How to Get Clients for Your Mobile Ax Throwing Business
Getting clients for a mobile ax throwing business requires a different approach than traditional retail. Your customers won’t find you by walking past a storefront—you need to reach them where they plan their events and celebrate milestones. The good news is that ax throwing has strong appeal for corporate team-building, birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette events, and group celebrations. Your marketing should focus on the specific occasions and pain points your customers have: needing an exciting, memorable activity that brings groups together.
Success in this business depends on building visibility in your local market, establishing trust through social proof, and making it easy for event planners and party organizers to book you. Most of your early clients will come from direct outreach, referrals, and targeted local advertising rather than organic search.
Who Your Ideal Clients Are
Your primary clients fall into a few clear categories: corporate groups booking team-building events (20-100 people), private parties for birthdays and celebrations (8-30 people), bachelor and bachelorette groups (15-40 people), and event planners who book activities for multiple clients throughout the year. Corporate clients tend to have the largest budgets ($400-$800+ per event) and book during business hours on weekdays. Private parties book evenings and weekends, with budgets ranging from $300-$600 depending on group size and package. Event planners and venues that host celebrations are valuable repeat clients who refer you consistently.
The best clients for your business are people planning events 2-8 weeks out who actively search for “unique activities” or “team-building ideas near me.” They want something that feels special and generates great photos and memories. They’re often decision-makers with real budgets—not price shoppers looking for the cheapest option, but people willing to pay for quality, safety, and an experience their guests will talk about.
Your Best Marketing Channels
Local Google Business Profile and Maps
Your Google Business Profile is critical for local searches. When someone types “ax throwing near me” or “team building activities [your city],” you need to show up. Complete your profile fully with service area (usually 20-30 miles from your location or across your entire service area), high-quality photos of your setup and participants, detailed service descriptions, and your booking link. Ask satisfied clients to leave reviews—aim for at least 20-30 reviews in your first year. Local search traffic converts well because these are people actively looking for your service right now.
Facebook and Facebook Groups
Facebook is essential for reaching event planners, corporate HR departments, and party organizers in your area. Build a business page with compelling photos and videos of your ax throwing setup, safety practices, and happy customers. Join local community groups, corporate networking groups, and event planning groups where your ideal clients gather. Participate genuinely—answer questions, share your expertise on team-building activities, and mention your service when relevant. Don’t spam groups; instead, build credibility and let people find you. Many bookings come from Facebook recommendations within these groups.
Instagram and Video Content
Instagram works well for ax throwing because the activity is visually engaging. Post short videos of people throwing axes, celebrations, and satisfied groups. Reels performing best, especially 15-30 second clips showing the throw, the hit, and reactions. Tag local event planners, corporate pages, and venues. Use location tags and hashtags like #[YourCity]TeamBuilding, #AxThrowingParty, and #EventIdeas. Instagram builds awareness and credibility, and makes your business feel modern and legitimate.
Direct Outreach to Event Venues and Wedding Planners
Event venues, breweries, distilleries, outdoor venues, and wedding planners regularly get asked “what activities do you recommend?” Create a list of the top 30-50 venues and event planners in your area, then contact them directly. Offer them a 10-15% commission for referrals, or offer a free trial event so they experience your service firsthand. Many venues will happily recommend you to clients if you’re professional, reliable, and help solve their problem. This channel produces steady, consistent bookings.
Corporate HR and Team-Building Companies
Corporate clients represent your highest-revenue bookings. Search LinkedIn for HR managers and corporate event coordinators at companies in your area with 50+ employees. Send personalized outreach explaining how ax throwing solves their team-building needs. Attend local business networking events (Chamber of Commerce, BNI, business mixers) and meet HR professionals directly. Create a simple one-page corporate package sheet with pricing, group sizes, and safety information. Follow up with companies quarterly—many book team events annually.
Local Media and Press Coverage
Contact local news outlets, community blogs, and event publications with a story angle: “Unique team-building activity growing in [your city],” “Safe way to celebrate with groups,” or “What’s trending for corporate events.” Journalists and bloggers covering local business and events will feature you if you’re available for interviews and can provide good visuals. One local news story or popular blog feature can generate 10-15 quality inquiries.
Getting Your First 3 Clients
- Create a simple one-page service sheet and pricing guide. Include photos, safety information, group size options, and your phone number and booking link. Print 50 copies and physically hand them to venue managers, wedding planners, and event coordinators in your area. Do this in person if possible—a 10-minute conversation is worth far more than a mailed flyer.
- Post 10 photos and 3-5 videos of your ax throwing setup on your Google Business Profile, Facebook page, and Instagram within your first week. Ask friends and early testers to leave Google reviews even before your first paying client. Social proof matters immediately.
- Host one free or heavily discounted trial event for a local nonprofit, small business, or community group. Give them an excellent experience, take lots of photos with permission, and ask for testimonials and referrals. This builds your case studies and usually generates 2-3 direct bookings from that group’s networks.
- Reach out directly to 20 local corporate HR managers on LinkedIn or by phone. Personalize your message: “I noticed [Company] is in [industry]. We’ve worked with similar teams for off-sites and monthly celebrations. I’d love to send over some details.” Ask for a brief call, not an immediate booking.
- Join 3-5 local Facebook groups where your ideal clients gather. Introduce yourself and your business genuinely, answer questions about team-building and event planning, and let people ask about your service organically. Don’t hard-sell.
Building Referrals and Word of Mouth
After your first 3-5 events, your marketing should shift toward making referrals automatic. Ask every client for referrals before they leave: “Who else in your network throws parties or plans team events? I’d love to meet them.” Give satisfied clients a simple referral card—$25 off their next event if they refer someone who books. Most importantly, deliver an exceptional experience every single time. Ax throwing is memorable, and happy groups will naturally tell others. Video and photos from your events shared on social media keep you top-of-mind for people they know.
Build relationships with repeat referral sources—venue managers, event planners, and corporate HR people who book you regularly. Check in with them quarterly, offer them a small commission or thank-you gift, and make sure they have all the information they need to recommend you confidently. A venue manager who sends you 3-4 events per year is worth significantly more than one-time clients. Treat referral partners as collaborators, not just sources of business.
Your Online Presence
For a mobile ax throwing business, credibility online means: a professional website (even if simple) showing your services, pricing, safety practices, and how to book; a complete Google Business Profile with service area, multiple photos, and client reviews; and professional social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Clients need to feel confident they’re booking with a legitimate, safe, insured operation. Include your insurance information, any certifications or training, safety record, and testimonials from past events. Your website needs a clear booking system—even a simple form or calendar link makes it easy for people to inquire without friction.
Your online presence doesn’t need to be complicated. You don’t need a complex website with dozens of pages. You need professional photos of your equipment and setup, clear pricing, a testimonials or portfolio section showing past events, and easy ways to contact or book you. Make sure your business name, phone number, and address are consistent across Google, Facebook, and your website. This consistency improves local search rankings and builds trust.
Social Media Strategy
Facebook and Instagram are your main platforms. Facebook is where corporate decision-makers and event planners spend time and search for local services. Instagram builds visual appeal and reaches younger audiences planning celebrations. Post 2-3 times per week on Facebook (event photos, testimonials, tips on team-building, company news) and 3-4 times per week on Instagram (Reels of throws, behind-the-scenes setup, group celebrations). Respond to all comments and messages within 24 hours. Use location tags, business hashtags, and local hashtags to improve visibility. Don’t worry about TikTok or LinkedIn unless you have time—Facebook and Instagram generate the most bookings for this business.
Paid Advertising
After you have 3-5 successful events and testimonials, paid advertising becomes worthwhile. Start with a $300-$500 monthly budget on Facebook and Instagram ads targeting people 25-65 in your area interested in “event planning,” “team building,” and “party ideas.” Run ads showing video clips of people throwing axes with captions like “Unforgettable team events start here” or “The perfect celebration everyone will remember.” Test different audiences (event planners, HR managers, birthday/celebration interests) and track which ones produce the cheapest bookings. Most mobile service businesses find their lowest cost per booking through Facebook ads within 30-60 days of testing. Don’t spend on ads until you can deliver great experiences—word of mouth and referrals early on are better than paid traffic if your service isn’t yet refined.
Client Retention
- Follow up within one week after each event with a thank-you email, asking for feedback and encouraging reviews on Google and Facebook.
- Offer a “refer a friend” discount ($25 off) to repeat customers and those who refer new clients.
- Send seasonal promotions (holiday team-building specials, birthday month discounts) to your email list and past clients.
- Maintain a simple email list and send a monthly newsletter with team-building tips, upcoming availability, and client testimonials.
- For corporate clients, reach out 6-8 months after their event to suggest booking their next quarterly or annual team event.
- Ask for video testimonials from satisfied clients—these convert better than written reviews and build social proof for new prospects.
Take Your Marketing Further
Ready to build a real marketing system for your business? Our Marketing Your Business guide covers the tools, strategies, and resources that work for any small business — including recommended books, courses, and software to help you grow faster.
For more guidance, explore the fastest ways to get your first 10 ax throwing business customers, discover the best marketing tools for your ax throwing business, and learn the local marketing strategies for ax throwing businesses.