Starting a Post-Retirement Business
Popular belief mandates that retirement be spent traveling, gardening and playing golf. Many “retirees,” however, crave more than that.
According to AARP research, record numbers of men and women over the age of 50 — and even 60 and 70 — are starting their own businesses in search of a life, and a livelihood, after retirement.
Businesses require planning, and the most successful take years’ worth. Start dreaming early on and consider making your new venture a part-time one while you’re still working in order to minimize risk; if it works out, you can expand into a full-time operation upon retirement.
By the time you get to retirement you’ll have many years of work experience behind you. Use that experience, and all that you’ve learned from it, to develop a business idea about which you’ll be passionate and at which you’ll succeed.
Just because you’re older than most new business owners doesn’t exempt you from going through the necessary motions of a standard startup; you’ll need a solid business plan, just like anyone else.
Photo by Tom Purves.
Prof. Joel on November 28th, 2006 11:59 am
A good place to start is to calculate how much money you will get from Social Security. It won’t be much. So most of us will have to find either a) a job b) a product to sell or c) a service to offer.
Since this is a “retirement income business”, I’d stay away from any activity that requires regular hours (such as a retail store); employees; large startup costs (such as a franchise); or many years to produce a profit.
Business Potentials After Retirement » Business Analyst » Blog Archive on November 28th, 2006 7:16 pm
[...] It’s nice to know that the concept of retirement is now explored with more active options. While retirees may invest on Caribbean Cruise or romantic holiday with the family, there is much more to life after the hard day’s work. Tom Purves even featured in his blog (at business-opportunities.biz) the possibility of putting up a business after their retirement. With years of corporate experience and their pool of retirement benefits, the real adventure in life doesn’t at 50 or even 70. Given these advantages, it still requires hard work and better business strategy. But of course, retirement isn’t the only time when you could think of making your business dream come true. You may invest early in life and even expand the business before you reach the retirement age. It doesn’t really matter if you’re a retired or just a fresh graduate. With solid plans for the future, you can always dare to be on your own. Friends Economy Facts Local Dating London Dating Home Improvement Online Education Archives [...]
Laurie Neumann on November 30th, 2006 9:29 am
I really agree with this post. Sure, it’s nice to have more freedom to travel when you want, but I think all people feel better when they have a purpose. I think the right home business can provide that purpose in many instances. Also, getting involved in a ministry. I hope more people nearing or who have already retired will consider starting their own home business.
Shallie Bey on July 6th, 2009 11:31 pm
It is now three years since the original publication of this article. The trend of baby boomers starting retirement businesses is growing faster than ever. We now refer to the participants as baby boomer entrepreneurs.
The ideas presented here still seem to be sound advice to help the prospective retiree business owner experience a balanced life. Getting started planning before retirement is excellent. Planning is at the core of success.
Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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