24 Business Ideas For Physical Therapists [2024]
Interested in starting a business as a physical therapist in 2024?
If managed well, building a business as a physical therapist could be more lucrative than employment. So, which are the best business ideas for physical therapists?
We put together 24 of some of the best physical therapist business ideas you can start in today.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other physical therapist businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a therapy business ($74.8K/month)
Starting a therapy business as a physical therapist could be an excellent way to supplement your income and expand your professional offerings. You already possess a specialized skill set and profound understanding of human anatomy and rehabilitation, which can be leveraged to help clients not only with physical challenges but also with emotional and mental well-being.
By obtaining the additional necessary certifications and licenses, you could broaden your scope of practice to include counseling or other therapeutic services. This expanded range of services would allow you to offer comprehensive care to your clients, addressing both their physical and emotional needs, potentially leading to diverse revenue streams and enhanced job satisfaction.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
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.
2. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your extensive knowledge and expertise to create specialized online courses, filling educational gaps around rehabilitation techniques, injury prevention, or chronic pain management. By developing engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you would provide value to both your professional peers looking to enhance their skills, as well as to everyday individuals seeking guidance for at-home care.
Creating an online course allows you to tap into a global audience, offering flexibility with self-paced or cohort-based structures that cater to various learning styles. This venture not only supplements your income but also offers the potential for passive income, all while requiring relatively low startup costs. For those who enjoy sharing their knowledge, launching an online course platform is a rewarding way to impact others and monetize your instructional talents.
How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
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.
3. Start a fitness equipment company ($327K/month)
As a physical therapist, you possess an in-depth understanding of the human body, physical health, and the specific needs of individuals recovering from injuries or striving for better fitness. This expertise positions you uniquely to design, produce, or market fitness equipment that addresses common patient needs and promotes overall well-being. Not only could you create specialized equipment that aids in rehabilitation, but you could also recommend and sell equipment tailored for home use, enhancing patient recovery outside of clinical settings.
Starting a fitness equipment company offers versatile options, from running a local storefront to managing an online shop. Your insight into effective, safe, and ergonomic designs would provide a significant advantage in appealing to both personal users and professional facilities like gyms and schools. By leveraging your existing skills and knowledge, you could create a lucrative side business or transition into a new entrepreneurial venture while continuing to improve the health and fitness of your community.
How much you can make: $9,300 — $1,200,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Serena Jenkins-Hannah created a fitness brand, Serena Hannah Athletics, that has generated over $100,000 in sales over a year and a half, with $70,000 of those sales coming during COVID-19, through selling their #1 item, the Hannah Booty Band System, on Amazon, and has now expanded to Shopify to add cash flow.
4. Start a supplements company ($412K/month)
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your expertise in health and wellness by starting a supplements company. By offering dietary supplements, vitamins, protein powders, and health foods, you could cater to the needs of fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious individuals, and those who prioritize daily nutrition.
Given your professional background, you could offer trusted advice and high-quality products that resonate with your clients' wellness goals. Starting a supplement brand is relatively inexpensive and can be managed from home, making it an attractive side business or a full-time venture that aligns closely with your existing career.
By tapping into your network and the trust you have built with your clients, you could effectively market and sell these products directly to customers, as well as through distributors and retailers. This could provide a steady supplemental income and potentially open new avenues for professional growth.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $3,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
A military officer turned entrepreneur built sports nutrition brand Bare Performance Nutrition from $15,000 in year one to on track to generate $6m in revenue this year, leveraging social media platforms and creating interactive, relatable and valuable content to create a community and a brand voice.
5. Build a geocoding tool
As a physical therapist, you could leverage a geocoding tool to enhance patient care and build a supplementary income stream. By developing a geocoding application, you could map out optimal locations for establishing new physical therapy clinics or identify underserved areas with high demand for your expertise. This tool could help other healthcare providers make informed decisions about where to set up practices, creating a potential market for your product.
Additionally, you could offer geocoding services to home health agencies and fitness instructors who need to locate clients in specific regions efficiently. By integrating patient data with geographic information, the geocoding tool could also assist in planning more effective home visit routes, thereby saving time and increasing overall productivity for those in the physical therapy field. This innovation could position you not just as a caregiver, but also as a tech-savvy entrepreneur in the healthcare industry.
6. Start a house numbers on curbs business
As a physical therapist with an entrepreneurial spirit, you could easily supplement your income by starting a house numbers on curbs business. This type of side venture requires minimal startup costs and flexible hours, making it an excellent complement to your primary career. You could leverage your existing organizational skills and client interactions to efficiently manage this low-maintenance business.
Moreover, painting house numbers on curbs can foster a stronger community presence and even serve as a creative outlet. You could tie this service into wellness promotions by offering discounts to clients or neighbors, fostering goodwill and potentially generating word-of-mouth referrals. This venture allows you to diversify your income while keeping overheads low, offering a practical balance between your clinical practice and entrepreneurial aspirations.
7. Start a golf youtube channel
As a physical therapist with expertise in sports and movement, starting a golf YouTube channel could present an excellent opportunity for you to supplement your income and engage with a wider audience. By creating content that combines your knowledge of physical therapy with golf instruction and tips, you could attract both golf enthusiasts and individuals interested in maintaining proper form and preventing injuries.
You could offer educational videos on topics such as injury prevention, flexibility exercises, and rehabilitation for common golf-related injuries. This unique angle not only sets your channel apart but also allows you to monetize through YouTube’s various programs like advertising revenue, channel memberships, and merchandise sales. Engaging with a community of golfers who value your professional insights could result in additional business opportunities, like online coaching or partnerships with golf brands.
8. Start a vegan baby food business
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your expertise in health and well-being to enter the rapidly growing vegan baby food market. Your clients already look to you for advice on overall wellness, making you a credible source for promoting nutritious, plant-based baby foods.
Given the rising demand for vegan and organic options and the increasing global infant population, you could find a lucrative niche that aligns with your passion for healthy living. This could be a profitable side business or evolve into a full-time venture, offering you the potential to diversify your income while making a meaningful impact on infant nutrition.
9. Start a hydroseeding business
As a physical therapist looking to supplement your income or start a side business, venturing into hydroseeding could be a lucrative opportunity. Hydroseeding is a planting process that utilizes a slurry of seed and mulch to prevent soil erosion and establish lawns quickly, which has a high demand among homeowners and businesses seeking premium landscaping solutions.
The process is less labor-intensive than traditional seeding or laying sod, allowing you to balance it with your current professional commitments. Given its premium pricing and faster results, clients are more likely to pay for this efficient service, making it a potentially profitable side business that aligns well with your entrepreneurial spirit.
10. Start a capacitor production business
As a physical therapist with an entrepreneurial mindset, you could explore starting a capacitor production business to supplement your income. With the global capacitor industry projected to reach over $23 billion in the coming years, the market is ripe for innovation and growth. The increased demand for capacitors in technology-driven sectors like computers, telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics presents a lucrative opportunity.
Leveraging your analytical skills, which are crucial in both physical therapy and business strategy, you could succeed in this technical venture. While it may seem far from your current profession, the engineering knowledge required for capacitor production can be outsourced or learned through online courses and partnerships. This side business would allow you to diversify your income streams and potentially transition into a scalable venture with promising future prospects.
11. Start a home brewing supply shop
As a physical therapist, you have a unique understanding of the physical demands and mental stresses people face, which could translate into a therapeutic and rewarding side business: a home brewing supply shop. This venture not only offers the chance to diversify your income but also taps into a rapidly growing market with an avid customer base. By selling the supplies needed to make beer, such as brewing kits and ingredients, you provide a creative outlet for individuals seeking a relaxing hobby.
Additionally, your background in training and educating clients positions you perfectly to offer hands-on guidance on brewing techniques, helping customers get the most out of their experience. The home brewing industry is relatively new and holds immense growth potential, making it a promising area for entrepreneurial-minded physical therapists looking to expand their horizons. With thorough research and a strategic start, you could gradually build a loyal clientele and possibly scale your operation to impressive financial heights.
How much you can make: $120,000/month
Progress Brewing, a craft beer company in South El Monte, saw continuous growth of 12-14% every month for 16 months straight and hopes to break $2M revenue in 2019 with a focus on high-value non-hype beer, excellent customer service, and providing an overall enjoyable experience.
12. Build a medical app
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your medical knowledge and experience to create a medical app that enhances patient care and streamlines practice management. Given that the medical apps market is projected to reach $314.60 billion by 2028, there is ample opportunity to develop a unique app tailored to the needs of physical therapists and their patients.
Start by focusing on simplifying patient record management. With the healthcare industry losing billions annually on inefficient paperwork and data-sharing systems, your app could offer a secure and efficient way to track patient progress, manage treatment plans, and share information with other healthcare professionals. Even if coding and app building are not your forte, collaborating with tech developers could bring your vision to life and potentially supplement your income or even grow into a primary business.
How much you can make: $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)
Conduct Science founder Shuhan He co-founded Qolty, a digital health software that tracks health and patient symptoms and provides electronic surveys for patients with geofencing capabilities installed on a patient's phone, used by practitioners at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and shows promise with a 50% year-on-year growth target.
13. Start a solar energy powered street lights business
As a physical therapist, you could explore entrepreneurial opportunities beyond your practice by starting a solar energy-powered street lights business. With the growing emphasis on sustainable solutions and renewable energy, this venture could align with your values of promoting overall well-being and a healthy environment.
Leveraging your existing patient network, you could educate communities about the benefits of renewable energy solutions, translating your credibility in health care into a new market. This business doesn't require any specific technical background but rather a passion for sustainability and the drive to learn about solar technology and its applications. By providing eco-friendly lighting options, you could contribute to safer, well-lit neighborhoods all while supplementing your income.
14. Start a soap making business ($10.6K/month)
If you're a physical therapist with an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a soap making business could be a practical way to supplement your income or even build a full-fledged business. Soap making is a relatively easy cottage industry you can begin from home, and it taps into a product that is consistently in high demand across households. Given your background in physical therapy, you might even carve out a niche by creating therapeutic, natural, or essential oil-infused soaps designed to aid in muscle relaxation and recovery.
Imagining a line of soaps tailored to your clientele—perhaps products that cater to athletes or those in rehabilitation—could set your business apart from traditional soap makers. You could market these specialty soaps as complementary to the services you already offer, enhancing the well-being and recovery of your patients. Additionally, leveraging your existing customer base to introduce your new products could make it easier to gain initial traction and credibility.
To get started, research the soap market, choose a niche, and create a business plan. Decide on your business name, your entity type, and your marketing strategy to reach potential customers effectively. With some initial groundwork, you could successfully turn your soap making hobby into a profitable side business that aligns with your professional expertise.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $20,000/month
How long does it take to build: 747 days (?)
Kiss My Crown Essentials founder Warnisha Foster shares her journey from creating organic soap products in her kitchen to selling over 500 soaps in her first month with a mission to let mothers know that they are seen, beautiful, and a necessity.
15. Start a meal planning business ($331K/month)
As a physical therapist, starting a meal planning business could supplement your income by leveraging your existing knowledge of nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet for health and recovery. By offering customized meal plans, whether for couples, individuals, or families, you could address the common “what’s for dinner” dilemma, providing a valuable service that aligns with your expertise in promoting well-being.
To begin, you might create an online meal planning portal. This could include offering recipes, grocery lists, and dietary advice tailored to your clients' specific health needs and goals. By attracting traffic through a blog or guest posting on other platforms, you could expand your client base, providing a significant boost to your entrepreneurial efforts.
How much you can make: $62,000 — $600,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 227 days (?)
Nourishing Brands is a direct-to-consumer media company that generates more than $600k per month and sold over 300,000 cookbooks in 2020 through their popular health websites like KetoSummit.com by transitioning from digital events to cookbooks, evergreen courses, and paid media.
16. Start a fashion columnist business
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your understanding of body mechanics and aesthetics to offer distinctive fashion advice tailored to different body types, making your insights particularly valuable in the fashion columnist realm. By integrating your knowledge of functional movement and posture with current trends, you can provide unique styling tips that not only look good but also promote comfort and well-being.
Additionally, you could diversify your content by discussing how certain fashion choices can enhance or hinder physical performance, appealing to a niche audience interested in both health and style. Collaborating with fashion brands, industry professionals, and engaging your followers on social media will help you gain visibility and credibility within the fashion community.
Starting a fashion columnist business could not only supplement your income but also provide a creative outlet distinct from your everyday practice, allowing you to merge your professional expertise with a passion for fashion.
17. Start a pizza boxes business
As a physical therapist, venturing into the pizza boxes business presents a unique opportunity to supplement your income while leveraging the consistent demand in the thriving pizza industry. You could start by manufacturing and supplying high-quality, affordable pizza boxes made from corrugated cardboard to local pizzerias and restaurants. This side business would allow you to generate a steady stream of passive income with relatively low overhead costs.
Moreover, with pizza being a globally popular food item, the demand for pizza boxes is set to remain high, ensuring long-term sustainability for your business. Balancing your main career with this entrepreneurial venture can provide financial stability and open new avenues for growth and professional diversification. This blend of healthcare and business might offer you a refreshing and rewarding challenge.
How much you can make: $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
OXO Packaging is a successful custom packaging manufacturer generating an impressive $500,000 per month in revenue with around 40-50 orders per month, and aims to become the top packaging manufacturer in the USA and Australia.
18. Start a live stream product launch business
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your expertise to start a live stream product launch business, showcasing innovative rehab tools, mobility aids, or fitness equipment. With your in-depth knowledge and experience, you could provide valuable insights and practical demonstrations that resonate with both professionals in your field and potential customers.
By offering live demonstrations, you could answer questions in real-time, building trust and credibility while fostering a community of engaged followers. This venture could not only supplement your income but also establish you as an authority in your niche, leading to further opportunities in consulting and partnerships with brands.
19. Start a virtual tour mobile app business
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your knowledge and expertise to develop a virtual tour mobile app that showcases rehabilitation exercises and physical therapy techniques. This app could provide clients with guided virtual tours through various exercise routines, helping them maintain their recovery process at home or understand better the environment and equipment they'll encounter during in-person sessions.
By creating a user-friendly virtual tour app, you could reach a wider audience, including patients who may not be able to visit your practice regularly or who live in remote areas. This side business could not only supplement your income but also enhance your professional brand, positioning you as a forward-thinking and tech-savvy physical therapist.
20. Start a cake sales business
If you're a physical therapist with a passion for baking, starting a cake sales business could be a delightful and lucrative side venture. You could leverage your network of clients, colleagues, and community contacts to market your delicious creations, offering custom cakes for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate events. Your existing skills in patient management would translate well into managing customer orders and ensuring satisfaction.
Additionally, your knowledge of health and wellness could allow you to offer cakes with healthier ingredients or cater to specific dietary needs, setting you apart in the market. This business could provide a creative outlet and supplementary income without significantly impacting your primary career responsibilities.
21. Start a freelance cafe baking business
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your knowledge of nutrition and healthy eating to start a freelance cafe baking business. Given your expertise in promoting overall wellness, you might focus on creating health-conscious baked goods that cater to your clients' dietary needs, such as gluten-free, low-sugar, or high-protein options. This not only supplements your income but also aligns with your professional mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Additionally, the flexible nature of freelance baking allows you to manage your time effectively, balancing your primary career with your side business. You could supply local cafes with your baked goods on the weekends or during your off-hours, gradually building a loyal customer base. Over time, this side business could potentially evolve into a full-time venture, offering you a rewarding entrepreneurial avenue that complements your skills and interests.
22. Start a blogging tips website ($33.4K/month)
Starting a blogging tips website could be an excellent side business for you as a physical therapist. Your expertise in rehabilitation and patient care can offer a unique perspective on topics such as managing a blog for healthcare professionals, creating engaging health-related content, and optimizing blog posts for a medical audience. This not only supplements your income but also leverages your existing knowledge and skills in a new, profitable way.
Additionally, sharing valuable content about SEO strategies, social media marketing, and blogging techniques can help you establish yourself as an authority in both the healthcare and blogging communities. By positioning your website as a trusted resource, you could attract a loyal audience of aspiring bloggers and healthcare professionals eager for your advice. With opportunities for monetization through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and premium content, a blogging tips website offers a scalable and sustainable income stream.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $125 (?)
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
23. Start an ecommerce plugin ($23.4K/month)
As a physical therapist, you could leverage your expertise to create an e-commerce plugin tailored for the health and wellness industry. By developing a plugin that integrates essential features like a shopping cart, payment gateway, or specialized product catalog, you could offer a unique tool that helps other physical therapists or related businesses easily sell rehab equipment, therapeutic aids, or even digital products like e-books and online courses.
Given the rising demand for efficient and specialized online stores, your e-commerce plugin could become a vital asset for healthcare practitioners looking to streamline their e-commerce operations. This approach could not only supplement your income but also establish you as an entrepreneurial innovator within your field, providing a valuable and practical solution to others in the industry.
While developing such a plugin requires familiarity with different e-commerce platforms and strong coding skills, the potential to automate tasks and add new integrations makes this a promising avenue. If you are tech-savvy or willing to partner with a developer, this could be a highly rewarding side business or even a full-time venture.
How much you can make: $117 — $54,999/month
How much does it cost to start: $6,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
SuperLemon, a WhatsApp plugin for Shopify eCommerce stores, crossed $29,000 in MRR as of July 2020, with 20,000 users from 50+ countries and 1700+ paying customers, all acquired through organic marketing strategies and a relentless focus on customer service and satisfaction.
24. Start an AI content marketing business
As a physical therapist, starting an AI content marketing business offers an exciting opportunity to diversify your income while leveraging the latest in digital marketing technology. You could utilize AI to automate content creation, manage social media posts, and execute email marketing campaigns, freeing up your time while delivering high-quality, data-driven content solutions to various clients.
By mastering AI tools and understanding market trends, you could provide personalized marketing strategies that enhance your clients' online presence, all while staying ahead of technological advancements. This venture not only allows you to apply your tech-savvy skills but also positions you at the forefront of digital innovation, offering scalable operations and significant returns.
Embracing AI content marketing as a side business or a full-time endeavor could streamline your work process, satisfy a diverse clientele, and create a profitable enterprise that grows alongside technological advancements.
How much you can make: $5,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
Discover how an Argentinian product designer turned an accidental 10-day project into aiCarousels.com, an AI-powered social media carousel generator now boasting $5,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR), with minimal design skills and no formal programming education.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
