Krav maga instructors who have built a student base or an online following can earn passive income from branded merchandise. A Bear Grips Pro Shop gives you a free branded store in 15 minutes. Students order your branded gear, it ships from a US print facility, and you earn the margin on every sale. On top of that, every account includes an affiliate link that pays you commissions when you refer other studio owners.
Krav maga instructors have a built-in audience that most merch sellers do not: paying students who already trust them. A student who has trained under an instructor for six months is not a cold lead for a branded shirt. They already feel a connection to the instructor's brand, follow their classes, and want to represent that connection visibly.
This is different from the challenge most online merch sellers face, which is building an audience from scratch. Your audience is already there: in your classes, in your group chat, following your social content if you post it. Branded apparel is the natural product extension for an instructor who has already built student loyalty.
Instructors who are not running their own school can still set up a store under their personal brand. "Coach Name Krav Maga" branded gear sells to students who follow a specific instructor, not just the school brand.
Here is what realistic merch income looks like at different levels of student or follower reach:
| Audience | Annual Buyers (10%) | Avg Items/Buyer | Margin/Item | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 regular students | 12 buyers (40%) | 2 | $12 | $288 |
| 100 students or followers | 30 buyers (30%) | 2 | $12 | $720 |
| 500 followers (social) | 25 buyers (5%) | 1.5 | $12 | $450 |
| 2,000 followers (social) | 100 buyers (5%) | 1.5 | $12 | $1,800 |
| 10,000 followers (social) | 500 buyers (5%) | 1.5 | $12 | $9,000 |
Students in regular attendance have significantly higher purchase rates than social followers because the personal relationship is stronger. In-person students who attend 2-3 classes per week are your highest-converting buyers.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.The best-performing instructor merch stores keep the product selection focused and on-brand. A starting lineup that works:
Expand from three products only after all three are selling. The first store should be simple enough to set up in one session and validate in the first month.
Every Bear Grips Pro Shops account includes an affiliate link automatically. When you refer another business owner (a fellow instructor, a studio owner in your network, a box owner in your class) and they sign up on a paid plan, you earn:
A single referral to a studio that goes on the $59/month Self-Service VIP plan generates $5.90 per month in commission, plus unit bonuses. Ten referrals across your krav maga network could generate $59 to $100 per month in commissions alone, before any store sales.
Krav maga instructors who are part of broader organizations or training networks have a natural referral opportunity. Every studio owner in your network who does not yet have a branded apparel store is a potential referral. See the full program: Bear Grips affiliate program.
The setup process for an instructor store is identical to a school store: sign up at Bear Grips Pro Shops, upload your logo or instructor brand mark, select products, set prices, and share your link. The whole process takes 15 minutes.
If you do not have a logo yet, the Bear Grips free logo design tool at the logo maker tool can generate a starting point you can refine. Alternatively, a simple text-based logo with your name and "Krav Maga" in a clean font works well on most products.
Promote your store at the end of each class, in your group chat, and in any social posts where you are already visible. A single mention in a class where 20 students are present will typically drive 2-4 orders in the following week.
Free setup. Earn from store sales and referral commissions. Your student community is already your audience.
Start FreeYes. Individual instructors can create a personal brand store at Bear Grips Pro Shops under their own name or brand. You do not need to own a school or have a formal business. A free account gives you a store and an affiliate link immediately.
Instructors with 30 to 100 regular students typically earn $300 to $900 per year from store sales at a $12 margin per item. Adding affiliate commissions from referrals to other studio owners can add $60 to $200 per month on top of that.
Every Bear Grips Pro Shops account includes an affiliate link. When a business owner you refer signs up on a paid plan, you earn 10% of their monthly subscription indefinitely, plus $1 per item they sell in their store. Payouts are bi-weekly.
Bear Grips Pro Shops