How to Make Money as a Guide: 10 Ways Top Guides Are Increasing Their Income
Whether you're guiding fly fishing, hunting, hiking, rafting, biking, or any other adventure—there has never been a better time to turn your skills into more income. In 2025, successful guides are not just working harder—they're working smarter.
The top-earning guides we work with at GuideTime are stacking income streams, saving time through automation, and finding new ways to attract clients beyond word of mouth.
If you’re wondering how to increase your revenue as a guide this year, here are 10 proven ways guides are making more money—and how you can too.
1️⃣ Use GuideTime to Save Time & Book More Trips
Let’s start with what we know works.
The GuideTime platform helps guides automate time-consuming tasks (calendars, payments, booking requests), making it easier to take more trips with less back-and-forth.
More than that—being on GuideTime also helps you get discovered by new clients through the platform's marketing engine. Less time on admin = more time on the water, trail, or field.
Result: The average active guide on GuideTime reports a 15–40% increase in booked trips after their first season on the app.
2️⃣ Add Upsells & Premium Packages
Many guides are charging flat fees and leaving money on the table.
Smart guides create premium experiences—think photography packages, shore lunches, local lodging partnerships, custom gear rentals, or VIP 1:1 sessions.
Example: A trout guide we know offers a $95 "photo & video" add-on, which 40% of clients now purchase.
3️⃣ Sell Branded Gear & Merch
If clients love your guide business, they'll love repping your brand.
Hats, shirts, mugs, stickers, flies, lures—these items build your brand and add a solid revenue stream.
Tip: Launch an online shop through your GuideTime profile or on Instagram for seamless sales.
4️⃣ Offer Corporate & Group Experiences
Businesses are hungry for unique team-building experiences. Top guides are selling half- and full-day packages for corporate groups, often at 2–3x their normal day rate.
Pro move: Partner with local HR firms or leadership coaches to bundle these trips.
5️⃣ Run Multi-Day Trips & Expeditions
One of the biggest ways to grow income is by adding multi-day offerings to your calendar.
Instead of booking 10 single days, you can book 5 multi-day trips at higher margins. Clients love immersive trips that include meals, lodging, and guided adventure.
6️⃣ Cross-Promote with Other Guides & Outfitters
Your network = your net worth.
Many guides are collaborating with fellow guides to offer combo trips (fly fishing + biking, rafting + hiking, hunting + upland dog training). You both market to each other's audiences and fill more slots.
Use GuideTime’s networking feature to meet potential cross-promotion partners.
7️⃣ Build a Referral Program
Your happy clients can become your biggest salesforce.
Offer past clients a $50–$100 credit for referring friends. Many guides also use loyalty programs where repeat clients get discounts or added value on future trips.
Word of mouth is powerful—but structured referral programs are even better.
8️⃣ Run Paid Ads for High-Ticket Packages
While organic marketing is great, top guides are running targeted Facebook and Google ads promoting premium trips.
If your normal trip is $500/day, run ads promoting a $1,500 3-day package. This increases your average sale per client and helps you scale more profitably.
9️⃣ Launch an Online Course or Clinic
If you’ve built expertise in your niche, clients will pay to learn from you—even if they can’t book an in-person trip.
Fly fishing clinics, foraging classes, backpacking prep guides—create an online version to sell on your GuideTime profile, YouTube, or your website.
10️⃣ Build a Personal Brand & Community
Finally—guides who build strong personal brands are consistently earning more.
They post behind-the-scenes content, tips, trip recaps, and client shoutouts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. This attracts a loyal audience that books trips and buys products.
The key: Be authentic, give value, and stay consistent.
Final Thoughts
Making more money as a guide isn’t about burning yourself out. It’s about stacking smart strategies:
✅ Automate admin with GuideTime
✅ Add premium experiences
✅ Build community & upsell
✅ Run multi-day trips
✅ Cross-promote & network
Your time is your most valuable asset. The more you free up with tools like GuideTime, the more trips you can run—and the more you can grow your business.
👉 Ready to get started? Join GuideTime today and see how top guides are scaling smarter in 2025.