People are becoming more health-conscious, and as a result, they are living longer. Research suggests that, by the year 2050, there will be two billion people across the globe over the age of 60. This means the global aging population will need more people and options to help treat endless conditions and afflictions.
While the words health and wellness are often used interchangeably in articles and conversations, they mean two entirely different things. While health focuses more on diseases, genetics, healthcare, and illness, wellness is an active concept related to living a healthy lifestyle and achieving your full potential.
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur interested in opening your own health and wellness business, whether one leans more toward one concept than the other, consider these top six industry-leading ideas.
1. Fitness Focused
While the future of the fitness industry may be up in the air at the moment in terms of gyms, the demand for at-home fitness products is booming. Workout enthusiasts are always in need of new clothing to wear to support their practice. The trend of athleisure wear is also pushing the popularity of this sector.
In an effort to avoid crowded gyms and any germs that might get picked up at these facilities, more people are looking to recreate the fitness experience in their homes. You might look into opening a business that provides gym equipment such as weights, cardio machines, and other fitness essentials to fill this need.
2. Nutrition Services
Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since the mid-70s. The Centers for Disease Control estimates more than 30 percent of the adult population is currently classed as overweight. It makes sense more people are looking to adopt healthier lifestyles.
From individuals interested in learning about what foods to cook and how to eat well to companies looking to provide healthier menus to their employees, the opportunities in the nutrition space are vast. Health care business ideas include opening a restaurant with a healthy-food-focused menu or a healthy meal planning service that delivers nutritious and well-balanced meals to clientele based on their dietary needs.
3. Natural Products
As consumer awareness of ingredients increases, there is a huge demand for non-toxic, cruelty-free, and all-natural formulations — whether it’s food, supplements, or cosmetics. Chemical additives, GMOs, and addictive substances should be avoided if you want to appeal to certain demographics. The market for natural and organic cosmetic products is expected to see a 2 percent increase in sales yearly beginning in 2020 through 2027.
4. Massage Therapy
Many people are turning to holistic and massage therapies to help soothe or control any conditions they may have. While massage therapy was once considered an alternative form of medicine, it has become a lot more mainstream in recent years.
And procedures such as acupuncture are recommended by healthcare professionals to help those who suffer from chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia. One hurdle to opening a massage therapy business is that there is a lot of training involved when it comes to learning the skills needed to offer services if you plan to be “hands-on.”
5. Home Health Care
As people are living longer, they require extra care and support as they get older. By setting up your own home health care service, you can offer medical care for patients who have been discharged from the hospital for their recuperation, as well as seniors who are struggling to cope by themselves.
The benefits of seniors aging at home with assistance rather than at a nursing home are finally being recognized by experts. In fact, more than 80 percent of physicians responsible for discharge refer patients to a home health care agency versus a skilled nursing facility.
6. Urgent Care
Urgent care is becoming the go-to healthcare destination for Americans. The Urgent Care Association indicates urgent care centers represent more than 23 percent of all primary care visits in the United States — a number expected to continue to rise in the coming years.
The ease of access is one of the factors behind the surge in Urgent Care popularity. Most urgent care centers are standalone medical facilities located in retail centers. Unlike primary care offices, no appointments are necessary, and operating hours tend to be longer and include weekends. A wide variety of illnesses and injuries can be treated — from fractures to the flu. Americans also use urgent care to avoid expensive emergency room bills.
American Family Care is one of the biggest urgent care franchises in the nation, and we have the resources and support that aspiring entrepreneurs in the health and wellness franchise industry need to build strong businesses.
Click here to learn more about the urgent care opportunities with American Family Care.