Tips for Starting a New Business in Retirement

Posted by Richard on March 13, 2014

As a result of lengthening life expectancies and dwindling pensions, a growing number of retirees are looking to retirement as an opportunity to start a new business. It can be beneficial to be an older entrepreneur in a number of ways:

• Start-up funding may be easier to come by for seniors, who can draw from personal savings and a lifetime of business and professional contacts.

• Senior start-ups may also be looked on more favorably by lenders, who often associate older entrepreneurs with a lower risk of default.

• Because they can often rely on other sources for current income, they are in a better position to take greater entrepreneurial risks.

If you are thinking about venturing into a new business in your later years, there are several considerations you should bear in mind before taking the leap.

Start-ups can be physically and emotionally draining for a retiree. Seniors tend to work fewer hours and take more vacations than their younger counterparts. Ask yourself: Are you willing or able to work the long hours that may be required in a fledgling business? There is also the matter of elder health concerns. For seniors, health problems can come at any time. Even if you are in top shape, you should factor in contingencies for unexpected health issues for yourself and your spouse.

Then there’s financial vulnerability. Seniors also rely much more on personal investments to supply a portion of their income. For these reasons, seniors are advised not to sink too great a portion of their investment portfolio into a new business and should avoid pledging as loan collateral personal assets such as a home.

Successful post-retirement start-up tips:

• Go back to school. If you’ve never run a business before, it may be helpful to take a few classes at a university or community college. You’ll learn valuable information on legal requirements, bookkeeping methods, and other key considerations.

• Build on already established contacts and expertise. Seniors have a distinct advantage over younger entrepreneurs in their experience and long-established business network, which can give them a competitive advantage in virtually any business.

• Interview other business owners. Talk to owners of similar businesses and scope out the market for such products or services in your area. Then, take the time to draft a formal business plan.

• Start small. When starting up a new business in retirement, many begin with a small consultancy and gradually work their way into a full-blown business. This will give you time to assess whether you’re willing or able to take on another full-time career.

• Don’t bet the farm. If you’re retired, you probably rely on personal investments for a portion of your income. Consider your income needs before investing a portion of your nest egg in a new business and think twice before taking on any personal debt.

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