How to Make 6 Figures As A Counselor? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a Counselor? Good for you! Being a Counselor is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a Counselor - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could significantly supplement your income as a Counselor, helping you to reach six figures. This venture allows you to sell products or services online, such as self-help books, online courses, or wellness products, providing additional revenue streams. The ecommerce model offers numerous advantages, like lower overhead costs, increased flexibility, and the ability to attract a broader audience than a traditional brick-and-mortar business.
With the rise of online shopping, consumers appreciate the convenience and efficiency of buying products from the comfort of their homes. By developing a well-structured website and utilizing effective payment processing and inventory management software, you could set up a seamless, professional online store. This could enable you to leverage your expertise as a Counselor and tap into the growing demand for mental health and wellness resources online.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
2. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could significantly supplement your income as a Counselor by allowing you to leverage your expertise and reach a broader audience. By choosing a niche topic related to mental health or counseling that you're passionate about, you could attract a dedicated listener base that values your insights and advice. This expanded reach opens up multiple revenue streams, including sponsorships, advertisements, and premium content subscriptions.
Investing in basic recording equipment such as a microphone and headphones, and utilizing a free or affordable hosting platform, you could produce high-quality audio content without incurring significant costs. Promoting your podcast through social media, online communities, and word of mouth could further increase your audience size and attract potential sponsors. Over time, this side business might evolve into a lucrative venture, potentially helping you reach that six-figure income goal as you provide valuable information and build your brand as a trusted counselor.
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.
3. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative way for you to supplement your income as a Counselor and potentially reach six figures. Whether you want to clear your utility bills, finance your college education, or save for a vacation, this venture allows you to earn extra income without overcommitting your time, thanks to automation tools available for social media management.
You could focus on developing a robust social media marketing strategy that efficiently serves customers, enabling you to manage this business alongside your counseling practice. Creating a compelling agency portfolio to market your services is crucial, as it helps attract target customers and build your brand. This entrepreneurial endeavor not only opens up additional revenue streams but also leverages your existing communication skills as a Counselor to connect with and help clients in a new, impactful way.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
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.
4. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
Creating an online course could significantly boost your income as a Counselor by allowing you to share your specialized knowledge with a wider audience. By identifying educational gaps in areas where you have expertise, you could develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, offering valuable insights that clients are willing to pay for.
An online course business provides flexibility, offering both self-paced and cohort-based structures, making it easier for students to engage and learn at their convenience. This passive income stream could generate significant revenue with relatively small startup costs, giving you a lucrative opportunity to monetize your instructional talents. If you enjoy sharing information and helping others, launching an online course platform could be a strategic way to achieve a six-figure income.
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.
5. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could provide you with a supplemental income stream, enabling you to leverage your expertise as a Counselor to reach a broader audience. With blogs ranked as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information and 77% of internet users reading blogs, you have the potential to build a significant following and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field.
By creating valuable content that addresses common mental health issues, provides self-help strategies, or offers professional advice, you could attract a substantial readership. Engaging consistently with your audience can open up monetization opportunities such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or even premium content memberships. With approximately 409 million people viewing over 20 billion pages each month, the possibilities for scaling your blog into a lucrative business are vast, potentially helping you achieve a six-figure income in the long run.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
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.
6. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a Counselor, branching out into affiliate marketing could offer a lucrative side business to supplement your income and help you reach six figures. By promoting mental health and wellness products, self-help books, or online therapy platforms, you could leverage your expertise to earn commissions on sales made through your referral links. This venture requires minimal upfront investment, allowing you to start on a budget while maximizing your earnings potential.
To begin, you could sign up for affiliate programs relevant to your niche, such as mental health apps or counseling tools. With your marketing skills and industry knowledge, driving traffic and sales becomes more achievable, especially since your recommendations would carry considerable weight within your professional community. This additional income stream could not only bolster your financial standing but also provide valuable resources to your clients, enhancing the overall value of your practice.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 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.
7. Digital products ($261K/month)
Creating and selling digital products could be a fantastic way for you to supplement your income and even reach a six-figure salary as a Counselor. By leveraging your expertise to develop ebooks, online courses, or even a membership site, you could turn your knowledge into valuable resources for a broader audience without the overhead costs of physical products.
Digital products are easy to create and distribute, meaning you could do this entirely on your own and retain complete control over the content. Plus, the flexibility of digital products allows you to update and expand your offerings, continuously providing new value to your clients and building a sustainable side business.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
8. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a Counselor and work towards making six figures. With strong writing skills and an understanding of emotional and psychological topics, you could write articles, blog posts, or even e-books on mental health, relationship advice, and self-improvement. This not only diversifies your income but also positions you as a thought leader in your field.
Freelance writing offers the flexibility to define your own work schedule, allowing you to work from home at any time that fits your existing counseling commitments. As a self-starter, you could leverage your unique expertise by focusing on niches that align with your counseling practice, such as writing for mental health publications or creating content for therapy websites.
Just remember, success in freelance writing demands the ability to meet deadlines, stay up-to-date with current writing tools and trends, and maintain excellent communication with clients. By honing these qualities, you could build a thriving side business that significantly boosts your overall earnings.
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 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.
9. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a counselor and help you achieve a six-figure salary. By offering personalized guidance, support, and strategy services, you could assist clients in navigating professional transitions and growth opportunities, positioning yourself as an invaluable resource in their career development.
As a career coach, you could design custom sessions tailored to clients' unique needs, including resume building, interview preparation, and workplace advancement goals. With the flexibility to conduct meetings either in-person or virtually, you could expand your client base significantly, empowering clients through specialized advice and accountability.
For entrepreneurial-minded counselors, launching a coaching practice could capitalize on your speaking talents and human resources expertise, allowing you to monetize your motivational abilities while maintaining control over your schedule.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
10. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a Counselor and move towards earning six figures. By sharing your expertise, insights, and advice through engaging video content, you could attract a large audience and potentially join YouTube's monetization program once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. This step is crucial as it enables you to earn ad revenue from your videos.
In addition to ad revenue, you could leverage your YouTube channel to offer paid services such as online courses, workshops, or one-on-one counseling sessions, thereby diversifying your income streams. Not only could this exposure enhance your professional reputation, but it also allows you to connect with clients and viewers on a broader scale, maximizing your earning potential along the way. With dedication and quality content, your YouTube journey could indeed become a success story.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
11. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
As a Counselor, you could supplement your income or even build a thriving side business by becoming a social media influencer. By leveraging platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, you could share valuable mental health tips, counseling advice, and personal stories that resonate with viewers and build a dedicated audience.
Brands are actively seeking influencers with established credibility to promote their products and services. By consistently creating relevant content in your niche, you could attract sponsorship deals, paid partnerships, and advertising opportunities, helping you potentially reach six-figure earnings.
Additionally, your influence could lead to higher client acquisition, the sale of online courses, or the development of exclusive group sessions, further diversifying your income streams. With the right strategy, you could turn your expertise and passion into substantial financial gains.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
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.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
