These days, starting a business is easier than it’s ever been before. It doesn’t take a huge financial investment or a marketing degree to get a small business off the ground. In fact, there are plenty of ways to start the path to entrepreneurship without worrying about barriers like high start-up costs or business logistics.
All it takes is the right business idea. A business idea is the foundation of any entrepreneurial pursuit, and the wellness space is no exception. If you want to start a wellness business but you don’t have any ideas, you might be looking for some direction.
Let’s explore some of the top business ideas in the health and wellness space.
Table of Contents
- Small Business Ideas for the Aspiring Entrepreneur
- Provide a Service
- Sell Products
- Host Events
- Create Digital Products
Promote Your Health and Wellness Business
Small Business Ideas for the Aspiring Entrepreneur
Whatever you’re most passionate about in the health and wellness space, there’s a way to turn your interests and qualifications into a small business. There are small business ideas that suit entrepreneurs in a range of different niches.
Whether you want to provide a service or sell a product, here are 29 of the top business ventures to explore in this industry.
Provide a Service
1. Yoga Instructor
As a yoga instructor, you can teach people how to take care of their body and mind through physical postures, breathwork, and meditation. There are various styles of yoga, such as power yoga, hot yoga, and hatha yoga. Find the one that you like most and then complete a teacher training to become qualified to share the wisdom with others. Once you’re able to teach, you can open a yoga studio or teach yoga classes online, so you can get paid to do what you love.
2. Tai Chi or Qigong Instructor
The ancient Chinese mind-body practices of tai chi and qigong can be beneficial for people of all ages. While both disciplines involve gentle motions and conscious breathing, tai chi involves a more complex series of moves focused on full-body flow, while qigong is often practiced as a single move repeated over again to achieve a certain effect. As an instructor, you can share one or both of these practices with others so they can improve their emotional state as well as their strength, flexibility, and mobility. If you hope to run a business that involves teaching, becoming a certified instructor and opening your own school can make it possible to reach your goal.
3. Meditation Coach
Multiple meditation techniques provide a host of benefits. As a meditation coach, you’ll be able to teach others how to meditate based on their needs and goals. For instance, you can provide tips on how to meditate for relaxation or focus, or you might help someone practice mindfulness. Plus, there are breathing exercises and mantras that can enhance a meditation practice. Becoming a certified meditation instructor can help you stand out if you want to establish your own business or you hope to add this service to your yoga, tai chi, or qigong school.
4. Personal Trainer
Teaching groups of people can be fun, but if you want to work with individuals one-on-one and create workout routines that cater to their specific needs, becoming a personal trainer might be right for you. This career is a great choice for those who prefer variety and welcome the challenge of working with clients who have differing requirements. For example, you might help one person become strong enough for a weightlifting competition while helping another person lose weight. A well-rounded education in fitness and anatomy will allow you to provide top-quality services.
5. Massage Therapist
There are many different styles of massage to help people release stress and tension from the body and mind. Individuals of all ages and fitness levels, including athletes, can benefit from the right type of massage, and a massage therapist is trained to provide the appropriate one to each individual. While you might think that you need to work for a spa or wellness facility, the truth is you can run your own massage therapy business. And if you’re searching for home-based health and wellness business ideas, this is worth considering because you can run your massage business from your own home or rent a space that will create a calm and healing atmosphere.
6. Nutritionist
What you eat daily has an impact on how you feel physically and emotionally. As a nutritionist, you can share this knowledge with others. There are a few different types of nutritionist careers to choose from. A holistic nutritionist, for example, focuses on making diet and lifestyle changes to improve someone’s well-being – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Dieticians, on the other hand, typically apply their knowledge to help people with certain conditions. Nutrition therapists can’t claim to treat specific conditions, but they still have the expertise to help clients make better food choices to improve their health or meet weight loss goals. Each one of these roles has its own requirements for education, certification, and licensing.
7. Herbalist
As more people aim to improve their overall health with natural supplements and nutritious foods, more opportunities are opening up for those who want to help. As an herbalist, you will know which herbs to recommend to help individuals feel better and meet their goals. For instance, you might provide recommendations to support a person’s energy level, improve their sleep, or boost their immune system.
8. Health Coach or Wellness Coach
While personal training focuses more on physical fitness and physique, a health coach or wellness coach can help them address different goals. A health coach is someone who uses clinical strategies and interventions to help clients better manage their health, including clients with acute chronic healthcare conditions. While this career path requires a clinical license, you can also become a wellness coach — someone who helps clients cultivate better, healthier habits to improve their overall health. As a health or wellness coach, you can work with clients online or in person, as well as one-on-one or in group coaching programs.
9. Acupuncturist
Acupuncture is a form of holistic therapy derived from ancient Chinese medicine. By inserting very thin needles into the skin at strategic points on the body, acupuncturists can balance the flow of energy throughout the body, relieving pain, stress, and more. Acupuncture is often practiced alongside other forms of therapy, like massage or aromatherapy. It takes extensive training to become an acupuncturist, but the career can be very rewarding for anyone who wants to meet the growing demand for holistic care.
10. Weight Loss Coach
Many people need support and guidance on their weight loss journeys. A weight loss coach works with clients to help them achieve long-term weight loss. This can look like health coaching, nutrition advice, personal training, and more. As a weight loss coach, it would be your job to keep clients accountable. Beyond the physical demands of a weight loss plan, that includes helping them reframe negative thoughts about their bodies, boost their self-esteem, and improve their overall self-image.
11. Personal Chef
If you have a talent for healthy cooking, becoming a personal chef is one way to apply your passion to the wellness scene. A personal chef works with clients to create customized meal plans and prep food based on their goals. While many personal chefs prepare daily or weekly meals for clients, others focus more on education. They might teach in-person or online classes on healthy cooking or write cookbooks with wellness-focused recipes.
12. Aromatherapist
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing practice that goes back thousands of years. Using essential oils or natural plant extracts, an aromatherapist taps into the effects of these aromatic compounds to improve the health of the mind and body. Many people turn to aromatherapy because they have a specific issue to address. As an aromatherapist, it’s your job to come up with personalized treatment plans — with the right blend of oils — to help each client reach their goals or manage their symptoms.
13. Reiki Master
Reiki is a form of energy healing that aims to improve the flow of energy and remove blockages, similar to acupuncture. Through gentle touch and hand movements, a Reiki master can promote healing by encouraging the flow of energy. While it takes training to master this form of energy healing, anyone can learn without a degree or official certifications.
14. Human Design Reader
Human design reading is an energetic and psychological analysis that uses esoteric systems like astrology, the chakra system, quantum physics, and more. A human design reader is someone who can use the time, date, and place someone is born to read a person’s energetic patterns. Using this information, they can advise clients on how to make informed decisions, build stronger relationships, and achieve fulfillment in their lives.
15. Ayurvedic Practitioner
Ayurveda, which translates to “knowledge of life,” is an ancient holistic medical treatment founded in India. An ayurvedic practitioner takes a personalized approach to each client, combining herbal medicines, diet recommendations, and lifestyle changes to treat each patient. These lifestyle changes and natural therapies are intended to correct imbalances, reduce stress, and create a balance between the mind, body, spirit, and environment. Becoming a practitioner doesn’t require any licensing, but you'll need training in the fundamentals and application of ayurvedic medicine.
Sell Products
16. Homemade Goods
If you enjoy making things by hand, there may be a market for those items. For example, do you make lotions, soaps, and other body care products? Perhaps you make air fresheners or candles that can serve as a healthier alternative to artificial fragrances. You might be able to take advantage of the fact that consumers are shifting away from products that contain ingredients like parabens and chemicals. By opening a physical or online store that sells your goods, you can help people switch to healthier items for their homes and families.
17. Beauty Products
Providing high-quality, natural beauty products is another way to establish a business in the wellness sector. You might create these yourself to sell in an online store, or you could help sell items from other brands by becoming an affiliate. From makeup to skincare and hair care, there are many ways you can help people look amazing with gentle, plant-based ingredients.
18. Anti-Aging Products
Products that can fight signs of aging are always popular. From moisturizers and serums to dietary supplements, if your products can help people look and feel their best, there’s a market for it. You can create products of your own or partner with a manufacturer to sell existing products.
19. Workout Clothes
Starting your own fashion line is a fun way to enter the world of health and wellness products. Try selling clothes that cater to a wellness-minded audience, like workout clothes or yoga clothes. And you could differentiate yourself from the competition by making your products with sustainable, eco-friendly, and natural materials like organic cotton. Just keep in mind that this business idea requires designing the products, sourcing the materials, and finding a manufacturer if you aren’t going to be making the items yourself.
20. Dropshipping Business
If you don’t like the idea of keeping inventory but you want to sell products that can help people look and feel good, you could launch a dropshipping business. This involves setting up an online store that offers a variety of products, such as essential oils, supplements, weight loss products, fitness products, etc. You may not need a lot of money to launch this type of business, so it can be a good option for those who want to get into retail but don’t have a lot of startup funds.
21. Sell Essential Oils
Essential oils are a hugely popular option for people who want to support their health naturally. As an important part of aromatherapy, these oils can be used for everything from boosting mood to reducing inflammation. You can make your own oils or join an essential oil company to sell their products as an ambassador. This can be a full-time business or a complement to other wellness work.
22. Supplements
As more people look to make health-conscious decisions, the supplement market continues to grow. This can be a great way for wellness entrepreneurs to sell products while also promoting a healthier lifestyle. While you can make your own supplements, it's not easy to meet FDA’s strict regulations. Another option is to partner with a larger nutritional supplement manufacturer to start selling your chosen products online.
23. Make Food Products
Vegan breakfast shakes, chia seed pudding, superfood green juice, high protein mac, and cheese — whatever you can dream of, you can sell. Wellness food enthusiasts are always looking for new recipes to try. Whether you’re selling an existing product or manufacturing your own, there are plenty of ways to sell food online or in-store.
Become an Event Planner
24. Run Wellness Retreats
Wellness retreats are typically hosted in beautiful and tranquil places around the world, so this can be a fantastic business idea for anyone who wants to travel while helping others achieve better health. The goal of a wellness retreat is to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to focus on rejuvenation and relaxation. You can decide to host retreats based on various themes, such as meditation, yoga, nutrition, and self-care.
25. Run Virtual Events
In addition to in-person wellness retreats, you can host virtual events online. This can be another option to consider if you prefer health and wellness home business opportunities because you can do everything on your computer. Invite people to join you in a virtual space where you can share valuable insights that will support them on their path to wellness.
26. Start a Wellness Center
If you’re passionate about all things wellness, you can always start a wellness center to help people live their best and healthiest lives. A wellness center is a clinic that’s home to a variety of professionals offering their own wellness services. For example, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, wellness coaching, and more. You can even add a healthy cafe and a yoga studio to make the center a casual gathering space.
27. Start a Spa
Maybe there’s a need in your community for an in-person place where people can come to relax, heal, and de-stress. A spa business can offer wellness-focused treatments like hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, massage therapy, Reiki, and more. Treatment rooms can also give people places to unwind, like saunas, hot tubs, and mud baths.
Create Digital Products
28. Write an eBook
Once you have gained enough knowledge and expertise in an area of health and wellness, you might be ready to put it all down in a book so you can share your wisdom with others. Or, if you have a passion for writing and storytelling, you might be dreaming of publishing a book someday, and diving into a wellness topic can be the optimal way to do so. These days, you can self-publish a book, so you don’t even need to sign an agreement with a publisher if you don’t want to.
29. Start a Podcast
Running a podcast can be an entertaining way to share your knowledge with others. Platforms like Spotify and YouTube make it easy to get a podcast up and running. A strong social media presence can help you connect with people who need your advice. Then, you can monetize your podcast by selling ads and finding creative ways to support other businesses while earning money.
We Can Help You Promote Your Health and Wellness Business!
With so many amazing business opportunities within the health and wellness field, there’s something for every entrepreneur who wants to establish a career that involves supporting others. Once you have the perfect business idea, it’s time to put it into action. Sofia Health makes it easy for entrepreneurs to start connecting with clients, putting your website, billing, and scheduling in one easy-to-use platform.
Sign up today to turn your business idea into a reality.
