Business Ideas For Empaths [2024]
Are you an empath with a desire to start your own business? In 2024, there are numerous opportunities that align with your natural ability to understand and connect with others. These ideas emphasize both your strengths and the potential to make a meaningful impact.
From providing personalized coaching to creating unique wellness products, you could find a niche that resonates with your innate empathetic skills. Discover 11 business ideas that you could start today, each designed to harness your ability to empathize and help others.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other empath businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be an excellent side hustle or full-fledged business for an Empath. Through podcasting, you have the opportunity to share your unique insights, experiences, and understanding of emotions in a way that resonates deeply with your audience. This medium allows for authentic and heartfelt communication, enabling you to build a loyal listener base who appreciate your empathetic perspective.
Why start a podcast?
- You could deeply connect with your audience, making them feel understood and valued through your empathetic storytelling and discussions.
- Podcasting offers a flexible schedule, allowing you to balance this endeavor with other commitments while supplementing your income.
- As an Empath, your ability to tap into a wide range of emotions could make your content engaging and relatable, potentially attracting sponsors and advertisers.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
2. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business can be a perfect fit for empaths who are naturally attuned to understanding and fulfilling others' needs and desires. By curating a box based on a specific niche, you could provide customers with a deeply personalized experience that brings them joy and satisfaction each month. Your ability to empathize will make it easier to anticipate what your subscribers will love, thus creating a meaningful connection with your clientele.
Considering that subscription box businesses are in high demand, this venture could become a steady supplemental income or even grow into a full-fledged business. For more tips on creating a successful subscription box, you might want to check out pros-and-cons of starting this kind of business.
Why starting a subscription box business?
- Empaths can leverage their deep understanding of customers to create highly personalized and appealing subscription boxes.
- The recurring revenue model offers financial stability and growth potential.
- Curating a box of unique and meaningful products allows you to channel your creativity and passion into a profitable business.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
3. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Starting a health and wellness app makes perfect sense for an empath who aspires to create a meaningful impact while generating income. Empaths possess an inherent understanding of people's emotional and physical needs, making them ideal creators of a platform designed to offer personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, mental well-being exercises, and progress tracking. By developing such an app, you could help users achieve their health and wellness goals, providing expert advice and motivational support tailored to their individual needs.
Imagine an app that guides users through yoga practices, offers meal plans, and even reminds them to drink water, all customized to enhance their well-being. Building this app involves market research, collaboration with health experts, and effective marketing strategies, but the potential to positively impact lives and enter a growing market makes it a compelling venture for empaths passionate about technology and health. For more insights on getting started, explore the pros and cons of a health and wellness app.
Why start a health and wellness app?
- You'll leverage your empathic nature to create a personalized and supportive health tool.
- The growing wellness industry offers substantial market opportunities.
- Helping others achieve their wellness goals aligns with the empath's passion for making a positive impact.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
4. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Empaths often excel in understanding and connecting with people on an emotional level, making a YouTube channel a great way for you to share your insights and foster a supportive community. By creating content that resonates with viewers—whether it's about personal growth, empathetic living, or stress-relief techniques—you could make a significant impact while generating extra income through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise.
Starting a YouTube channel would also allow you to showcase your unique perspective and build a loyal audience who values your empathetic approach. For a step-by-step guide and inspiration from others who have succeeded, visit this Starter Story page.
Why starting a YouTube channel?
- You could use your empathetic nature to create content that deeply connects with your audience.
- You would have the flexibility to share your unique voice and build a community around your values.
- You may earn revenue through multiple streams, making it a versatile and financially rewarding venture.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 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.
5. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog can be an excellent way for empaths to channel their passions and connect deeply with a community that shares their interests. As an empath, your ability to understand and resonate with the feelings of others offers a unique advantage in creating engaging and relatable content. With topics ranging from wellness and personal growth to fashion or film reviews, your empathy can help build a loyal audience who values your insights and perspectives.
Additionally, a niche blog can be an entrepreneurial venture that allows you to monetize through affiliate links, brand collaborations, and events. By focusing on a specific niche, you can stand out in a crowded market, making it easier to attract and engage readers who feel a personal connection with your content.
Why starting a niche blog?
- You could leverage your empathy to create content that deeply resonates with your audience, fostering a strong and loyal community.
- Sharing your unique insights and perspectives allows you to turn your passion into an income-generating venture.
- The blogging platform offers numerous monetization opportunities, from affiliate marketing to brand partnerships, enhancing your ability to supplement your income.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
6. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
As an empath, starting a niche website is an excellent way to channel your deep understanding of people's needs into a business. By focusing on a specific topic you're passionate about, you could connect with a dedicated audience and provide valuable content that truly resonates with them. This venture allows you to leverage your innate ability to empathize and create meaningful interactions, potentially turning your insights into a source of income through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products.
If you’ve got a particular interest that you feel strongly about, creating compelling content around it could attract loyal followers and turn your niche website into a reliable source of passive income. To dive deeper into the potential of niche websites, check out these inspiring success stories.
Why start a niche website?
- You could create a platform that speaks directly to your audience's needs, building a loyal community.
- Your empathy-driven content could foster deep connections, resulting in higher engagement and trust.
- The initial effort in content creation could lead to passive income streams, providing financial stability while doing something you love.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
7. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business could be an excellent side hustle for an empath looking to supplement their income. By promoting products and services that resonate with them, empaths can leverage their natural ability to connect with others, making it easier to build trust with potential customers. As an affiliate marketer, you'll earn commissions on sales, allowing for a stream of passive income, which can be particularly beneficial for those who prefer flexible working conditions. Learn more about affiliate marketing success stories here.
Why consider starting an affiliate marketing business?
- You could connect with like-minded individuals by promoting products you genuinely believe in.
- Your empathetic nature makes it easier to build trust and rapport with your audience.
- It offers the flexibility to work from anywhere, fitting seamlessly into your lifestyle.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
8. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As an empath, starting an online course sales business could be an incredibly fulfilling venture. Your natural ability to connect with others and understand their unique needs makes you well-suited for creating courses that resonate on a deeper level. Whether you are passionate about music, cooking, or coding, you could turn your expertise into a source of passive income by offering engaging and impactful online classes.
Why consider an online course sales business?
- You could transform your empathy into a teaching asset, helping students feel understood and supported.
- The e-learning market is booming, projected to reach over $645 billion, providing ample opportunity to monetize your skills.
- Tailoring courses to meet the emotional and educational needs of your audience could set you apart and foster a loyal following.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
9. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
Starting a mobile app as an Empath could not only provide a supplemental income but also be a way to harness your unique ability to understand and connect with others. Your intuitive understanding of people's needs and desires can guide you in creating an app that genuinely resonates with users, offering solutions that make their lives easier or more enjoyable. Whether your idea is focused on mental health, well-being, or even connecting like-minded individuals, the possibilities are endless.
For example, you might create an app designed to help users track and manage their emotional well-being, fostering a community where people can share their experiences and support each other. With a clear vision, some basic coding knowledge, or the ability to hire a developer, bringing your empathetic insights to the digital realm is more feasible than ever. For inspiration, you can explore mobile app success stories to see how others have turned their ideas into thriving businesses.
Why start a mobile app?
- You could leverage your empathic skills to create something truly impactful and user-centric.
- Apps have immense potential for scalability and widespread reach, offering significant revenue opportunities.
- With the increasing dependency on mobile apps, your idea could reach and help a vast number of people globally, making a real difference.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
10. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business could be a fantastic fit for Empaths, allowing you to channel your creativity and emotional intelligence into meaningful and unique products. This business model eliminates the need for upfront inventory, giving you the freedom to focus on the aspects of the business that truly align with your empathetic nature, such as design and customer interaction. You'll be able to run this business from the comfort of your home, leveraging platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to reach a global audience.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- Empaths could thrive in designing products that resonate on an emotional level with customers, creating a unique and personalized shopping experience.
- The low startup costs and flexibility make it an ideal side hustle or even a full-time business for those who need to balance other responsibilities or self-care routines.
- This business model allows you to connect with your audience through your designs, establishing a meaningful connection with people worldwide.
For more details, you can explore success stories from other print-on-demand sellers here.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
11. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business could be an ideal choice for empaths looking to supplement their income and explore entrepreneurship. With dropshipping, you don't need to worry about managing inventory or dealing with shipping logistics, which allows you to focus on aspects that resonate more with your empathetic nature, such as customer service and curating product selections that genuinely benefit consumers. By choosing a niche that aligns with your values and passions, you can create a business that not only generates income but also provides meaningful products to your customers.
Why consider a dropshipping business?
- You could focus on customer relationships and offering genuine support, making your business more personable and engaging.
- You have the flexibility to choose products that resonate with you and have a positive impact on your customers.
- It requires minimal upfront investment, reducing financial stress while allowing you to start your entrepreneurial journey.
Start your journey by exploring successful dropshipping stories to get inspired and see what's possible.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
12. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
Considering an AI-based business solution could be a compelling avenue for empaths looking to supplement their income or start a side business in 2024. As an empath, your natural ability to understand and anticipate human needs can enhance AI technologies to provide personalized customer experiences and predictive analytics. Even without a tech background, user-friendly AI platforms can help you tap into this growing market efficiently.
Integrating AI into business operations allows for streamlined processes, reducing costs, and offering insightful data-driven decisions. For empaths, the potential to create impactful, human-centered solutions through AI is immense, making this business venture both profitable and fulfilling. Learn more about AI-based business solutions.
Why consider an AI-based business solution?
- AI can automate tedious tasks, leaving you more time to focus on empath-driven customer interactions.
- It provides valuable insights, enhancing your ability to meet client needs effectively.
- User-friendly interfaces mean you don't need technical expertise to get started, making it accessible for everyone.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
13. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As an empath, you have a unique ability to perceive and capture the emotions of people, landscapes, and moments through photography. Starting a stock photography business allows you to use this talent to create compelling images that resonate with a wide audience, thereby building an impressive portfolio and earning passive income. Your empathy-driven perspective can result in high-quality photos that businesses and creatives seek for marketing purposes.
Why consider a stock photography business?
- Your intuitive sense of emotion helps you capture images that deeply connect with viewers, making your photos more marketable.
- You could build a sustainable income stream with minimal overhead by leveraging online platforms to sell your photos.
- Combining your creative passion with entrepreneurship provides a meaningful way to financially support yourself while doing what you love.
For more information, you can explore success stories of stock photography businesses.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
14. Start a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
Starting a stock investing business can be an exciting and profitable venture for empaths who have a keen interest in financial markets. With your knack for understanding human behavior and market sentiments, you could excel in analyzing trends and making informed investment decisions. This business involves buying and selling stocks to generate profit, requiring dedication, continuous learning, and strategic planning.
Why consider a stock investing business?
- Empaths often have strong intuition, which can be beneficial in predicting market movements and trends.
- The flexibility of stock investing allows you to work from anywhere, offering a balanced approach to managing your income streams.
- By honing your analytical skills, you could turn your passion for finance and numbers into a sustainable entrepreneurial journey.
For more insights and personal success stories, check out Starter Story's success stories in stock investing.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Ticker Nerd is a monthly subscription service for investors that surfaces and analyzes trending stocks before the hype train arrives, and now has $4.5k in monthly recurring revenue from its newsletter without spending a single dollar on advertising, having validated the business via subreddits and organic Product Hunt launch strategy.
15. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Starting a social media automation business could be a highly rewarding path for Empaths looking to supplement their income or even build a full-fledged business. This venture entails creating tools and services to schedule social media posts, automate interactions, and analyze data, offering valuable time-saving solutions for your clients. With a high demand for consistent social media engagement, businesses and influencers are willing to pay for services that boost their online presence, making this a lucrative opportunity for those with empathy and a knack for technology.
By leveraging your natural empathetic abilities, you could excel in understanding and catering to your clients' unique needs, thereby enhancing their social media strategies. Visit Starter Story for insights on startup costs and marketing ideas for a social media automation business.
Why start a social media automation business?
- Empaths have a unique ability to understand client needs, enhancing tailored social media strategies.
- An empathetic approach can improve customer relationships, leading to higher client retention and satisfaction.
- High demand and the potential for lucrative returns make this a smart business choice for tech-savvy Empaths.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
16. Develop a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
If you're an empath looking for a business idea that supplements your income, you could consider developing a lead generation tool. This business involves creating a software platform to identify and capture potential customer leads for other businesses. By automating this process, you enable companies to focus on converting leads into customers while providing them with valuable data such as email addresses and interests they can tailor their marketing efforts to.
The demand for effective lead generation tools is significant, as businesses of all sizes seek to make their marketing efforts more efficient. Given your empathetic nature, you could craft a tool that genuinely understands and prioritizes the needs of both the businesses you serve and their potential customers. If you're tech-savvy and have a knack for marketing, this venture could be a fulfilling and profitable way to leverage your empathic qualities. To dive deeper into how to get started, check out this resource on startup costs for a lead generation tool.
Why developing a lead generation tool?
- You'll help businesses connect with their ideal customers, enhancing their marketing efficiency.
- Your empathetic nature will allow you to create a tool that genuinely meets users' needs and reduces their stress.
- You'll tap into a growing market, ensuring a steady demand and opportunity to scale your business.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
17. Start an email marketing tool ($235K/month)
Starting an email marketing tool business can be particularly fulfilling for empaths. Given their innate ability to understand and resonate with people's emotions, empaths can create highly personalized and effective email marketing campaigns that stand out. By helping businesses communicate more authentically with their customers, empaths can leverage their strengths in empathy to foster deeper connections and drive meaningful engagement.
Why start an email marketing tool?
- Empaths understand people's emotions, making their email campaigns highly relatable.
- Email marketing is a booming industry with a market size expected to reach $2.53B by 2028.
- Creating a successful email marketing tool offers endless possibilities for helping businesses and individuals expand their reach.
How much you can make: $120 — $2,083,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 170 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
18. Start a volleyball accessories business
As an empath, starting a volleyball accessories business offers a unique opportunity to blend your entrepreneurial spirit with your deep understanding of others' needs and emotions. By designing and providing high-quality accessories like knee pads, wristbands, and custom jerseys, you create products that enhance the playing experience and address the specific comfort and performance requirements of volleyball enthusiasts. This venture allows you to connect with your customers on a deeper level, offering them gear that is not only functional but also resonates with their passion for the sport.
Why starting a volleyball accessories business?
- You'll tap into a growing market of recreational sports enthusiasts looking for quality gear.
- Your empathetic nature allows you to design products that genuinely address players' needs and enhance their game experience.
- This business creates a platform for connecting with and understanding your customer base, fostering strong, loyal relationships.
How much you can make: $1,000,000/month
CROSSNET, the world's first four-way volleyball game, went from $74,000 in revenue in 2018 to $2,250,000 in sales in just one year by attracting customers through social media, email marketing, and exclusive distribution agreements with retailers like Target.
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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.
