How to Start a Hiking Tour Business

From tourists to corporate retreats, nature lovers across the globe are always looking for insider knowledge regarding how and where to fully immerse themselves in their surroundings. Hiking tour companies guide these tourists, taking them into areas that might otherwise have been missed. From day hikes to week-long adventures, hiking tours have gained traction over the last decade, offering tourists the promise of nature and adventure.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)

Start a hiking tour business by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your hiking tour 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:

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

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Hiking Tour Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a hiking tour business?

If operated from home, starting a hiking tour business can be done with $2,000 or less. You will need to launch a business website and additional marketing materials, such as business cards and brochures. When designing your website, consider investing in back-end booking software such as Xola, which allows tours to be booked and payments to be processed directly from your site. If you plan to offer trips that include food and drink or other special amenities, you’ll need additional investment money and a plan of action for implementing these ideas.

What are the ongoing expenses for a hiking tour business?

If you plan to only offer day hikes, your hiking tour business expenses will be minimal. Fuel costs, replacement gear, and marketing will represent your biggest expenses. Once you begin to hire additional guides, you will have additional paperwork and expenses. Hiring guides as independent contractors will keep payroll-related expenses at a minimum.

Who is the target market?

The target market for your hiking tour business is tourists who are looking to immerse themselves in the local experience. Many business owners have found success targeting local organizations, both large and small. Many companies are now using hiking expeditions as team-building trips, so this is an excellent way to fill the calendar during slow tourist times.

How does a hiking tour business make money?

Hiking tour businesses generate income through ticket sales. While not required, many guests add gratuities at the end of their hike, which typically goes directly to the hiking guide.

How much can you charge customers?

Your fees will be determined by the services you offer. Some hiking tours last several days, while others are just a few hours. For example, Timberline Adventures offers a six day hike through the Adirondack Mountains. Pricing per person is $2,450, including lodging and food. A day hike through Glacier Gorge with Wildland Trekking ranges from $135-$235.

How much profit can a hiking tour business make?

Some hiking tour businesses are seasonal, limiting their income to only certain times of the year. Business owners in those regions report earnings of almost $55,000 annually. Those with year round tourists have even greater potential.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Increase your business’ earnings by establishing yourself as an industry leader. Write a book, create detailed maps, and well-thought-out community brochures. These items can be sold in local tourist spots and at the end of each tour for additional income.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your hiking tour business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your hiking tour business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

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!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

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.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

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.

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.

Find out what types of insurance your Hiking Tour Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Hiking Tour Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a hiking tour business

Partnering with traveling organizations such as Airbnb, Viator, TripAdvisor, and Zola are an excellent way to get your name out in the traveling/tourist community. When guests express their satisfaction, ask that they write a review; this will help gain more visibility. Reach out to your local DMCs (Destination Management Consultants) and the community’s visitor’s bureau, offering information regarding your services. Additionally, consider leaving your brochures at places tourists frequent, such as airports, hotels, and with travel agents. The most significant piece of marketing advice offered by all hiking tour business owners – use visually pleasing content. Have professional photos taken on your hikes so tourists see what you have to offer.

How to keep customers coming back

While you won’t see a lot of return customers, it’s still important to reach out to past guests via email newsletter and social media. Notify them of new guided tours, staff additions, and special events. While they may not visit the area again, they will refer colleagues and friends who are. Set yourself apart from the competition by providing unique tours and surveying both locals and tourists to determine where the industry is lacking.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

People-oriented entrepreneurs who possess a passion for nature and extensive knowledge of the surrounding area may enjoy running a hiking tour business. The more organized and knowledgeable one is about the area, the more creative and adventurous one can get with the types of tours offered.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a hiking tour business?

A typical day at a hiking tour business starts with preparation. You will need to make sure all gear and any offered amenities are safely packed and ready to go. A successful business may have several hikes scheduled throughout the day, depending upon time of year and length of hiking expedition. In addition to walking a number of miles each day, business owners are responsible for keeping their guests safe, offering detailed information regarding nature found on the trail, and answering questions. When not on a hike, marketing and planning new expeditions will ensure a steady flow of business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful hiking tour business?

Entrepreneurs who have realized long-term success in this business are creative problem solvers, able to adapt to any situation. Nature often has her own plans, so hiking guides may have to change routes, go off course entirely, or turn around when the situation calls for it. Extensive knowledge of the area is critical and one must be able to remain calm under pressure. While this career path brings you out into nature, it also requires behind-the-desk skills, such as business management, marketing, and accounting. If this is not your strong suit, consider taking a beginner’s business class or hiring a professional to handle administrative work.

What is the growth potential for a hiking tour business?

This type of business often remains on a small, local level, based on community attractions and knowledge of the area. Several organizations have realized success expanding globally. The key to success is knowing the area well and finding knowledgeable and honest guides in each area you wish to cover.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a hiking tour business?

Try not to do everything at once. When first starting out, offer several tours at specified times each day. As the business grows, get creative, offering different types of hikes, various amenities, etc. While your calendar won’t be filled right away, it will over time, as your brand starts gain recognition.

How and when to build a team

Initially, you will be able to guide the hiking tours yourself. As the business grows, however, you will want to take on new guides. Due to the nature of this business, it is critical that you carefully vet each new contract guide. In addition to a clean background, your employee should have extensive knowledge of the area and its history. While the training process is lengthy for many hiking tour businesses, your guides are the face of the company; make sure they represent your brand well.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples