spent outdoors teaching your craft, it’s important to remember that this is only one aspect of launching and managing a successful business. Industry leaders recommend applying the rule of thirds — one-third of your time should be spent on administrative duties, one-third should be spent marketing, and one-third dedicated to teaching and preparing coursework.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful wilderness training business?

The foundation of a successful wilderness training business is extensive knowledge in the art and science of wilderness survival. Trainers should be experienced in outdoor survival in a variety of settings and are encouraged to train with different instructors and through several educational institutions. Not only does this ensure a well-rounded skill set, but it will also assist in developing your curriculum. Certification in Advanced Wilderness First Aid is also a must.

While this solid foundation is critical, you will need additional skills to achieve your business’ long-term goals. To pass your knowledge on to your students, you will need to learn and develop basic teaching skills and produce engaging and informative lesson plans. If public speaking isn’t your strong suit, consider taking a course through Toastmasters International.

Because this is a highly-competitive industry, a basic understanding of how to build a business is strongly recommended. Even the most experienced survivalist in the world could run their business into the ground without proper marketing and financial planning.

What is the growth potential for a wilderness training business?

Due to consumer interest in outdoor activities and survival-focused reality television shows, wilderness training has experienced a surge of interest over the last decade. Because this is a highly competitive market, entrepreneurs considering embarking on this business venture are encouraged to conduct thorough research to identify industry needs. With coursework designed to fill in any industry gaps and a targeted marketing strategy, trainers have the potential for significant growth and profits.