Starting a wellness business

Written By Robyn Schuleman

1st Formations | May 2026

How to start a health and wellness business

A step-by-step guide to launching a health and wellness business in the UK, from choosing a niche and pricing your services to registering your company and attracting clients.

If you’re thinking of starting a health and wellness business, it’s likely you already have skills you can offer in that space – whether that’s online guided meditation, subscription-based nutrition coaching, or in-person personal training. Starting a business allows you to monetise those skills while building a brand around something you genuinely care about.

It’s also a smart business move. The UK wellness sector continues to grow as more people invest in their physical and mental wellbeing, creating clear and sustained demand for coaching, education and personalised support. This means you’re not just pursuing meaningful work but entering an industry with proven market demand and strong long-term growth potential.

Here are just a few good reasons to start a health and wellness business in the UK:

  • Consumer demand: A 2025 Innova Market Insights report found that 64% of UK consumers are taking action to live healthily.

  • Market strength: According to the Global Wellness Institute, the UK wellness market is worth over £170 billion, making it the fifth largest in the world.

  • Consumer spending: The same GWI report says wellness spending has grown by 31% since 2019, with wellness accounting for 7.3% of the UK economy.

  • Lower barriers to entry: You can start small with a home or online setup, minimal equipment, digital-only delivery, or a part-time model.

  • Social trend alignment: Examples include greater awareness of mental health and burnout, the popularity of online learning, the NHS's emphasis on preventive wellbeing solutions, and the expansion of digital platforms and virtual communities.

Step 1: Define your niche and target audience

Have you ever heard the expression 'throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks'? It’s an amusing image, but when it comes to starting a business, diving in without a clear plan of what you're offering and who your customers are can lead to wasted time and resources.

Head to the 1st Formations website to read the full guide.

Robyn Schuleman
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