Stop Dreaming and Start Doing: Build Your Kids Fitness Business with Confidence
2025 is just around the corner - is this the year you’re going to stop dreaming or dabbling in business, and start to actually building a career that is sustainable and profitable?
As fitness professionals, we often get caught up in our passion for what we do - helping the children be healthier and happier.
But the truth is, to be able to sustain yourself financially (so that you can give back to kids in your community) you need to do more than just piece together a ‘side hustle’ puzzle of late night class planning, random social media marketing, ad-hoc admin, and messy bookkeeping…often all driven by donated hours of your time.
It takes smart business models, disciplined action and a deep connection to your why to build a successful business.
If you’re passionate about kids' fitness but haven’t yet taken the leap into building a solid business for yourself, 2025 is the perfect time to get started. You don’t need to go to business school or figure it all out on your own to make an impact—what you need is a clear vision and a step-by-step plan to get your first programs off the ground.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps to get into the right mindset, create a business plan, and develop the confidence to make it all happen!
PART 1: MINDSET
Why 2025 Is the Year to Transform Your Passion into Action
You didn’t become a fitness professional to simply clock in and out of work. You started this journey because you’re driven to help people. And if kids' fitness is calling your name, there’s never been a better time to answer.
In 2025, decide how you want to make a meaningful impact—and then build a business that allows you to turn your passion into action.
Before you start building your business plan, let’s check in on your mindset and motivation for why you do what you do:
Ask yourself these three questions
Who do you want to serve?
What’s your unique passion?
Why is this important to you?
Let’s dive deeper into each:
1. Who Do You Want to Serve?
If you’re feeling called to serve children, ask yourself, what age groups do I want to work with, and what are their needs? Are you drawn to helping younger pre-school age kids develop motor skills, social-emotional learning, or a love for movement? Do you want to work on a larger scale with kids ages 6+, perhaps through the school system? Or do you want to help teens build strength for sport-specific skills, or ensure that girls don’t drop out of physical activity. There are so many ways to serve kids through fitness, but knowing exactly who your target audience is will help you design programs that meet specific needs.
2. What’s Your Unique Passion?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by trends in the fitness industry, but in 2025, I challenge you to focus on what lights you up. Do you enjoy teaching kids through play-based fitness? Do you have a personal passion for dancing, yoga, tai chi, hiking, strength training, etc? Or perhaps you are passionate about sport-specific conditioning? Aligning your business model with your passion ensures that you create programs you’re excited about. Take time to outline your core values and passions as they relate to kids' fitness. Your personal interests can be a powerful reciprocal tool where you fuel your business with your commitment, and receive joy, satisfaction and excitement from it fueling your passion in return.
3. Why is this important to you?
Before diving into the logistics of launching your kids' fitness business, it’s important to connect with why building your own business matters to you personally. Starting your own venture offers more than just financial rewards—it provides a sense of freedom and control over your career and life. Imagine the pride and fulfillment that comes from creating something that aligns with your values and passions. Owning a business allows you to design your schedule, make your own decisions, and prioritize what’s important to you, whether that’s more time with family, pursuing other passions, or shaping your own work-life balance.
This business isn’t just a way to make money—it’s a path to freedom, control, and purpose. What do you want to gain from it? A flexible lifestyle? More time with loved ones? Knowing you’re doing something that makes a difference? Financial independence?
Reflect on how you’ll feel when your hard work starts to pay off, not just in financial terms but in the freedom and fulfillment it will bring to your life. Whatever your motivation, building your own business can provide the personal and financial rewards you’ve been dreaming of, while allowing you to make a lasting impact in the world of kids' fitness.
PART 2: BUSINESS
How to Get a Kids Fitness Business Started
Parents, schools, and communities are looking for instructors who can guide children toward healthier lifestyles. With the growing focus on child development, mental health, and physical literacy, there’s an undeniable demand for fitness programs that help kids move, play, and build confidence.
Here are some practical steps to start building your kids' fitness business in 2025:
Set Clear Financial Goals: Map out how much income you want to generate from your kids' fitness programs. Whether it’s a part-time side hustle or a full-time gig, having clear financial targets will help guide your decisions.
Market Yourself to Parents and Schools: Leverage your existing network and look for opportunities to connect with parents, schools, and community groups. Word-of-mouth referrals are a powerful tool when it comes to building kids' fitness programs.
Stay Consistent: Achieving your business goals won’t happen overnight, but consistency is key. Keep refining your programs, nurturing client relationships, and adapting as needed.
Actionable Tip: Rather than jumping straight into a fully-fledged business, start by offering seasonal or annual programs such as a Winter Session or a Spring Break Camp, that cater to the needs of children and families.
This allows you to ‘test’ the interest for your programs without having a full commitment to any particular location, program type or business material investments. Plus, you can use the income generated from this initial season to re-invest in growing your business once you have some momentum started.
Read more about How to Build a Kids Fitness Business Plan
PART 3: CONFIDENCE
Building Confidence to Start Your Own Kids' Fitness Business
Starting a new business can feel overwhelming, especially when you're venturing into the world of kids' fitness for the first time. It’s natural to doubt whether you have the right skills, resources, or experience to succeed. But here’s the thing—confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything before you begin; it comes from taking the first step and learning along the way. The most successful fitness instructors didn’t have all the answers when they started, but they had something just as important: belief in their passion and a willingness to learn.
In 2025, let go of the need for perfection. Focus on your strengths—your passion for helping children, your knowledge of fitness, and your desire to make a difference. The rest can be learned through experience, mentorship, and trial and error. Remember, building a business is a journey. With each new class, program, or initiative, your confidence will grow as you refine your skills and see the impact you’re making. Start small, embrace the learning process, and trust that your passion for kids' fitness will guide you toward success.
Your Passion for Kids Fitness Can Fuel Your Business Success in 2025
This is the year to stop doubting and start doing. Your passion for kids' fitness isn’t just a feel-good hobby—it’s the foundation of a profitable and sustainable business. As you design your 2025 goals, connect deeply with your why, and take intentional steps toward building a business that not only brings you financial freedom but also leaves a lasting impact on the lives of children.
Ready to take action in 2025? Start by setting those goals, designing programs that light you up, and building a fitness business that aligns with your passion for helping kids.
Learn more about PL3Y Kids Fitness programs and certifications where you can get the programming and marketing tools to launch your classes faster, with an award-winning brand parents love!