Passive Income Ideas For Dentists [2024]

Updated: November 29th, 2024

Interested in earning passive income as a dentist in 2024?

We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a dentist today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.

For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a dentist.

Here's the full list:

1. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)

As a dentist, you have a wealth of specialized knowledge that you could share through an online course. Imagine creating classes on topics like dental hygiene, maintaining oral health, or even preparing for dental school exams. These could be valuable resources for aspiring dental professionals, students, or even parents looking to improve their family's dental care at home.

By creating an online course, you could reach a larger audience than just the patients in your practice. The e-learning market is booming, expected to be worth over $645 billion in the next few years. With a bit of effort upfront to develop your course content, you could generate a steady stream of passive income as people continue to enroll in your classes.

Starting an online course business could be an exciting way to leverage your expertise and supplement your income without requiring a significant time commitment once the courses are created. All you need is to select a target audience, develop engaging content, and choose a reliable platform to host your course. This could be a great way to diversify your income while sharing your passion and expertise with the world.

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 (?)

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2. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)

As a dentist, you could start a niche blog focused on dental health, sharing your expertise in a way that's accessible and engaging for a wider audience. By creating informative content such as how-to guides on dental care, reviews of dental products, and insights into various dental procedures, you could attract readers who are eager to learn more about maintaining their oral health.

To monetize your blog, you could provide affiliate links to recommended dental products, collaborate with dental care brands, and even grow a YouTube channel with instructional videos. Regularly engaging with your readers through comments and social media will help build a loyal community, opening up further opportunities to speak at events or write sponsored posts.

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 (?)

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3. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)

As a dentist, starting a YouTube channel could offer a valuable platform to share your dental expertise, educate the public, and potentially earn passive income. You could create how-to guides on proper oral hygiene, explain common dental procedures, or debunk popular dental myths. This not only builds your online presence but also attracts a wider audience, possibly leading to more clients for your practice.

By monetizing your channel through ads, sponsorships, and even selling dental care products or merchandise, you could supplement your income effectively. Consistency and quality are key, so plan your content carefully and engage with your audience regularly. Although it requires some time and effort, the financial rewards and the satisfaction of helping others make it a worthwhile 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 (?)

How A Young Entrepreneur From Nigeria Started A Profitable Blog

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4. Make passive income with a health and wellness app ($108K/month)

As a dentist, starting a health and wellness app could be a fantastic way to supplement your income and make extra money on the side. Leveraging your knowledge in healthcare, you could create an app that offers users personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, and mental well-being exercises, all of which can improve their overall health. Think of it as providing a comprehensive care plan for their body, much like you do for their teeth.

This app could become a virtual coach in your user's pocket, reminding them to drink water, guiding them through yoga practices, and offering individualized meal plans. It makes sense because you already understand how crucial overall health is to oral health, and you can tie in both aspects to deliver a unique, value-packed service. Plus, the tech-savvy side of building and marketing the app allows for passive income opportunities as it grows and attracts more users.

While it would require some initial groundwork, like market research and collaboration with other health experts, the potential to impact lives positively and tap into a growing market makes it a venture worth considering. If you're passionate about health and technology, this could be your path to making a meaningful contribution while building a thriving business.

How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)

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5. Print on demand business ($411K/month)

As a dentist, you could start a print-on-demand business to supplement your income by selling custom-designed products like apparel, home goods, or phone cases. This type of business doesn't require you to hold any inventory, as items are only produced when ordered, meaning you can focus on creating interesting designs that cater to your audience without the need for a large upfront investment.

Utilizing online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, you could reach a global customer base while managing operations from the comfort of your home during your free time. This model not only allows you to monetize your creativity but also provides a flexible way to build a scalable business with minimal startup costs.

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

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6. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)

As a dentist, you could leverage your professional expertise and online presence to start an affiliate marketing business. By recommending dental care products or oral hygiene tools that you genuinely believe in, you could earn commissions whenever your patients or followers purchase items through your affiliate links. This way, you are providing valuable product recommendations while creating a new income stream.

You could start by partnering with reputable manufacturers or eCommerce stores that sell dental-related products. For instance, you could promote electric toothbrushes, whitening kits, or specialized toothpaste that you already endorse in your practice. This approach not only supplements your income but also establishes you as a trusted authority in dental care outside of your clinic.

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 (?)

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7. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)

As a dentist, you could easily leverage your expertise to create a helpful mobile app, enhancing your practice and generating passive income. Imagine an app that offers dental care tips, appointment scheduling, or even virtual consultations. By addressing common patient questions and needs, you could position your app as an indispensable tool for oral health management.

Developing an app might seem daunting, but it's quite feasible with a clear vision and the right resources. You could either learn basic coding or hire a skilled developer to help bring your idea to life. With effective marketing, your app could attract a broad user base, making it a valuable addition to your income streams.

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

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

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8. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)

Starting a stock photography business makes sense as a dentist because you could use your unique perspective and attention to detail to capture high-quality photos. Whether you're snapping images of dental tools, procedures, or even creating visually appealing office environments, these can be valuable to businesses for marketing and advertising purposes.

You could invest in good photography gear and spend some free time learning the basics of photography. By building an impressive portfolio and uploading your best work to stock photography websites, you could earn a steady passive income. An excellent online presence can help sell your stock photos faster and at profitable margins.

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 (?)

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9. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)

As a dentist, you could create a niche website focused on providing dental health tips, product reviews, and advice on maintaining oral hygiene. Your professional background gives you the authority and knowledge to offer valuable content that your audience will trust.

You could monetize your site through various methods like affiliate marketing, where you recommend dental products and earn a commission on sales. Additionally, placing ads or selling your own digital products, like e-books on dental care, could provide extra revenue. With dedication to content creation and some basic SEO, your niche website could grow into a dependable source of passive income.

How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month

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

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10. Make passive income with a dropshipping business ($414K/month)

Starting a dropshipping business could be an appealing option for dentists looking to supplement their income without needing to hold inventory. You could choose a niche that aligns with your interests or perhaps even one related to dental health or hygiene. For instance, you might sell high-quality electric toothbrushes or orthodontic gadgets.

Setting up an online store on platforms such as Shopify or WooCommerce is straightforward, allowing you to focus on running your practice while bringing in extra income. Finding reliable suppliers and listing their products can be done in your spare time, and much of the business can be managed during off-hours. By carefully managing your expenses and focusing on marketing and customer service, you may find this to be a rewarding and relatively hands-off way to build a supplementary revenue stream.

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

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meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.