*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Becoming a chiropractor is a dream for many students, but it can come with a nightmare amount of debt and uncertainty. According to a 2024 study, 80% of chiropractors will graduate with more than $250,000 in educational debt.
Add to the student debt with clinic startup costs, a rising cost of living, and the need to see a high volume of patients, and it’s no surprise the US is seeing an increasing number of chiropractors reporting early career burnout.
This guide explores high-potential side work and consulting tailored to chiropractors. It evaluates their benefits, implementation, and scalability while ensuring alignment with professional values and patient care.
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As with most healthcare providers, chiropractors are experiencing a higher demand for their services while having limited time to meet those demands.
Spinal pain, particularly low back pain, is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with more than 600 million people claiming disability solely due to back pain.
In the USA, 31% of adults report chronic back pain, with 80% of the population reporting back pain at some time during their lives. As holistic and functional medicine becomes increasingly popular, the demand for chiropractors also increases.
Starting a clinic and getting it to a place where it’s financially solid is not an easy path. An article published in Chiropractic Economics showed an average of $40,000 in expenses and 129 patients seen each week required to pay the chiropractor a base salary of $123,000 annually. Even inexpensive franchise clinics can require a daunting initial investment of $500,000.
However, the same trends that can lead to chiropractor burnout can also suggest lucrative ways for chiropractors to supplement their practices.
Side hustles can help you earn more, avoid burnout, and find meaningful work outside.
Clinical side hustles within chiropractic
Many chiropractors are finding alternative income streams, commonly known as side hustles, including massage and acupuncture therapies, homeopathy, and nutritional weight loss programs.
Many chiropractors hire massage therapists and offer acupuncture, auricular therapy, and supplement counseling. Massage therapy, when used alongside chiropractic manual techniques, may help support neck and spine comfort.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy can also offer directly linked in-house referrals. These referrals can offer a significant income stream since the employee is already there, and additional billing practices are easy.
Chiropractors should ensure massage therapists are licensed to avoid potential liability issues. Most states require massage therapists to be licensed, and chiropractors should familiarize themselves with the guidelines in their state.
In addition, advanced therapists can be board-certified through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
Supplements and nutritional counseling
Nutritional counseling and supplemental sales are another potentially lucrative way to increase a chiropractic office’s income. According to industry surveys, more than 90% of chiropractors offer nutritional supplements to patients, and their average monthly income is several thousand dollars.
Practices should also be familiar with their state’s laws regarding the sale of supplements and the distribution of nutritional counseling. For example, while the State of Illinois allows general nutritional counseling, providing medical nutrition therapy without a license carries a hefty fine.
Acupuncture and reflexology partnerships
Acupuncture is one of the oldest practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and has been used for over 5,000 years. Becoming an acupuncturist requires specialized training and, in most states, specific licensure.
Since acupuncture requires the use of needles to pierce the skin, clinics should be aware of extra costs that can be associated with the practice, such as clean needle certifications, sharp disposal protocols, and bloodborne pathogens training certifications.
Acupuncture and chiropractic care are often used in integrative settings to support patient comfort and musculoskeletal health.
Reflexology, while not a replacement for medical treatment, may help promote relaxation and support overall well-being, according to some studies. It’s a non-invasive therapy that uses hand and foot pressure points to promote relaxation and support the body’s natural balance.
Posture correctors
The sale of posture correctors seems like an obvious match for chiropractors, as such devices may help support posture and encourage better alignment habits.
However, with the large variety of devices on the market, it can be challenging to determine which are efficacious and ethically produced.
When considering posture correctors, chiropractors should consider their ease of use, proper targeting of muscular weakness zones, and the visual impact on the patient’s appearance.
In addition, comfort is an overarching concern, as patients are unlikely to use a device they do not feel comfortable using.
Digital side hustles for chiropractors
For doctors comfortable in the digital world, there are various ways to earn extra income without investing too much time or money.
Telehealth consulting
As with any medical consulting, chiropractors must follow HIPAA and legal guidelines. For example, Fullscript offers HIPAA-compliant platform that can be easily integrated into most practices.
Lifestyle coaching can be a good way to connect with new patients and expand services to existing patients. Several universities, such as Harvard Medical, offer courses and certifications in lifestyle and wellness coaching.
Posture analysis is an emerging area in which chiropractors can use machine learning programs to accurately analyze telehealth patients’ postures. It has been used for real-time assessment of construction workers during ergonomics training.
Creating online courses, webinars, blogs, and podcasts
For those comfortable in front of a camera, online courses and webinars can be helpful ways to earn extra income and introduce staff and doctors to a broader audience. Several chiropractors are currently on YouTube and similar platforms.
For those not well-versed in the digital video world, it’s suggested they find a professional to help them create a solid online presence and avoid the numerous pitfalls that can strike a new vlogger.
In addition, doctors should learn about the following:
Search engine optimization (SEO) is optimizing a web page based on search engines’ words to place internet pages at the top or bottom of search results.
Monetization strategies generate revenue from online activities, platforms, or content. Common methods include selling access to a platform, advertising, selling digital products or services, and membership subscriptions.
Building trust is crucial for online platforms, as the internet can be a fickle place where viewers can be rapidly won and lost.
Community and home-based side hustles
Not all side hustles need to be online. There are community-based income streams accessible to most chiropractors, including:
Are you familiar with Fullscript? It’s the leading platform for delivering whole person care. It gives providers a single platform that brings together industry-leading labs and high-quality supplements commonly used to support overall wellness.
100,000 chiropractors and other healthcare professionals trust Fullscript to manage and prescribe high-quality supplements and industry-leading labs. Fullscript is free to sign up and delivers patients’ products to your office or their doors.
Once you start a Fullscript account, you will be able to offer a safe and convenient source to patients for trusted wellness products and have access to time-saving features—such as a patient mobile app and auto refill discounts that boost patients’ adherence—helping them stay on track with their wellness journey.
Best of all, Fullscript is a great option for running your own supplement store and earning income on every sale!** When you open a Fullscript account, you can:
Send online supplement recommendations. Once you set up your Fullscript account, you can begin to send online supplement recommendations to your patients. Fullscript provides you with tools to craft your protocols with personalized instructions, wellness products, and educational resources.
Offer your patients discounts. With Fullscript, help grow your patient base by offering deep discounts.
Get quality you can trust. Fullscript makes it easy for all healthcare providers to confidently recommend high-quality products that are safe and effective.
Expand your care with lab testing. With labs on Fullscript, you can seamlessly integrate functional lab testing into your care model. This new offering allows you to order diagnostic lab tests directly through Fullscript along with supplement-inclusive protocols. It’s another powerful way to support clinical decisions, monitor progress, and elevate the level of care you provide—all in one platform.
**Excludes lab tests and services.
Have questions about making Fullscript your side hustle?Book a demo with a Fullscript expert. We’ll be happy to help you get set up on Fullscript and start running your own online supplement store.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions to consider.
What side hustles can chiropractors do without a huge time investment?
Supplement sales, orthotic sales, and other in-house merchandise may require little time to set up and can be a form of income.
Can chiropractic students start side hustles?
Yes, provided they comply with all laws and regulations. Unlicensed students cannot practice medicine, and there are steep penalties for those who do.
Is it legal for chiropractors to sell supplements?
Many chiropractors sell supplements, but legal regulations vary by state. Providers should consult their licensing boards to ensure compliance with local laws.
Do I need insurance coverage for freelance or retail work?
That depends on the work and the state a chiropractor is working in. Any medical advice, whether online or in person, carries the potential for liability, and a provider should be insured.
Can side hustles help me transition out of clinical work?
Yes. Online and freelance work can be a good way for a chiropractor to transition out of active clinical practice.
How do I maintain professional credibility when selling products or creating content?
Ensure the products are legitimate and efficacious
Ensure any content posted or shared is correct and vetted through peer review and professional organizations.
Ensure you disclose you’re earning a profit
Key takeaways
Working as a Doctor of Chiropractic is a rewarding career that can be difficult to start and maintain.
There are several ways to earn supplemental income without significant investments of time and money. They range from in-office extras such as massage therapy, acupuncture, and supplement sales to home-based consulting and vlogging.
Like many modern medical professionals, chiropractors do more online and remotely than ever. Fullscript is a great platform to expand their practices and ensure quality care for all their patients.
Doctors are encouraged to investigate various means of earning extra income while ensuring compliance with all local and state laws.
Ready to start delivering better patient care?
Join 100,000 healthcare providers who rely on Fullscript to dispense top-quality supplements and labs to their patients.
The information in this article is intended for healthcare practitioners for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for informed medical, legal, or financial advice. Practitioners should rely on their own professional training and judgement, and consult appropriate legal, financial, or clinical experts when necessary.
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