24 Best Business Ideas For Pharmacists

Updated: December 4th, 2023

Would you like to start your own business as a pharmacist or earn money on the side but still need to find the right pharmacy business idea?

There are many pharmacy-related business ideas you can start in 2024. While it sounds exciting to start pharmacist business ideas, you must run with the right idea.

Your goal should be to build successful pharmacy business ideas in a niche that is not only profitable but can also ensure your long-term success.

Hopefully, you will find inspiring pharmacist-related business ideas in this list.

1. Start a medicine distribution business

A pharmaceutical distributor purchases pharmaceutical products directly from manufacturers and sells them to pharmacies.

To start a pharmaceutical business, you can take three different options.

  • Begin a pharmaceutical business with a manufacturing unit
  • Market medicines under a franchise
  • Team up with an established drug manufacturer and become their distributor

Keep in mind that the drug and pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated, so you must meet all the licensing and permits to operate.

How much you can make: $500,000 — $800,000/month

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They grew the business to $800K/month
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2. Start a consulting business

Consulting businesses are booming, more so than ever before, and seeing year-over-year growth. With an accumulated value of about $250B, the global consulting industry is one of the biggest markets within the professional services sector.

If you want to start your own consulting business with valuable insights from industry experts, reading about their entrepreneurial journey will help you decide how you should go about it.

How much you can make: $100 — $2,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

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

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Taylor started Eden Data almost 4 years ago
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Taylor grew the business to $230K/month
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3. Start a blog

In recent years, blogging has become a highly sought-after & lucrative Business. This location-independent business is a creative outlet to reach a broader audience and even work at any time. According to Optinmonster’s list of blogging statistics and facts:

  • Blogs have been rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of gathering online information.
  • 77% of internet users read blogs.
  • Each month, approximately 409 million people view more than 20 billion pages.

Originally blogging started as an online journal, but today it is a highly profitable career option. Many people are choosing blogging as their full-time career and are earning their bread and butter from this profession.

If you want to start blogging as a side hustle or as a full-time profession, choose a niche you will enjoy writing about and have a content strategy ready. Then, create a mailing list, and decide on a good blog posting routine to keep your audience engaged.

How much you can make: $200 — $160,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 37 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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Kelan grew the business to $20K/month
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4. Start a supplements company

A supplement business makes money by selling dietary supplements, vitamins, protein powders, and health foods to customers.

These products are often sold directly to customers or through distributors and retailers.

Your target customers will likely include fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious individuals, wellness influencers, and those who prioritize their nutrition daily.

Starting a supplement brand is becoming increasingly popular because it's relatively inexpensive, and you can run the business from your home.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $3,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 245 days (?)

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Nick started Bare Performance Nutrition about 12 years ago
Revenue
Nick grew the business to $3.5M/month
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It cost Nick $20000 to start the business
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5. Start a home healthcare service business

Today’s lifestyle patterns have introduced new diseases, and the demand for healthcare services is rising. As we age, we develop different health problems resulting in medical services. Thus, starting a health service business can be a lucrative opportunity with the rising demand for healthcare.

Niche markets within the healthcare industry include:

  • Ambulatory surgery centers
  • Medical labs
  • Kidney dialysis facilities
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Mental health facilities etc.

To start a health service business, research the market and acquire all necessary medical equipment. You can choose a franchise or partnership or start your own health center from scratch.

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

How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)

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M started Healthsols Facilitators Pvt Ltd about 3 years ago
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M grew the business to $300K/month
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6. Start a drug testing business

Drug testing examines illegal or prescription drugs in urine, saliva, hair, or sweat. The purpose of drug tests is to look for drug abuse or misuse.

The drug testing profession is highly in demand at ports of entry and exit and the sporting sector. A drug testing business can be a lucrative business opportunity. You will need a fully equipped laboratory and an elaborate business marketing plan to reach the relevant customers.

How much you can make: $100,000/month

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7. Start a retail pharmacy

Starting your retail pharmacy can be a rewarding venture that offers you independence and the opportunity to define your work schedule. If you are considering starting a pharmacy, understand the licensing requirements and comply with the National Council For Prescription Drug Program.

Then, define the business model. You may opt to start an online retail pharmacy or a brick & mortar establishment. For a brick-and-mortar establishment, rent a physical location and take care of staffing costs and inventory keeping.

How much you can make: $515/month

How long does it take to build: 1 days (?)

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Misty started Medical Bag Tags, LLC over 5 years ago
Revenue
Misty grew the business to $515/month
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It cost Misty $3000 to start the business
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8. Start a vitamin shop

The global dietary supplements market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8.9% in the next few years. Increasing consumer awareness of personal health and wellbeing remains the key driving factor for dietary supplements. Besides, the working population is struggling to fulfill the daily nutrient requirements.

Therefore, starting a vitamins and supplements business can be lucrative if you do it right. Choose a target market and evaluate the current competition to start a supplements business. You can partner with a vitamin supplier or develop your line of supplements.

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

How long does it take to build: 300 days (?)

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Nik started Vitafive almost 9 years ago
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Nik grew the business to $250K/month
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It cost Nik $199999 to start the business
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9. Start an in-home senior care business

With the busy lifestyle, family members are often absent and employ in-home caregivers to look after the elderly parents.

Caregivers assist the elderly with personal care routines, including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and exercising. Caregivers also oversee medication & prescription usage and administer medicine.

Researchers anticipate a shortage of more than 100,000 caregivers for the elderly in the next decade. Therefore, starting an in-home senior care business is a great opportunity if you enjoy caring for the elderly and spending time with them. You can choose to work as an overnight caregiver or whichever work schedule suits you.

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

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

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Gareth started The CareSide over 6 years ago
Revenue
Gareth grew the business to $250K/month
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It cost Gareth $200000 to start the business
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10. Start a drug rehabilitation center

Are you passionate about counseling drug users and helping them live meaningful life? Opening an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center is a noble idea.

Substance abuse, tobacco, alcohol, and drug addiction are rising globally. According to research, the addiction treatment market is approximately $35 billion a year and growing. Therefore, starting a drug recovery business can be rewarding.

If you plan to start the rehabilitation center, remember that rehab centers are comparable to private medical practices. So you are required to be licensed to operate the business in the addiction field.

Thus, you must attain legal licensure and all regulations and paperwork ready to operate as a drug rehabilitation center.

11. Start a polyclinic business

Polyclinics provide subsidized primary care, which includes primary medical treatment, preventive healthcare, and health education. With a good patient flow, polyclinics can make a good profit. The polyclinics startup cost is less than that of starting up a hospital.

With general medicine, pharmacists can start a polyclinic and provide convenient medical care to the community. To set up a polyclinic, hire a practice manager and pick the right location. Hire support staff and ensure professional services.

12. Start a pharmaceutical manufacturing business

Pharmaceutical manufacturers research, develop and bring new medicines that will improve patients' health and quality of life across the globe. Although starting a medications manufacturing business requires huge capital, it can be a lucrative venture. Medication drugs are always in demand and, therefore, can be a profitable business.

How much you can make: $500,000 — $649,999,999/month

How long does it take to build: 720 days (?)

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Revenue
Donald grew the business to $500K/month
Costs
It cost Donald $100000 to start the business
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13. Start a pharma raw material suppliers business

The pharmaceutical industry is booming and offers a massive opportunity for entrepreneurs interested in the sector. A good business opportunity within the pharmaceutical industry is the supply of raw materials. Pharmaceutical raw materials include fungi, leaves, seeds, flowers, fruits, and synthetic products. Suppose you are interested in the drug manufacturing sector but do not want to focus on production or distribution. In that case, you can take up the pharmaceutical raw materials supply business.

14. Start a talk show

A talk show is a live or prerecorded broadcast where a host asks the guests questions, the most popular format being interview-based ones. Talk shows are usually syndicated for airing on radio and/or television stations.

Talk shows can also be described as podcasts, where listeners subscribe to certain podcast channels to get entertainment, news, and educational content.

15. Start an epigenetics coaching business

An epigenetics coach teaches clients how to activate or suppress gene expression. To become an epigenetics coach, you have to take a certification course. You will learn genetic interpretation, lifestyle coaching, environmental design, business development, and peak performance coaching.

Then, you need to work under an experienced professional to gain the experience and knowledge required to practice.

16. Start a 24 hours medicine shop

A medicine store that remains open 24 hours a day typically earns more revenue than a store with an opening and closing time. A pharmacist can start a 24-hour medicine shop in his area. If you have no commercial experience in the drug industry, you could become a franchise partner of a reputed brand and operate 24 hours.

17. Start a pharmacy coaching center

A pharmacy coaching center focuses on helping aspiring pharmacists acquire the skills. The business targets upcoming pharmacists who are looking for internship opportunities or want some coaching from experts. You can start a pharmacy coaching center if you are an experienced pharmacist looking for ways to earn extra money.

18. Start a travel medicine clinic

Are you an expert in tropical and travel medicine looking for a good business opportunity? Starting a travel medicine clinic business can be profitable. The travel clinic offers travel immunizations, other travel medications, and expert travel advisories to dignitaries.

19. Start a pharmacy franchise store

The pharmacy industry is getting a boost across the globe. However, starting own line of pharmacy business can be tedious, given the licensing and regulations. Thus, a pharmacy franchise would be a good option.
A pharmacy franchisee receives a well-known brand name and access to an existing network of reliable suppliers. Besides, a franchise allows you to get goods at a better price and access to proven business processes.

If you are considering investing in the pharmacy business, consider a franchise model.

20. Start a drive-thru pharmacy

Drive-thru pharmacies allow dispensing of medicine through pharmacy windows where customers or patients ask for their medication while in the car. Just like the brick-and-mortar pharmacies, pharmacists will assist the patients and respond to their questions. The pharmacy window provides an opportunity for real-time support.

With quick service and reliable practices, drive-thru pharmacy can be a profitable business.

21. Start a herbal drug pharmacy

An herbal pharmacy dispenses medicine created using herbal formulas based on traditional recipes. With herbal medicine becoming a popular option for treating various illnesses, starting a herbal medicine shop can be a lucrative business.

To start your business, you may partner with herbal medicine makers and become their distributing agent. Alternatively, if you have the knowledge or expertise to formulate herbal medicines, you can produce and sell your own medicine.

22. Start a drug marketing business

The drug marketing business focuses on generating new business leads and customers. To start a pharmaceutical marketing business, identify a target customer base and partner with manufacturers of trusted medicine.

You can market medicine online, or become a local distributor for the medicine companies you are affiliated with.

23. Start a mobile pharmacy

A mobile pharmacy allows customers to order and manage their prescriptions anytime and anywhere. The mobile pharmacy delivers the medication to the customer's doorstep at no extra cost.

To start a mobile pharmacy, create a website or an application through which customers will place orders. Then, market your mobile pharmacy via online platforms and traditional marketing methods.

24. Start an online pharmacy

Online pharmacies enable customers to purchase medicines, health supplements, and nutraceuticals online without visiting physical chemists. The growth of online pharmacies is attributed to the rising number of internet consumers and increased access to web-based and online services.

Therefore, starting an online pharmacy can be a lucrative venture.

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.