16 best nursing business ideas in 2024

Top 16 nursing business ideas

Here are some creative and profitable nursing business ideas that you can start right away:

Legal nurse consultant

For nurses who appreciate attention to detail and thoroughly review patient medical records, becoming a legal nurse consultant (LNC) can be an appealing business concept. An LNC offers expert opinion and analysis for legal cases. Attorneys may consult an LNC to gain clarity on case facts or have them assess testimony for potential inaccuracies. LNCs can contribute their nursing insight in diverse ways throughout the legal process. One advantage of being an LNC business owner is the autonomy to select preferred cases to work on. Overall, this healthcare business idea grants substantial control over scheduling availability and time management.

How much you can make: $80-150k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Under $1k startup costs
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to gain clients

Nurse health coach

A nurse health coach leverages nursing expertise to help patients achieve their health goals through personalized guidance and support. In this entrepreneurial role, nurses focus on the whole patient instead of just symptoms. They take a holistic approach to assess lifestyle factors, identify obstacles, and create customized plans that enable sustainable behavior change. Nurse health coaches may collaborate with clinical care teams or establish their own independent practices. For nurses seeking more autonomy and influence in advancing patient health, becoming a health coach allows combining clinical insight with coaching techniques..

How much you can make: $60-120k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Under $1k startup costs
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to gain clients

Wellness coach

With additional training and certification in health coaching, nurses can leverage their existing medical knowledge to help clients improve their overall well-being. Transitioning into a coaching role aligns with the caring nature and belief system of many nurses. Moreover, the flexibility of being a wellness coach enables nurses to operate their business out of their own homes, meeting with clients in person or virtually. Building an online presence is also a key part of establishing a health coaching practice.

How much you can make: $50-100k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Under $1k startup costs
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to gain clients

Nurse blogger

A nursing blog can stand alone as a business or be used to grow other services. Because it is home-based, blogging is a flexible entrepreneurial idea for nurses, whether as a side business or an eventual full-time career pivot. The nursing angle provides built-in credibility and expertise to attract an audience interested in health and medical topics. With quality content that provides value for readers, nurse bloggers have the potential to monetize through advertising, affiliate marketing, ebooks, online courses, and more.

How much you can make: $30-80k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Minimal startup costs
How long does it take to build: 1-2 years to build an audience

Hospice caregiver

A hospice caregiver provides end-of-life care and comfort to terminal patients. This line of work can be emotionally draining, so you should fully understand the mental health risks before pursuing this business. However, for nurses who excel at compassionate caregiving and find meaning in brightening a patient’s final days, a hospice service can be a rewarding endeavor. The work entails coordination with medical staff, patients, and families to provide personalized in-home assistance.

How much you can make: $40-60k salary potential
How much does it cost to start: A few hundred dollars for certification
How long does it take to build: 3-6 months job search

Childbirth education or doula

Becoming a childbirth educator or doula allows nurses and others with medical backgrounds to start their own business helping expectant parents prepare for the birthing process. Childbirth educators, also known as doulas, work closely with pregnant women and their partners by providing information, guidance, and hands-on assistance leading up to and during delivery. There are a few options when starting this type of business. Some doulas focus on one-on-one support, being on-call and present for the actual birth. Others offer group childbirth preparation classes for expectant parents instead of individual guidance.

How much you can make: $50-80k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: A few hundred dollars for training
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to build clientele

Medical product sales

Selling medical products offers nurses an entrepreneurial opportunity to utilize their healthcare industry knowledge. Nurses can leverage their familiarity with medical tools, equipment, and medications to start a business selling these items. Product examples include scrubs, medical accessories, devices, and pharmaceuticals. As self-employed medical product salespeople, nurses can benefit from scheduling flexibility and being their own bosses. Additionally, their firsthand experiences with patient treatment can inform product recommendations.

How much you can make: $75-200k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Minimal startup costs
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to get territories

Medical billing and coding contractor

Becoming a medical billing and coding contractor can be a promising small business idea for those with experience in the healthcare field. These specialists work to translate medical records into codes for submission to insurance providers and other parties responsible for payment. Leveraging existing medical knowledge, a medical billing and coding contractor can pick up the necessary skills relatively quickly. As an independent contractor, one has the flexibility to either take on multiple clients or dedicate their services to a single organization, depending on preference.

How much you can make: $50-100k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: A few hundred dollars for training
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to gain clients

Child care provider

Those with nursing experience working with children may consider becoming childcare providers. Given my medical background, there are various childcare-related business opportunities, including operating home daycares, providing in-home care for kids with specialized needs, or serving as a medical consultant for childcare centers. Some ideas like opening daycares require licensing while others can launch from home more easily in a freelance capacity. In any situation, nursing credentials lend credibility in marketing services to parents, other caregivers, and relevant organizations. Medical knowledge also equips providers to properly attend to the health and developmental needs of children under care.

How much you can make: $30-60k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Under $1k startup costs
How long does it take to build: 3-6 months application/licensing

Online course creator

Online learning has seen rapid growth as people seek convenient ways to gain new skills. Creating an online course is a promising business idea for those with expertise to share. Course creators can leverage platforms to design engaging content like video tutorials, audio lessons, and quizzes. Promoting through social media, launching a dedicated website, and hosting interactive events are effective marketing tactics. The online course format allows creators to reach students globally while retaining rights over their intellectual property.

How much you can make: $30-100k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Under $500 startup costs
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to build an audience

Nutritional supplement sales

Selling nutritional supplements can be a promising business venture for nurses or others passionate about health and wellness. There are various routes to market such as online stores, direct sales networks, or physical retail locations. It is strategic to research the marketplace to identify a specific niche to focus on rather than taking a broad approach. Whether concentrating efforts on weight management aids, herbal products, or other categories, developing specialty expertise can help differentiate your offering amid competition.

How much you can make: $30-100k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Few hundred dollars to sign
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to build clientele

Fitness nurse

Nurses can leverage their medical background to provide fitness and nutritional coaching services. They can offer clients customized exercise and diet plans to help them reach health and wellness goals. Additional services may include lifestyle habit coaching, health screenings, workshops on disease prevention, and more. With certifications in personal training or health coaching, nurses have an opportunity to generate additional income while empowering people to live healthier lifestyles.

How much you can make: $50-80k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Under $1k startup costs
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to gain clients

Medical transcription services

Medical transcription services involve accurately and efficiently converting audio recordings of medical professionals into written medical reports and documents. This remote work opportunity allows those with medical knowledge and training to apply their expertise in a flexible at-home setting where they can set their own rates. Taking a medical transcription course can provide a good foundation to get started in this field.

How much you can make: $30-50k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: A few hundred dollars for training
How long does it take to build: 3-6 months to gain contracts

Clinic

A medical clinic that provides wellness services and medical examinations presents a promising business opportunity for a nurse practitioner looking to operate their own practice. This type of clinic could offer patients a range of preventative care including complete physical exams, vaccinations, laboratory tests, vision assessments, workplace health screenings such as drug and alcohol testing, hearing evaluations, and other routine healthcare services. Focusing on overall wellness and occupational health needs allows the clinic to serve both individual patients as well as corporate clients requiring DOT testing and clearance for their employees.

How much you can make: $150-500k+ profit potential
How much does it cost to start: $100-250k startup costs
How long does it take to build: 1-2 years to build a patient panel

Health consulting firm

A health consulting firm utilizes the expertise of nurses to provide advisory services to healthcare institutions such as hospitals, eldercare facilities, and private practices. By leveraging their clinical knowledge, nurses can consult in areas including compliance with health regulations, optimizing patient care protocols, and instituting health and wellbeing initiatives for corporate employees. This type of consultancy allows nurses to apply their skills in order to help various healthcare organizations enhance quality, safety, and performance.

How much you can make: $100k+ profit potential
How much does it cost to start: Under $1k startup costs
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to gain clients

Telehealth services

Offering healthcare services through telehealth platforms presents a promising business opportunity in the growing digital health sphere. By providing medical consultations and advice remotely using technology, a telehealth service startup can reach patients across geographic barriers without major infrastructure costs. This scalable model has the potential to extend access to underserved populations as well as offer consumers convenience and alternatives for their health needs. With careful planning around legal, regulatory, and technical factors, an entrepreneur could tap into the expanding telehealth market.

How much you can make: $100-250k profit potential
How much does it cost to start: $10-20k for platform access
How long does it take to build: 6-12 months to onboard doctors

Conclusion

If you decide to turn your clothing business idea into a proper business, remember that authenticity is your most powerful accessory. Stay attuned to market dynamics, infuse passion into your creations, and let your brand resonate with a distinctive voice. Enjoy the journey, embrace the challenges, and stitch your way to a wardrobe of entrepreneurial triumphs!