19 Innovative Nursing Business Ideas You Can Start In [2024]

Updated: September 21st, 2024

Thinking about diving into the nurse industry?

If done right, launching a business related to nursing can be both rewarding and profitable.

But where do you start and which ideas have the most potential?

We’ve compiled a list of top nurse-related business ideas that you can kickstart today.

For each idea, you'll find examples from real businesses to guide you on your journey.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a therapy business ($74.8K/month)

As a nurse, your healthcare background and patient care experience position you excellently to start a therapy business. Leveraging your understanding of patient needs, you could offer mental and emotional support services, guiding clients through their challenges and aiding them in achieving healthier lifestyles.

To embark on this journey, you would need to decide on the specific type of therapy you wish to provide and obtain the relevant certifications and licenses. This not only supplements your income but also allows you to use your existing skills in a complementary and impactful way.

By opening a therapy business, you could create a fulfilling side hustle or even transition into a full-time venture, offering personalized care that builds on your expertise as a nurse.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How I Make A Living As A Professional Cuddler

Professional cuddler, Sam Varnerin, developed her successful one-to-one cuddle service, Snuggle with Sam, as a result of recognising the universal human need for connection and touch, which also led to her opening Sam’s Snuggle School, a course for aspiring professional cuddlers.

Read by 16,852 founders

2. Start a health and wellness blog ($175K/month)

Starting a health and wellness blog could be an excellent way to supplement your income or launch a side business as a Nurse. Your extensive medical knowledge and genuine passion for patient care equip you to offer authoritative advice on issues like nutrition, physical fitness, mental health, and holistic wellness approaches. This credibility could help you quickly build an engaged audience that trusts your insights.

By dedicating time to creating valuable content and engaging with readers through comments and social media, you could develop a meaningful online presence in the health and wellness sphere. You could also explore collaborations with brands and industry experts, opening up additional revenue streams such as sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and consultative services. This not only diversifies your income but also helps you make a positive impact by guiding others towards healthier lifestyles.

How much you can make: $100 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

How I Developed A $300K/Month Wearable That Reduces Stress

This case study article follows Vicki Mayo, who developed a stress-reducing wearable product for her company TouchPoint, which achieved over $2 million in sales in the first couple of years and has been used for stress relief over 3 million times.

Read by 6,998 founders

3. Become a wellness coach ($48.2K/month)

As a nurse, you already possess a deep understanding of health and wellness, making the transition to a wellness coach a natural extension of your expertise. You could leverage your medical knowledge to provide personalized guidance on weight loss, stress management, and improved energy levels, among other health goals. Given that health and wellness coaching is gaining popularity, your background could position you as a trusted expert in the field, attracting clients seeking credible advice.

You could explore various niches within wellness coaching, such as becoming a corporate wellness coach, yoga teacher, or nutritional therapist. These roles not only allow you to diversify your income but also offer flexible schedules that can accommodate your nursing commitments. Additionally, your clinical experience can set you apart from other wellness coaches, giving you a competitive edge in a growing market.

How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A Mobile Yoga Studio

Chakra5 is a mobile wellness team that generates $6k per month doing yoga/meditation/pilates classes, vegan cooking classes and sound baths on demand, boasting a strong online presence to attract and retain customers while also using free tools to keep monthly business costs below $100.

Read by 11,998 founders

4. Become a massage therapist ($87.2K/month)

As a nurse, you could leverage your medical knowledge and caregiving skills to start a massage therapy business, an industry that continues to grow. This venture can be an effective way to supplement your income while offering an essential service to your community. With an independent massage therapy practice, you have the flexibility to operate out of your home or rent a massage studio on an hourly basis, catering to various client needs and schedules.

Applying your core business skills and medical expertise, you could build a successful practice that not only enhances your financial stability but also improves the well-being of others. Massage therapy offers a natural extension of the care you already provide, allowing you to deepen your patient relationships and potentially attract a wider client base. If you’re entrepreneurial-minded, this path could lead to a rewarding and lucrative side business or even a full-time career transition.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $275,000/month

How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)

How I Make A Living As A Professional Cuddler

Professional cuddler, Sam Varnerin, developed her successful one-to-one cuddle service, Snuggle with Sam, as a result of recognising the universal human need for connection and touch, which also led to her opening Sam’s Snuggle School, a course for aspiring professional cuddlers.

Read by 16,852 founders

5. Start a recruiting agency ($109K/month)

Starting a recruiting agency could be an excellent way for you as a nurse to supplement your income or even build a successful side business. Leveraging your extensive network and understanding of the healthcare industry, you could match qualified healthcare professionals with job opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and other medical settings. Your insider knowledge ensures that you can effectively assess candidates and meet the specific needs of medical employers, thus delivering high-quality placements.

Given the significant growth of the global online recruitment market, projected to reach $43 billion by 2027, there are substantial opportunities to tap into this expanding sector. By launching your agency, you could not only help fill the increasing demand for healthcare professionals but also establish a lucrative and rewarding business. While the initial challenge is landing your first client, the real-world experience you bring can set you apart from other recruiters and drive your agency's success.

How much you can make: $100 — $320,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A $3M/Year Remote Worker Recruitment Agency

DistantJob is a unique recruitment agency that specializes in finding full-time remote employees, and with $3 million in annual revenue, they offer small to medium-sized tech companies an edge over big competitors who are not willing to hire remotely.

Read by 12,076 founders

6. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)

Starting a freelance writing business could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a nurse. With the flexibility to define your work schedule and work from home, you could easily balance your nursing shifts with writing assignments. Your medical expertise and strong writing skills make you a valuable asset in niches such as health, wellness, and medical writing, allowing you to provide insightful and accurate content.

Moreover, as a nurse, you already possess many of the qualities needed to succeed in freelance writing, including the ability to meet deadlines, strong communication skills, and a self-starter attitude. By staying up-to-date with current writing tools and trends, you could carve out a specialized niche for yourself that leverages your professional background. This side business could not only provide an additional revenue stream but also offer opportunities for personal growth and professional development.

How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)

How I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.

Read by 24,821 founders

7. Create an online course ($83.3K/month)

As a nurse, your specialized knowledge and experience provide a unique opportunity to address educational gaps through an online course. You could create and sell digital classes on essential nursing skills, patient care techniques, or even niche areas like mental health nursing or neonatal care. Your in-depth expertise allows you to develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials that can help other nurses or aspiring healthcare professionals advance in their careers.

By offering self-paced or cohort-based courses, you could build a dedicated student base while generating passive income. For entrepreneurial-minded nurses, launching an online course platform is a cost-effective way to monetize your instructional talents. It also serves a community of lifelong learners looking for convenient access to specialized subjects, thus enhancing your professional footprint and financial stability.

How much you can make: $275 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)

How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Running A Blog

Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.

Read by 28,869 founders

8. Start a health and wellness consulting business ($148K/month)

As a nurse, starting a health and wellness consulting business would make perfect sense due to your extensive knowledge of health principles and patient care. You could leverage your clinical experience to guide clients toward healthier, more vibrant lifestyles through personalized plans that focus on nutrition, physical activity, and stress management.

The demand for health and wellness consulting is growing as more people seek to improve their well-being in holistic ways. You could position yourself as a credible consultant by obtaining the necessary certifications and staying updated with the latest wellness trends. This not only offers a way to supplement your income but also enables you to continue making a meaningful impact on people’s lives outside the traditional healthcare setting.

How much you can make: $100 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)

How This Couple Started A $100K/Month Sea Moss Infused Health Supplements Brand

Bey Moss, an e-commerce platform selling sea moss-infused health and wellness products, made over $800,000 to-date with less than $10,000 overall in ads after validating the product idea through reviews and feedback and leveraging their social media following to build a Bey Moss community.

Read by 30,061 founders

9. Start a skills training business ($94.8K/month)

As a nurse, you could leverage your expertise to start a skills training business, offering specialized medical and healthcare training to aspiring nurses or healthcare staff. Such a venture could be run online, allowing you to supplement your income while sharing invaluable knowledge and practical skills. The global skills training market is forecasted to reach $47.2 billion by 2027, indicating a strong demand and potential for growth.

This business could start relatively low-cost but has the potential to significantly impact both your financial situation and the careers of your trainees. By building a strong portfolio and establishing your credibility, you could increase your rates and gradually achieve financial freedom. This entrepreneurial path not only diversifies your income but also contributes meaningfully to the healthcare community by preparing competent professionals.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $350,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

We Built A $180K/Year Learn-To-Code Community

Online learning community Frontend Mentor has over 200,000 members, with over 1,500 paid subscribers generating over $15,000 MRR, offering professionally designed challenges to improve front-end coding skills with a freemium business model and a focus on real-life experience.

Read by 12,699 founders

10. Start a music podcast ($10.1K/month)

If you have a passion for music and enjoy sharing your knowledge, starting a music podcast could be an excellent side business to supplement your income as a Nurse. Podcasting is a rapidly growing medium, and its low barrier to entry means you could start with just a computer or phone and a microphone. As a Nurse, you could explore how music impacts mental health, stress relief, or even discuss musical therapies, creating content that resonates with your medical expertise while engaging a broader audience.

Moreover, this could be an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and expand your network beyond the healthcare industry. Since podcasts are driven by passionate content creators, your authentic interest in music coupled with your professional insights could attract a dedicated listener base, opening up potential revenue streams through sponsorships, donations, or even merchandise.

How much you can make: $100 — $20,000/month

How long does it take to build: 32 days (?)

On Starting A Blog And Podcast To Inspire Entrepreneurs

A founder shares how she built a podcast network with brand clothing, podcast sales, affiliate sales, and publishing book partnerships, generating around $20k per month, while staying true to her voice and values.

Read by 5,752 founders

11. Start an AI power fitness app

If you’re a nurse with a passion for fitness and a knack for technology, you could leverage your healthcare expertise to develop an AI-powered fitness app. This app could provide personalized workout and nutrition plans tailored to individual health needs, offering unique insights that only someone with your medical knowledge could provide.

By integrating your nursing background, you could design the app to include features that monitor vital signs and provide health tips, contributing to a holistic approach to fitness. Such an app could not only supplement your income but also allow you to make a meaningful impact on people’s health and wellness outside the traditional clinical setting.

12. Start a vegan ice cream business

As a nurse, starting a vegan ice cream business could be an excellent way to supplement your income while tapping into the burgeoning demand for plant-based food options. Leveraging your healthcare background, you could emphasize the health benefits of dairy-free alternatives, appealing to a broader customer base concerned with nutrition and wellness. The flexible nature of this side business allows you to balance it alongside your nursing shifts, with the potential for engaging with customers through weekend markets or pop-up events.

With your expertise in patient care, you can bring a unique touch to your marketing efforts by highlighting not only the deliciousness but also the health benefits of vegan ice cream. Once established, this venture could evolve from a supplementary income stream to a full-fledged business, offering the satisfaction of contributing to a healthier lifestyle and a more sustainable planet. This blend of professional skill and entrepreneurial spirit makes for an impactful and enjoyable undertaking.

13. Become a stamp maker

If you're a Nurse with an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a stamp maker business could be a unique and profitable side venture. With the flexibility to create custom stamps for healthcare documentation, patient charts, or promotional items for medical events, you could cater to a niche market that understands and values your profession-specific needs. Additionally, custom stamps could be offered to colleagues for use with ease and efficiency in their day-to-day tasks.

Investing in straightforward equipment such as stamp carving tools, ink pads, and graphic design software can help you get started. With effective marketing through social media, local events, and a dedicated website, you could potentially tap into a broader market including local businesses and organizations. By offering a range of designs and styles like self-inking stamps, you can diversify your offerings and attract varied clientele, making your stamp-making endeavor not only practical but profitable.

14. Start a holiday decorating service

As a nurse with a keen eye for detail and a caring touch, you could leverage your creativity to start a holiday decorating service. This seasonal business requires minimal startup investment and fits well alongside a demanding nursing schedule, allowing you to generate extra income during the holidays.

Your experience in creating welcoming environments for patients can translate seamlessly into making homes and businesses festive. With no special training required, you could tap into a highly profitable market by using your natural decorating skills and passion for creativity.

How much you can make: $20,000/month

How I Started A $20K/Month Balloon Installations And Decorations Business

Balloon Haus LLC, founded by Janeen Brown, is a successful balloon boutique generating an average of $20K/monthly, providing custom exquisite and trendy balloon installations and decorations to notable clients such as Instagram, Marriott, and American Express.

Read by 32,157 founders

15. Start a fence installation business

As a Nurse, you possess strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a compassionate approach to helping others—traits that could seamlessly translate into running a successful fence installation business. This side venture would leverage your organizational skills and ability to manage projects efficiently, offering a practical way to supplement your income without the need for a complete career change.

Starting a fence installation business allows for flexible scheduling, enabling you to plan projects around your nursing shifts. This entrepreneurial endeavor could not only provide a significant extra income but also offer a creative and physical outlet that contrasts nicely with the often emotionally taxing nature of healthcare. Whether you want to build this into a full-time business or keep it as a lucrative side hustle, the skills and work ethic you have developed as a nurse would be invaluable assets.

How much you can make: $5,000/month

On Starting A Niche Web Design Business In The Dental Industry

Senthil Kumar spearheads Siva Solutions Inc, a game-changing digital marketing and software development company which caters to dentists using an array of well-crafted products to manage patient data and inquiries, thus enabling efficient management of processes, while boosting them to the 1st page on Google.

Read by 5,971 founders

16. Start a content creation business ($80.3K/month)

Starting a content creation business makes sense as a Nurse because of the unique expertise and experiences you bring to the table. You could create blog posts, articles, or videos on health and wellness topics, leveraging your medical knowledge to deliver valuable and credible content. This niche-specific expertise allows you to provide targeted messages that align with client goals and resonate deeply with their audiences.

As a content entrepreneur, you could work on freelance gigs or establish a full-service content studio, allowing you to supplement your income while maintaining your nursing career. You'll have the freedom to enhance brand stories and digital experiences through creative and strategic approaches. With your background, you could drive lead generation and visibility for brands looking to make an impact in the health and wellness space, ultimately positioning your venture for success in today’s content-compelling market.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

How I Started A $22K/Month One-Stop Shop Marketing Company For E-commerce Businesses

Power Move Marketing is an innovative digital marketing company founded by Hailey Brooke McFadden, which has achieved an impressive monthly income of $22,075 and is projected to make almost $300,000 in its first year, by offering a one-stop-shop for e-commerce businesses looking for a marketing powerhouse with a female positive culture.

Read by 11,652 founders

17. Start a digital subscription business ($133K/month)

Considering the growing popularity of digital subscription models, as a nurse, you could leverage your expertise to create a valuable digital service for others in the healthcare field. For instance, you could develop an online platform offering specialized nursing courses, certifications, or continuing education credits, ensuring your colleagues stay updated with the latest practices and industry standards. This not only offers a recurring income stream but also fulfills a crucial need within the nursing community.

Additionally, you could create a subscription-based digital newsletter or a members-only website offering health tips, wellness advice, or patient care strategies. This could be particularly appealing to nurses looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in specific areas, while also providing you with steady passive income. By tapping into the digital subscription business, you not only harness a flexible and scalable business model but also contribute significantly to the professional development of your peers.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How We Make $7.5K/Month With A Productized Service

Draftss.com is a productized graphic design and front-end code service on subscription that made $66k ARR in 2019, has an MRR of $9.6k as of July 2020, and offers add-ons such as designers being added to team in interacting tools and front-end code services on WordPress using various page builders like Elementor and Divi.

Read by 12,322 founders

18. Start a dating coaching business ($12.1K/month)

As a nurse with a natural inclination towards caregiving and empathy, starting a dating coaching business could be a fulfilling venture. Your experience in patient care and communication equips you with the skills necessary to understand and support individuals navigating the complex world of relationships. By leveraging your listening abilities and problem-solving skills, you could offer valuable insights and guidance to those seeking to improve their dating experiences.

You could specialize in helping specific groups, such as individuals with medical conditions or disabilities, by offering tailored advice and support to enhance their confidence and success in dating. Whether part-time or as a full-time endeavor, being a dating coach allows you to supplement your income while making a meaningful impact in people's personal lives. This unique blend of caregiving and coaching could be both financially rewarding and personally satisfying.

How much you can make: $1,300 — $30,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,250 (?)

How long does it take to build: 47 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 3 hours/week

How I Started A Business Where I Plan Romantic Date Nights For Couples

Meet Ta'Veca Collins, founder of Romance On The Go, a concierge service that promotes romance and intimacy; since becoming a preferred vendor for The W Hotel Fort Lauderdale, their gross income has increased to around $3,200.00 monthly, and they are currently expanding their team to meet the demands of new partnered hotels.

Read by 25,543 founders

19. Start a mobile yoga business

As a nurse, you could leverage your healthcare expertise to start a mobile yoga business, offering personalized and medically-informed yoga sessions right at the clients' doorstep. With your deep understanding of anatomy and physical health, you could provide safe, effective yoga routines tailored to individual needs, ensuring that clients practice safely and reap the maximum benefits.

You could start by offering one-on-one sessions, gradually building up to group classes. The flexibility and convenience of a mobile yoga service will appeal to busy professionals, new mothers, and those with limited mobility, allowing you to tap into a broad and diverse market. By maintaining an active online presence and sharing instructional videos on social media, you can expand your reach and build a dedicated client base.

Starting a mobile yoga business not only supplements your income but also allows you to promote wellness and holistic health, playing a vital role in preventive care.

How much you can make: $6,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)

How I Started A Mobile Yoga Studio

Chakra5 is a mobile wellness team that generates $6k per month doing yoga/meditation/pilates classes, vegan cooking classes and sound baths on demand, boasting a strong online presence to attract and retain customers while also using free tools to keep monthly business costs below $100.

Read by 11,998 founders

meet the author
Pat Walls