As an independent pharmacy owner, you know the industry is always shifting. Some changes are predictable, while others, like medication shortages, new regulations, and reimbursement challenges, can catch you off guard. If there’s one thing we’ve all learned, it’s that adaptability is the key to survival.
One of the biggest shifts heading into 2025 is the changing landscape of compounding revenue, especially with tirzepatide officially off the shortage list as of October. While compounding has been a reliable revenue stream in recent years, this update means many pharmacies will need to rethink their strategies.
But here’s the good news: there are still plenty of ways to grow your business and diversify your income beyond traditional dispensing.
Here are some of the ways pharmacy revenue is changing in 2025 and how you can position your business for success.
1. The Changing Face of Compounding Revenue
Compounding has been a major revenue stream for independent pharmacies, particularly in the past few years as shortages of popular medications created opportunities to fill in the gaps.
Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and a sought-after weight loss drug, was one of those high-demand medications. With its removal from the shortage list, many patients and providers will now return to manufacturer-produced options, cutting into pharmacy-compounded versions.
What does this mean for you? If your pharmacy has relied heavily on compounding tirzepatide, it’s time to evaluate your compounding strategy and look at new opportunities.
Opportunities in Compounding for 2025
Just because tirzepatide is shifting doesn’t mean compounding is going away. In fact, there are several areas where demand is growing:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): With an aging population, customized hormone therapies continue to be a steady source of business.
- Dermatology & Aesthetics: Custom skincare, prescription-strength creams, and hair restoration treatments are increasingly popular.
- Veterinary Compounding: Pet owners and veterinarians need tailored medications that aren’t always available in commercial forms.
- Pain Management Alternatives: Amid concerns over opioid use, patients and providers are looking for customized, non-opioid pain relief options.
If you’re in compounding, now is the time to diversify and market your expertise in these areas.
2. Partnering with Long-Term Care Facilities (LTC)
One of the smartest moves an independent pharmacy can make in 2025 is partnering with long-term care (LTC) facilities. Assisted living centers, nursing homes, and home healthcare agencies need reliable pharmacy partners for their residents.
Why LTC Partnerships Make Sense:
- Consistent Revenue: Unlike retail, LTC partnerships provide a steady stream of prescriptions and services rather than one-off transactions.
- Higher Prescription Volume: Long-term care patients require daily medication management, increasing prescription fill rates.
- Less Dependence on PBMs: Many LTC pharmacies negotiate direct contracts rather than relying solely on traditional insurance reimbursements.
How to Get Started in LTC Pharmacy Services:
- Connect with local nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home healthcare agencies.
- Offer medication synchronization, blister packaging, and 24/7 pharmacist support to make your pharmacy indispensable.
- Consider working with an LTC consulting pharmacist to expand your services.
If you’ve never explored LTC partnerships before, 2025 is the perfect time to start.
3. Clinical Services and Provider Status
With reimbursement rates continuing to squeeze independent pharmacies, one of the best ways to increase revenue is to get paid for services beyond dispensing.
In 2025, many states are expanding pharmacist provider status, allowing pharmacies to bill for clinical services.
Clinical Services to Offer in 2025:
- Point-of-Care Testing (POCT): COVID-19, flu, strep, and A1C tests offer quick revenue opportunities while providing valuable care to your community.
- Medication Therapy Management (MTM): Get reimbursed for comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) and patient counseling.
- Smoking Cessation and Weight Management Programs: Many insurers now cover pharmacist-led programs.
- Chronic Disease Management: If your state allows it, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol management services can generate revenue.
If you’re not offering clinical services yet, now is the time to see what your state laws allow and start billing for the care you already provide.
4. Immunizations and Preventive Care
If you’re not maximizing immunization revenue, you’re leaving money on the table. While COVID-19 vaccines have slowed down, other immunizations continue to be a major revenue source.
High-Demand Vaccines for 2025:
- RSV Vaccines – Particularly for older adults and infants.
- Shingles (Shingrix) – A highly recommended vaccine with strong insurance coverage.
- Travel Vaccines – As global travel picks up, demand for vaccines like typhoid, yellow fever, and hepatitis A/B is increasing.
- Routine Childhood and Adult Vaccines – Ensure your pharmacy is a go-to location for flu, Tdap, and HPV vaccines.
Expanding onsite and offsite immunization clinics can also help drive traffic and revenue.
5. Front-End and E-Commerce Sales
Retail sales inside your pharmacy may not be your biggest revenue source, but they’re still an opportunity to boost profitability.
Ways to Increase Front-End Sales:
- Private Label OTC Products: Offering your own branded vitamins and pain relievers can improve margins.
- Specialty Health and Wellness Products: CBD, probiotics, and natural supplements continue to grow in popularity.
- Subscription-Based Medication Packaging: Monthly pill packs or vitamin subscription boxes keep patients engaged and increase retention.
E-commerce sales are also a growing trend. Offering online refills, curbside pickup, and delivery can help you compete with big-box chains and mail-order pharmacies.
6. Expanding Home Delivery and Medication Synchronization
With the rise of convenience-focused healthcare, pharmacies that offer home delivery and med sync services will continue to thrive.
Why Delivery Services Matter in 2025:
- Patients expect it: Thanks to Amazon Pharmacy and chain delivery programs, customers now expect medications to come to them.
- It builds loyalty: Offering free or low-cost delivery keeps patients coming back to your pharmacy instead of switching.
- It reduces missed refills: Med sync and automatic refills ensure patients take medications consistently, improving adherence.
If you haven’t already, invest in a simple, affordable delivery system to compete with larger players.
The Key to Thriving as an Independent Pharmacy in 2025
Independent pharmacy owners are no strangers to change. The pharmacy landscape in 2025 will continue evolving, and those who embrace new revenue opportunities will thrive.
If your pharmacy has relied heavily on compounding, now is the time to diversify by looking into:
- LTC partnerships for steady prescription volume
- Clinical services that allow you to bill for patient care
- Immunizations and point-of-care testing for added revenue
- Front-end and e-commerce expansion to compete with big chains
- Home delivery and medication synchronization to boost patient loyalty
At Titan, we understand the challenges independent pharmacies face, and we’re here to help. Whether it’s financial planning, strategic growth, or navigating industry changes, we’re your trusted partner in making your business stronger.
Ready to explore new revenue opportunities? Let’s talk.