Running a business as an herbalist means different things to different people. You can choose from many different ideas, which can be challenging if you have trouble making decisions and getting started in business. It also means that you have a great opportunity to offer multiple products and services, increase your customer base and derive income from more than one source. Here are just a few ways to earn a living from home as an herbalist:

Develop or Recommend Herbal Remedies

One idea is to develop herbal remedies to help treat some of your client's illnesses or ailments. You need to acquire knowledge about the medicinal properties of the herbs and plants that you use in your practice, and understand human physiology so that you don't worsen a condition or cause other medical problems. You can then recommend them to clients along with information about the amount to take. You can also sell herbal supplements manufactured by other companies or create your own products for clients to buy. For example, some herbalists make pregnancy teas with healing and other properties for midwives who then sell the tea to their clients.

Your state may require you to become licensed and graduate from an accredited herbalist school to run your business. You may also have to complete a certain number of continuing education requirements each year to keep your license up-to-date. Before you launch your practice, find out the licensing requirements of your state. You can charge your clients $55 per hour to start and increase your rate as you grow your business. A salary range for an herbalist is from $21,000 to $61,000.

Online Herbalist Instructor

You can use your experience working with herbs and knowledge to help others become knowledgeable or meet their educational requirements to become licensed. There are many online schools, so you don't have to start your own. At the same time, if there aren't job opportunities or if you want to exercise your entrepreneurial skills, then start one. You can start small by offering courses online and through tele-seminars that other herbalists can count towards continuing education credits. You can also offer basic courses to the public and to individuals who may not be interested in becoming herbalists. Some students may just want information to help themselves and their families. The salary for an online herbalist instructor is $41,000.

Grow and Sell Herbs

If you enjoy gardening and have the means to do so, then consider growing and selling herbs. You can still impart your knowledge to customers about the medicinal or other helpful properties of the herbs you grow. There's usually a market for fresh and local grown herbs, from restaurants, grocery stores or other businesses. Consumers are getting more interested in locally grown food, and you can sell your herbs directly to them at farmers markets and other venues. You don't need a huge farm to make it work. You can grow herbs for profit in a greenhouse or in a garden lot that's one-half acre. The median salary for an herb grower is $31,387. 

What you do as an herbalist from home will depend on your personality type, skills, ability and what people in your offline or online community need. Test out different ideas before settling on what to do in the long run.

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Daphne Mallory, Esq. is the co-owner of Mallory Writing Services and has written more than 100 articles helping home based business owners and entrepreneurs start and market their business. You can learn more about her here.