12 Passive Income Ideas For Veterinarians [2024]

Updated: September 9th, 2024

Interested in earning passive income as a veterinarian in 2024?

We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a veterinarian 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 veterinarian.

Here's the full list:

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

As a veterinarian, you could turn your expertise into a source of passive income by developing and selling online courses. Think about creating a course on pet care, animal nutrition, or even basic first aid for pets. With your deep knowledge and experience, you could provide valuable insights that pet owners and aspiring veterinary professionals would find incredibly useful.

You need to pick a specific audience—such as pet owners, vet tech students, or even people considering a career in veterinary medicine. Once you have your topic and audience, you could create videos, write detailed guides, and include interactive elements to make your course engaging. After developing the course, you could sell it on popular online learning platforms, allowing you to earn income even while you're busy with your veterinary practice.

Given that the e-learning market is growing and expected to be worth over $645 billion in the next few years, there's a significant opportunity to earn extra money through online courses. By leveraging your unique skills, you could help others while also creating a new revenue stream for yourself.

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 YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel could be a great way for you, as a veterinarian, to supplement your income. You have a wealth of knowledge that could be very valuable to pet owners and aspiring vets. You could create content on topics like pet care tips, common veterinary procedures, and behind-the-scenes looks at your daily work. This could attract a wide audience, potentially leading to revenue from ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

While starting a YouTube channel requires consistency and quality content, the effort could pay off. By planning your content, shooting and editing videos, and regularly engaging with your audience, you could build a successful channel. If you're passionate about sharing your expertise and ready to commit the time, this entrepreneurial venture could offer flexible and rewarding financial benefits.

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 (?)

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

Starting a niche blog could be a valuable way for you as a veterinarian to share your extensive knowledge and connect with a community that shares your passion for animals. You could focus your blog on specific topics such as pet nutrition, common health issues in pets, advice for new pet owners, or even the daily life and challenges of being a veterinarian. By creating unique and informative content like how-to guides, top product lists, and video interviews with fellow vets, you could attract a dedicated following.

Monetization opportunities for your blog could open up once you gain visibility and build a solid base of subscribers. You could earn extra income through affiliate links by recommending pet products, collaborating with brands that align with your niche, and even speaking at events to enhance your credibility. Engaging regularly with your followers and consistently producing quality content could ensure that your blog remains relevant and profitable over time.

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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4. Make passive income with an employee training business ($49.3K/month)

Starting an employee training business could be a great way for veterinarians to earn extra money and create a new revenue stream. As a veterinarian, you have extensive knowledge and experience in animal care, which can be invaluable in training veterinary staff, assistants, and technicians. By sharing your expertise, you could help companies improve their staff's performance and confidence in handling their roles.

You could develop specialized training programs focused on areas like animal handling, disease prevention, and client communication. Tailoring your sessions to different methods, such as computer-based training or in-person workshops, would provide flexibility for businesses looking to improve their team's skills. This not only supplements your income but also leverages your existing expertise in a meaningful way.

How much you can make: $3,000 — $160,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 62 days (?)

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

As a veterinarian, you could tap into a print-on-demand business to creatively supplement your income and reach a wider audience without the stress of managing inventory. Imagine designing custom apparel, phone cases, or home goods featuring pet-related themes, funny animal quotes, or adorable veterinary illustrations. This allows you to combine your professional expertise with your passion for animals, creating products that resonate with pet owners and animal lovers worldwide.

By using platforms like Amazon, Etsy, or eBay as your virtual storefronts, you could focus on what you know best—designing trendy and unique items—while dropshipping production and fulfillment services handle the printing and shipping. This model allows you to operate from home with minimal startup costs, making it easier to balance your veterinary practice with your new entrepreneurial venture.

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 a niche investment platform ($126K/month)

As a veterinarian, you could consider starting a niche investment platform tailored to your passions and interests. For example, you might create an online exchange focusing on alternative asset classes like collectibles, animal healthcare technology, or real estate properties that benefit pets and their owners. This could attract investors who share your love for animals and are looking for different investment opportunities apart from the traditional stock market.

By leveraging technology, your platform could offer a transparent and specialized trading ecosystem. The flexibility in portfolio combinations could build an exclusive user base of like-minded investors. Consequently, you would generate recurring revenue through transaction fees and premium subscriptions, turning your platform into a passive income stream.

Additionally, such a niche platform provides asset diversification, appealing to those wary of volatile stock markets. Investors passionate about domains such as fine wine or promising athletic prospects might be excited to explore opportunities related to animal welfare and healthcare. This way, you could merge your veterinary expertise with entrepreneurial aspirations to create a unique and lucrative investment venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $600,000/month

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

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

As a veterinarian, you could leverage your unique access to animals and clinical settings to create a stock photography business. High-quality images of pets, wildlife, and veterinary practices are in demand for marketing, blogging, and website content. By capturing candid shots and professional photos during your day-to-day work, you can build an impressive portfolio.

Investing in good photography gear and learning the basics of photography could allow you to take captivating stock photos. These images can be uploaded to stock photography websites, offering a way to earn passive income. With an excellent online presence, your photos could reach a wider audience, leading to faster sales and 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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8. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($249K/month)

As a veterinarian, you could create an email marketing tool to connect with pet owners and other veterinarians. By offering valuable content, like pet care tips, new treatments, or special promotions, you could drive engagement and potentially generate additional revenue by recommending products or services that you're partnered with.

Moreover, building an email list allows you to maintain a constant line of communication with your clients, nurturing relationships and establishing trust. While it requires some initial setup and periodic updates, this tool could function largely on autopilot, providing a reliable source of passive income and expanding your reach without needing more hours in the day.

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 (?)

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

Creating a mobile app could be a great way to supplement your income as a veterinarian. You might develop an app that offers pet care tips, tracks vaccinations, or reminds pet owners about scheduled appointments. By tapping into your veterinary expertise, you could provide valuable information and services that pet owners are eager to use.

Even if you don't know how to code, you could hire a skilled developer to bring your vision to life. Once your app is launched, marketing it effectively will be essential to attract users and generate downloads. With dedication and a bit of creativity, your mobile app could become a popular tool among pet owners, providing you with a steady source of passive income.

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

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

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

If you're a veterinarian looking for a side hustle to earn passive income, you could consider starting an affiliate marketing business. As an affiliate marketer, you would promote products and services related to pet care and earn a commission for each sale made through your referrals.

This venture makes sense for veterinarians because you already have expertise in the field and a trusted relationship with pet owners. You could create a blog or social media page where you share useful information, reviews, and recommendations for pet products, making it easier for you to market these items credibly. By selecting products and brands you believe in, you could earn extra money while helping your clients with valuable recommendations.

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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11. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($148K/month)

As a veterinarian, you could leverage your understanding of technology and marketing to start a social media automation business. This involves creating tools and services that help clients like small businesses and influencers schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various social media platforms. By automating these tasks, you could save your clients time and help them grow their online presence more effectively.

With the growing importance of consistent and strategic social media engagement, many businesses are willing to pay for automation services. Your role would mainly include developing or integrating software solutions and staying up-to-date on social media trends to offer tailored services to your clients. If you’re interested in exploring new entrepreneurial avenues, this could be a fulfilling and profitable side hustle.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)

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12. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)

As a veterinarian, you could start an AI-based business solution to streamline your clinic's operations and improve efficiency. Imagine having an AI system that automates appointment scheduling, manages inventory, and provides data-driven insights into patient care and client preferences. This could save you time and reduce operational costs, allowing you to focus more on providing top-notch care to your furry patients.

Moreover, AI-based tools can enhance your customer service by offering personalized recommendations for pet care products or treatments based on each patient's medical history. You could leverage these solutions to predict market trends and tailor your services accordingly, ensuring you stay ahead of the competition. Starting an AI-based business solution doesn’t require a tech background, as there are user-friendly platforms available with supportive resources to help you get started.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month

How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)

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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.