Business Ideas for Retirees

The Complete 2026 Guide to Your Second-Act Business

By Curt Roese, CPA | Published: January 22, 2026

Fifty-two point three percent of U.S. businesses are now owned by people 55 and older—and that number is growing faster than any other age group. If you thought retirement meant slowing down, the data tells a different story. From 2015 to 2024, the number of first-time founders aged 55-64 increased by 35%, outpacing every younger demographic. The average successful startup founder isn't a twenty-something in a garage—they're 45 years old with industry experience, professional networks, and financial stability.

Retirement isn't ending your career anymore. For millions of experienced professionals, it's the beginning of their best one.

The reasons are practical: longer lifespans mean retirement savings need to stretch further. But the motivations run deeper than economics. Sixty-five percent of Americans say they want to start a business when they reach retirement, with 41% citing personal fulfillment and 37% seeking to maintain their sense of purpose. The sedentary life of golf and leisurely mornings doesn't appeal to everyone—especially those who spent decades solving complex problems and building expertise.

The good news? You have everything you need to succeed. Your 30+ years of experience, established networks, and proven problem-solving skills make you more likely to succeed than younger entrepreneurs. In fact, founders with just three years of industry experience are 85% more likely to build successful businesses than those without it.

This comprehensive guide will show you exactly which business models work best for retirees, how to start with minimal investment, and how to leverage your experience into flexible, meaningful income.

Why More Retirees Are Choosing Entrepreneurship Over Traditional Retirement

The Demographic Shift Creating Opportunity

The statistics paint a clear picture: retirement-age entrepreneurship isn't a trend—it's a transformation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 Annual Business Survey, 52.3% of all businesses are owned by people 55 and older. That's over 3 million employer firms out of nearly 6 million total, representing a massive shift in who's building America's businesses.

The numbers get even more compelling when you look at growth rates. Self-employment among people 65 and older jumped from 13.0% in 2013 to 16.3% in 2023, according to the SBA Office of Advocacy. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis found that 14% of self-employed individuals are now 67 or older—up from just 9% a decade ago.

This surge in "encore entrepreneurs" comes from two forces: Baby Boomers aging into retirement (10,000 daily through 2030) and older Americans deliberately choosing to start businesses rather than fully retire. The so-called "silver tsunami" isn't just a succession crisis—it's creating market gaps and opportunities for experienced professionals who understand industries from the inside.

Your Competitive Advantages at 55+

Older entrepreneurs don't just hold their own against younger competitors—they have distinct advantages that directly correlate with business success:

→ Deep Domain Expertise - Thirty years of problem-solving in your industry means you recognize patterns younger founders miss. You've navigated economic downturns, managed difficult clients, and solved complex operational challenges. This pattern recognition is invaluable.

→ Established Professional Networks - Your decades of relationship-building create instant credibility and access. Sixty percent of consulting business owners get their first client through referrals from existing networks—connections you've already built.

→ Financial Stability and Access to Capital - Unlike twenty-somethings bootstrapping from savings, you have retirement accounts, home equity, and established credit. This allows you to invest strategically without desperate financial pressure.

→ Risk-Adjusted Decision-Making - You've lived through professional setbacks and understand the difference between calculated risks and reckless gambles. This pragmatism leads to sustainable business models rather than unsustainable "growth at all costs" strategies.

→ Credibility and Trust - Clients and customers trust seasoned professionals. Your gray hair isn't a liability—it signals experience, stability, and wisdom that commands premium pricing.

Financial Realities Driving the Trend

The shift toward retirement entrepreneurship isn't just about ambition—it's driven by practical financial realities and changing expectations about what retirement should look like.

Sixty-four percent of Americans now plan a "non-traditional" retirement where they continue working for pleasure rather than stopping completely, according to Fidelity's 2024 State of Retirement Planning study. When asked why, 41% cite personal fulfillment as their main motivation, while 37% want to maintain their sense of purpose.

The financial calculus has changed too. Longer lifespans mean retirement savings must stretch 20-30 years instead of 10-15. Many Baby Boomers lack traditional pensions, and the average retirement account balance often falls short of what's needed. Supplemental income of $2,000-$5,000 per month can transform retirement security without requiring full-time corporate employment.

The longevity revolution matters. Advances in healthcare mean today's 65-year-olds can expect another 20-25 active years. That's too long to disengage from meaningful work for many professionals who find identity and satisfaction in contributing their expertise.

The 3 Core Business Models for Retirees: Consulting, Coaching, and Course Creation

Eighty percent of successful retirepreneurs focus on one of three business models: consulting, coaching, or course creation. These aren't arbitrary choices—they share critical advantages that make them ideal for experienced professionals.

All three models leverage existing expertise rather than requiring you to learn entirely new skills. You're not starting from zero—you're packaging 30 years of knowledge into sellable formats. They require minimal capital investment, typically $500-$5,000 to launch, eliminating the need to risk retirement savings. They offer schedule flexibility, letting you work 10-15 hours per week or 40+ depending on your goals. And they create opportunities for leverage, allowing you to earn beyond simply trading hours for dollars.

Let's break down each model so you can determine which fits your expertise and lifestyle.

Consulting After Retirement: Turn Your Career Expertise Into Client Solutions

Consulting means providing strategic advice and solutions to businesses or individuals based on your specialized knowledge. You're packaging your 30+ years of problem-solving experience into paid engagements—helping others avoid mistakes, implement best practices, or navigate challenges you've already mastered.

Consulting can take several forms: project-based work with defined deliverables and timelines, retainer relationships where clients pay monthly for ongoing access to your expertise, or hourly engagements for specific questions and guidance. The common thread is that clients hire you for your proven expertise and results.

Who Consulting Works For

Consulting is ideal for former executives, managers, and directors who made strategic decisions and guided teams. It works for subject matter experts in any industry—people who became the "go-to" person for specific challenges within their organizations. Technical specialists, project managers, and anyone who solved complex problems professionally for 20+ years have marketable consulting expertise.

You don't need C-suite experience. If colleagues regularly asked for your advice, if you trained new employees, if you developed processes that others followed, or if you successfully navigated situations others found difficult—you have consulting knowledge worth packaging.

Types of Consulting Retirees Excel At

→ Industry-Specific Consulting - Your deep knowledge of engineering, legal systems, healthcare operations, education administration, or financial services makes you valuable to organizations navigating your former industry. You understand regulatory requirements, industry norms, and insider practices that outsiders struggle to learn.

→ Functional Consulting - Expertise in HR, operations, marketing, finance, or IT transfers across industries. A former CFO can help any small business improve financial management. An operations expert can optimize processes in manufacturing, healthcare, or retail.

→ Small Business Consulting - Thousands of small businesses lack experienced leadership. Your corporate experience—even if you weren't a CEO—provides perspective that small business owners desperately need around strategy, hiring, systems, or scaling.

→ Strategic Consulting - Business planning, market entry strategies, competitive analysis, and organizational development require seasoned judgment that only comes from decades of real-world experience.

→ Interim and Fractional Roles - Companies increasingly hire part-time executives (fractional CFOs, CMOs, COOs) who provide senior-level expertise without full-time costs. These hybrid consulting/employment arrangements offer steady income and defined scope.

Getting Started With Consulting

Starting a consulting practice is straightforward when you follow this sequence:

First, identify the recurring problems you solved in your career. What did colleagues, bosses, or clients ask you to fix repeatedly? What situations did you handle that others found overwhelming? These patterns reveal your consulting niche.

Second, define your specific offering by combining your industry expertise with the problem you solve. "Healthcare operations consultant" is too broad. "Healthcare operations consultant helping surgery centers reduce patient wait times while maintaining quality" is specific and valuable.

Third, set pricing strategically. Most consultants charge $100-250 per hour, though rates vary by industry and expertise level. Consider value-based pricing—what's the result worth to the client?—rather than just calculating your time. A consultant who helps a company save $100,000 annually can charge $20,000 for the project even if it only takes 40 hours.

Fourth, leverage your network for your first three clients. Sixty percent of consultants get their first client via referral, so announce your new consulting practice to former colleagues, industry contacts, and professional networks. Offer "founding client" pricing in exchange for testimonials and referrals.

Fifth, create a simple one-page consulting proposal that outlines the problem, your approach, deliverables, timeline, and investment. Pair it with a basic consulting agreement that defines scope and protects both you and the client.

Coaching Businesses: Guide Others Through Your Life and Career Experience

Coaching means helping individuals achieve specific personal or professional goals through powerful questions, accountability, and structured support. Unlike consulting where you provide expert solutions, coaching facilitates clients' own discovery and growth.

The fundamental difference: consultants diagnose problems and recommend solutions based on specialized knowledge. Coaches ask questions that help clients find their own answers, then hold them accountable to taking action. You're a guide facilitating transformation rather than an expert implementing fixes.

Coaching relationships tend to be longer-term than consulting projects. Where a consulting engagement might last 30-90 days with specific deliverables, coaching relationships often run 3-12 months with ongoing sessions, homework, and accountability check-ins.

Types of Coaching Retirees Pursue

→ Executive and Leadership Coaching - Help mid-level professionals transition into leadership roles, navigate organizational politics, or develop management skills. Your decades of leadership experience—even if informal—provides perspective they desperately need.

→ Career Transition Coaching - Guide professionals through career pivots, retirement transitions, or re-entry after gaps. You've navigated career challenges and can help others do the same with less anxiety and better strategy.

→ Life Coaching - Support people navigating major life changes like retirement, empty nesting, relationship transitions, or health challenges. Your lived experience with these transitions makes you relatable and credible.

→ Business Coaching - Help entrepreneurs build and scale their businesses using frameworks and accountability. If you've run projects, managed budgets, or led teams, you can coach solopreneurs who lack that structure.

→ Specialty Coaching - Focus on specific domains like health and wellness, financial planning (especially for CPAs), retirement lifestyle design, relationship coaching, or any niche where your experience creates unique value.

Your Experience IS Your Coaching Credential

Here's what many aspiring coaches don't realize: you don't need formal coaching certification to start a coaching practice. While certifications exist (ICF, iPEC, and others), clients primarily hire coaches for life experience and proven results, not credentials.

Your 30+ years of navigating tough decisions, leading through uncertainty, and achieving goals despite obstacles is your credential. You've developed pattern recognition—the ability to see situations clearly and ask questions that cut through confusion. You've mentored colleagues, guided team members, and helped others succeed throughout your career. That's coaching experience, even if you didn't call it that.

Coaching certifications can be valuable for learning frameworks and techniques, but they're not prerequisites. Many successful coaches start with their experience, serve beta clients, and only pursue certification later if they want formal methodology training.

Getting Started With Coaching

Launch a coaching practice by following this sequence:

Choose your specialty by aligning your experience with market demand. What transitions have you successfully navigated? What challenges do people in your network face? What could you talk about for hours without getting bored? The intersection of these questions reveals your coaching niche.

Define your ideal client specifically. "I help professionals" is too broad. "I help mid-career professionals in healthcare navigate leadership transitions when they're promoted from specialist to manager" is specific enough to attract the right people.

Structure your coaching packages around transformation rather than time. A "3-Month Career Clarity Package" with twelve 60-minute sessions plus email support between calls is clearer than "coaching sessions." Clients buy outcomes, not hours.

Use a beta program approach for your first 3-5 clients. Offer a discounted "founding member" rate in exchange for testimonials, case studies, and honest feedback. This builds social proof while you refine your process.

Price appropriately for your experience. First-time coaches often charge $500-1,500 for a 6-session package. As you build testimonials and confidence, premium 1-on-1 coaching ranges from $2,000-5,000 for a 3-month intensive program. Group coaching creates leverage—charging $97-297 per person per month with 10-20 participants generates meaningful income from one weekly group call.

Course Creation and Digital Products: Package Your Knowledge Into Scalable Income

Course creation means developing educational content—video, audio, or written—that teaches your expertise through structured learning experiences. You create the content once, then sell access to it repeatedly, generating income while you sleep, travel, or work with consulting clients.

This is the ultimate leverage business model. A consulting hour can only be sold once. A coaching session requires your live presence. But a course you record this month can serve students for years with minimal ongoing effort beyond updates and student support.

The Leverage Advantage

Consider the math: A consultant charging $150 per hour and working 15 billable hours per week earns roughly $9,000 per month. They're capped by available hours—work more hours, earn more money, but hit a ceiling when all hours are sold.

A course creator who builds a $297 course and enrolls 30 students per month through email marketing and content also earns $9,000 monthly—but those 30 enrollments might only require 10 hours of marketing and student support work. The other 25+ hours are freed for other revenue streams, or simply for living life.

The course model trades upfront creation time for long-term passive income. It typically takes 20-40 hours to create a quality course, but that one-time investment can generate revenue for years.

What to Teach in Your Courses

The best course topics come directly from your career expertise:

→ Skills Courses - Teach software, tools, technical processes, or methodologies from your profession. A former project manager could teach Microsoft Project or Agile frameworks. A graphic designer could teach Adobe Creative Suite for beginners.

→ Process and Framework Courses - Package your proven systems and methodologies into teachable frameworks. If you developed a sales process, hiring system, or strategic planning framework that worked repeatedly, others will pay to learn it.

→ Career Development Courses - Share insider knowledge about breaking into or advancing in your industry. A former pharmaceutical sales rep can teach "How to Land Your First Medical Sales Job." A retired attorney can teach "Paralegal Career Fast-Track."

→ Personal Finance Courses - Especially powerful for CPAs, CFOs, and financial professionals. Retirement planning, investment basics, tax strategy for small business owners, or "Financial Planning for Mid-Career Professionals" all leverage financial expertise.

→ Life and Soft Skills Courses - Communication, leadership, time management, career transitions, or relationship skills apply across industries. Your decades of professional experience give you frameworks others lack.

Getting Started With Course Creation

Don't build a course until you validate demand. The biggest mistake new course creators make is investing months creating content before confirming anyone wants to buy it.

Instead, validate through pre-selling. Announce your course topic to your network and email list before creating content. Set a "founding member" price (discounted from your planned regular price) and see if people purchase. Ten pre-sales means you have a viable course. Zero purchases means you need to refine your topic or find a different audience.

Start with a "minimum viable course"—the simplest version that delivers transformation. Instead of planning 50 video lessons, create 10-15 core lessons that take students from problem to solution. You can always add bonus content based on student questions.

Record with simple tools. You don't need expensive equipment—phone cameras, Zoom recordings, or basic screen capture software (like Loom) work perfectly for first courses. Professional production matters less than clear teaching and practical value.

Choose an affordable platform. Kajabi ($149-$399/month) offers all-in-one website, email, and course hosting. Teachable and Thinkific ($49-$149/month) provide course-only platforms. Start simple—you can always migrate to more sophisticated platforms as you grow.

Alternative Digital Products Beyond Courses

If full course creation feels overwhelming, consider simpler digital products: paid newsletters and memberships ($9-39/month) provide ongoing value through weekly content, community access, or curated resources. Templates and toolkits ($5-47) package your frameworks, spreadsheets, or documents into instant-access downloads. Ebooks and guides ($9-27) compile your expertise into written formats. Workshops and masterclasses (live or recorded, $47-197) teach focused topics in 60-90 minutes without requiring full course infrastructure.

Alternative Business Ideas for Retirees: Beyond the 3 Core Models

While consulting, coaching, and course creation represent the sweet spot for most retirement entrepreneurs—low capital requirements, high flexibility, leveraging existing expertise—other business models can work depending on your specific situation, interests, and financial resources.

These alternative models typically require higher capital investment, more physical involvement, or specialized circumstances. They're not inherently worse choices, but they come with different risk-reward profiles and operational demands. Let's explore the most common alternatives retirees consider.

Franchise Ownership: Proven Systems with Built-In Support

Franchising offers a compelling proposition: buy into an established business model with brand recognition, proven systems, training, and ongoing support. Rather than building from scratch, you're essentially purchasing a playbook that's already worked for hundreds of other owners.

Why Franchises Appeal to Retirees

The franchise model addresses common entrepreneurial fears. You're not inventing a business—you're executing someone else's proven formula. The franchisor provides comprehensive training even if you've never operated in that industry. Marketing materials, operational procedures, vendor relationships, and customer acquisition strategies are pre-built. You have a built-in support network of fellow franchisees who've solved the problems you'll encounter.

Many franchises offer semi-absentee ownership models where you hire a manager to run daily operations while you oversee strategy and finances. This appeals to retirees who want business ownership without full-time operational involvement.

Best Franchise Categories for Retirees

Not all franchises suit retirement lifestyles equally. The best options balance reasonable investment levels with manageable operational demands:

→ Senior Care Franchises - Home Instead (1,200+ locations in 13 countries), Home Helpers (300+ North American locations with 9.1% compound annual growth), and Seniors Helping Seniors (200+ locations worldwide, $82,240-$144,390 investment) dominate this category. The demographic tailwinds are powerful: 58 million Americans currently over 65, projected to reach 80+ million within 20 years. Ten thousand Baby Boomers hit retirement age daily through 2030. Eighty percent of adults 65+ have at least one chronic condition requiring care.

→ Travel Planning - Cruise Planners allows home-based operation selling travel packages and cruises with complete training and turnkey systems. Low overhead, flexible hours, and the ability to work from anywhere make this attractive for retirees who love travel.

→ Property Management - Real Property Management and PMI offer recurring revenue through residential, commercial, or vacation rental management. These typically run as semi-absentee models with managers handling day-to-day operations.

→ Home Services - Franchise opportunities in cleaning, lawn care, handyman services, or specialized maintenance typically require $5,000-$25,000 investments with local market focus and straightforward operations.

→ Semi-Passive Models - Vending machine routes (HealthyYOU Vending, Naturals2Go), ATM networks, or kiosk operations offer near-passive income once installed and running. These require route management but minimal daily involvement.

The Market Opportunity for Senior Care

The senior care franchise sector deserves special attention given the demographic opportunity. According to industry data, there are 830 million people aged 65 or older globally as of 2024—a number projected to double in the next 30 years. In the United States alone, the entire Baby Boomer generation will be at or beyond retirement age by 2030.

This creates sustained demand for in-home care services. Traditional nursing homes struggle to meet capacity, making in-home care increasingly popular. Seniors report higher satisfaction staying at home, and families benefit from lower costs compared to institutional care.

Franchise Business Review ranks senior care franchises as the most profitable sector overall among all franchise verticals. The average earnings for senior care franchises exceed the average of all franchises by over 25%, while the average total investment is 25% less than the national average.

Franchise Cautions and Considerations

Before committing to a franchise, understand the full picture:

Capital requirements are significantly higher than expertise-based businesses. Where you can start consulting for under $1,000, even low-cost franchises require $25,000-$50,000 minimum, with most quality opportunities in the $75,000-$150,000 range.

Ongoing fees reduce profit margins. Royalties typically run 5-10% of gross revenue regardless of profitability, plus 1-3% marketing fees. A franchise generating $500,000 annually might pay $25,000-$50,000 in royalties and $5,000-$15,000 in marketing fees.

You have less flexibility than independent businesses. Franchisors control branding, pricing, suppliers, and operational procedures. This consistency ensures quality but limits entrepreneurial freedom.

Always review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Item 19 reveals financial performance data—how much current franchisees actually earn. Many franchises show Item 19 data indicating lower earnings than you might expect.

Consider consulting with a franchise attorney before signing agreements. These contracts typically run 10-20 years with significant penalties for early termination.

Home-Based and Online Business Ideas

Home-based businesses offer the opposite profile from franchises: minimal capital requirements, maximum flexibility, but you're building everything from scratch without established systems.

The appeal is straightforward—no commute, no commercial lease, flexible hours, and the ability to serve clients nationwide via video calls rather than being limited to your local market. According to SBA data, 64% of small businesses start with $10,000 or less, and 78% rely on personal savings rather than outside funding.

Home Business Ideas That Leverage Your Expertise

→ Bookkeeping and Tax Services - Especially viable for CPAs, accountants, or anyone with strong financial skills. Small businesses constantly need help managing books, filing taxes, and understanding financial statements. Cloud-based accounting software (QuickBooks Online, Xero) makes this entirely remote.

→ Virtual Assistant Services - Provide administrative support, calendar management, email handling, or project coordination for busy entrepreneurs and executives. Your decades of professional organization and communication skills are the product.

→ Writing and Editing - Content creation, copywriting, technical writing, or editing services leverage strong communication skills. Many companies need white papers, blog posts, case studies, or marketing copy written by experienced professionals who understand business context.

→ Graphic Design - If you have creative skills or software knowledge (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva), businesses need logos, marketing materials, presentations, and social media graphics.

→ E-commerce and Online Retail - Product-based businesses are more complex than service businesses, requiring inventory management, shipping logistics, and customer service. However, print-on-demand models (designs printed only when ordered) reduce inventory risk.

→ Affiliate Marketing - Recommend products and services you genuinely use, earning commissions on sales. This works particularly well when combined with content creation (blogging, YouTube) where you build audience trust over time.

→ Blogging and YouTube - Long-term content creation can generate advertising revenue, sponsorships, and product sales. However, monetization typically takes 12-24 months of consistent content creation before generating meaningful income.

Investment Level and Best Fits

Most home-based service businesses launch for $500-$2,000 total investment covering website setup, basic tools, business registration, and initial marketing. This dramatically lowers risk compared to brick-and-mortar businesses or franchises.

These models work best for tech-comfortable retirees who enjoy digital communication, those seeking maximum schedule flexibility, and people with supplemental income goals of $1,000-$3,000 monthly rather than replacing full corporate salaries immediately.

Small Service Businesses for Retired Couples

Many retirees, particularly couples, consider local service businesses they can operate together. These businesses typically require more physical involvement than consulting or coaching but offer tangible, straightforward business models.

Pros and Cons

Service businesses offer tangible, practical work with clear value propositions. Local markets provide word-of-mouth growth opportunities. Working with a spouse or partner can strengthen relationships while building something together.

However, these businesses typically demand more physical effort than knowledge-based models. Equipment and vehicle requirements add complexity and cost. Scaling beyond your own labor is challenging—you quickly hit income ceilings unless you hire employees, which introduces management complexity many retirees prefer to avoid.

How to Start a Business After Retirement: Your Action Plan

The gap between "I want to start a business" and actually starting one isn't knowledge—it's overwhelm. You don't need everything figured out. You need a clear next step, then another, then another.

This action plan breaks the process into manageable weekly chunks. Follow this sequence and you'll have a functioning business generating revenue within 8-12 weeks.

Step 1: Identify Your Business Model (Week 1)

Start by choosing which model fits your expertise, interests, and lifestyle goals.

Use the decision frameworks from Section 2. Do you have 20+ years in a specific field? Do you prefer solving problems (consulting) or guiding people (coaching)? Do you want to create something once and sell it repeatedly (courses)?

Ask yourself what problems you solved for 30 years. What did colleagues ask for your help with? What situations did you handle that others found overwhelming? What could you talk about for hours without getting bored?

Match your expertise to market demand. Just because you're passionate about something doesn't mean people will pay for it. Validate that real people actually struggle with the problems you solve.

Step 2: Validate Your Idea (Weeks 2-3)

Never invest months building a business before confirming anyone wants to buy it.

Talk to 10 people in your network—former colleagues, industry contacts, or people who fit your ideal client profile. Don't pitch your solution. Instead, ask about their problems: "What's your biggest challenge with [relevant topic]?" "Have you tried solving this?" "Would it be worth paying someone to help?"

Gauge willingness to pay. If five people say "I'd definitely hire someone for that," you have validation. If everyone says "That's not really a problem for me," refine your idea.

Adjust based on feedback. Often you'll discover the problem you think people have isn't what they actually struggle with. Listen carefully and be willing to pivot.

Step 3: Set Up Business Basics (Week 4)

Legal and administrative setup is simpler than most people assume.

Choose your business structure. Most retirees start as sole proprietors (simplest, no separate filing needed) or form an LLC (liability protection, still simple). Unless you're raising significant capital or planning substantial hiring, avoid S-Corps and C-Corps initially.

Register your business name with your state if using a name other than your personal name. Costs typically run $50-200 depending on location.

Get your EIN (Employer Identification Number) free from IRS.gov. This takes 10 minutes online and allows you to open business bank accounts and file taxes without using your Social Security number.

Open a business bank account. Keep business finances completely separate from personal accounts. Many banks offer free small business checking.

Purchase basic liability insurance. General liability coverage typically costs $300-500 annually and protects against lawsuits from clients.

Step 4: Price Your Services (Week 4)

Pricing feels scary because it forces you to declare your value. Here's how to approach it strategically.

Calculate your baseline hourly rate using this three-step formula: (1) Determine your target annual income (be honest about what you need); (2) Divide by billable hours (assume 50% of work hours are billable—the rest is marketing, admin, etc.); (3) Add 30-50% to account for taxes, insurance, and business expenses.

For example: You want $60,000 annually and can work 20 hours per week. That's 1,040 annual hours, but only 520 are billable (50% utilization). $60,000 ÷ 520 = $115/hour. Add 40% for expenses = $161/hour.

Consider value-based pricing instead of hourly. What's the result worth to your client? If your consulting saves a company $100,000 annually, charging $15,000 for a 60-hour project ($250/hour effective rate) is reasonable even if your calculated hourly rate is $150.

Package pricing creates predictability. Instead of open-ended hourly billing, offer defined packages: "3-Month Business Strategy Package - $12,000" or "Website Redesign Project - $8,500." Clients know exactly what they're buying; you know exactly what you're delivering.

Don't undervalue your experience. You have 30+ years of pattern recognition. Price accordingly.

Step 5: Find Your First 3 Clients (Weeks 5-8)

Your first clients will almost certainly come from your existing network.

Send a professional announcement email to colleagues, industry contacts, and professional connections. Keep it brief: "After 30 years in [industry], I'm launching a consulting practice helping [target client] with [specific problem]. If you know anyone struggling with [problem], I'd appreciate an introduction."

Offer "founding client" pricing at a discount in exchange for detailed testimonials, case studies, and referrals. For example, if your standard consulting package will be $5,000, offer the first three clients $3,500 pricing.

Ask for referrals from everyone you talk to, even if they don't hire you. "Do you know anyone who might benefit from help with [problem]?" Personal introductions convert far better than cold outreach.

Start with people who already trust you. Sixty percent of consultants get their first client via referral. Your network is your biggest asset.

Deliver exceptional work for these first clients. Their testimonials become your marketing for the next 100 clients.

Step 6: Deliver Exceptional Results (Ongoing)

Your business grows or dies based on client results and word-of-mouth.

Under-promise and over-deliver. Set realistic expectations, then exceed them. Clients remember when you solve problems faster, cheaper, or better than promised.

Document your process as you work. Take notes on what works, what questions clients ask, and what results you achieve. This becomes your systemized methodology.

Request testimonials immediately after successful outcomes. Don't wait weeks—ask while the positive experience is fresh: "I'm so glad this worked well for you. Would you mind writing a brief testimonial I can share with future clients?"

Ask satisfied clients for referrals. After delivering great results: "I'm looking to work with 2-3 more clients like you. Do you know anyone facing similar challenges who might benefit?"

Refine your approach based on feedback. Every client teaches you something about how to better serve the next one.

Choose Your Business Based on Your Retirement Goals

Not every retiree wants the same outcome from business ownership. Some need supplemental income of $2,000-$3,000 monthly. Others want to stay intellectually engaged. Some dream of working alongside their spouse. Others prioritize travel flexibility.

The right business model depends on your specific priorities. Here's how to match business types to different retirement goals.

Goal: Supplement Income ($2K-5K/month)

If your primary objective is steady supplemental income without full-time commitment:

→ Part-time consulting (10-15 hours per week) - Three clients at $2,000 each monthly generates $6,000 working roughly 12-15 billable hours

→ Group coaching programs - One weekly 90-minute group call serving 10-15 people at $197/month creates $2,000-$3,000 recurring revenue

→ Online courses (after initial creation) - A $297 course selling 10-15 copies monthly via automated email marketing produces $3,000-$4,500

→ Franchise with semi-absentee model - Property management or senior care franchises where managers handle operations while you oversee strategy

→ Bookkeeping or tax services (seasonal) - Especially viable for CPAs during tax season, generating concentrated income in Q1-Q2

Goal: Stay Intellectually Engaged

If mental stimulation and challenging work matter more than maximum income:

→ Strategic consulting in your field - Solve complex business problems requiring deep expertise

→ Executive or leadership coaching - Navigate nuanced organizational dynamics and career transitions

→ Teaching courses on complex topics - Break down sophisticated concepts for eager learners

→ Industry research and writing - Analyze trends, publish insights, establish thought leadership

→ Board positions or advisory roles - Provide governance and strategic guidance to growing companies

Goal: Work With Your Spouse or Partner

For couples who want to build something together:

→ Joint consulting practice - Combine complementary expertise (finance + operations, sales + marketing)

→ Co-teaching courses - One spouse handles content creation, the other manages student support and marketing

→ Franchise (owner-operator team) - Divide responsibilities based on strengths—client relationships vs. operations, marketing vs. finance

→ Small service business - Cleaning, event planning, property management, or local services where roles clearly divide

→ Travel planning agency - Perfect for couples who love travel and enjoy helping others plan experiences

Goal: Maximum Flexibility and Travel

For digital nomads and frequent travelers:

→ Online coaching (anywhere with WiFi) - Conduct sessions via Zoom from home, beach house, or international locations

→ Digital courses (passive after creation) - Students enroll and learn without requiring your real-time presence

→ Virtual consulting - Serve clients globally without geographic limitations

→ Travel planning franchise - Work remotely selling cruises and vacation packages

→ Writing and content creation - Produce articles, blog posts, or marketing copy from any location with internet

Goal: Make a Meaningful Impact

For those prioritizing purpose over profit:

→ Nonprofit consulting - Help organizations maximize limited resources and achieve mission goals

→ Life or career coaching - Guide people through significant transitions and personal growth

→ Senior care franchise - Directly improve quality of life for aging adults

→ Teaching and mentoring programs - Pass knowledge to the next generation

→ Community-focused services - Solve local problems through specialized expertise

Goal: Build Something to Sell Eventually

For those wanting a saleable asset:

→ Consulting practice with documented systems - Repeatable processes and client base create transferable value

→ Franchise - Built-in resale market and franchisor support for ownership transitions

→ Membership site or community - Recurring revenue and engaged audience command premium valuations

→ Course library with proven revenue - Passive income streams sell for 2-4x annual profit

→ Service business with recurring clients - Predictable revenue and established client relationships increase sellability

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Business After Retirement

What are the best business ideas for retirees?

The best business ideas for retirees leverage your existing expertise and require minimal capital investment. The top three models are consulting (providing strategic advice based on your career experience), coaching (guiding others through challenges you've navigated), and course creation (teaching your knowledge online through structured programs).

These businesses typically cost $500-$5,000 to start, offer flexible hours you control completely, and don't require learning entirely new skills. You're packaging what you already know into formats clients and students will pay for.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 Annual Business Survey, 52.3% of businesses are already owned by people 55 and older, with consulting being the most popular model due to high profit margins (50-70% for boutique firms) and the ability to reach previous employment income within 2 years for over 50% of consultants.

Alternative business ideas include franchises (requiring higher capital but offering proven systems), home-based services like bookkeeping or virtual assistance, and local service businesses that couples can operate together.

Which business is best after retirement?

The best business after retirement depends on your specific goals, expertise, and lifestyle preferences—there's no universal "best" choice.

If you have deep industry knowledge and enjoy solving complex problems, consulting typically offers the highest income potential. Thirty-nine percent of consultants charge $100-250 per hour, with projects commonly valued at $5,000-$50,000. This model works well if you prefer project-based work with clear deliverables and defined timelines.

If you prefer helping people develop and grow rather than providing expert solutions, coaching provides ongoing relationships and the satisfaction of facilitating transformation. Coaching packages typically range from $500-$5,000 for 3-month programs, with group coaching creating leverage through one-to-many delivery.

For maximum flexibility and scalability, course creation allows you to earn income while traveling or fully retired. After the initial 20-40 hours creating content, courses generate passive revenue without requiring your real-time presence for every sale.

Consider these questions: Do you want to work 10-15 hours per week or 30-40? Do you need immediate income or can you invest 3-6 months building? Are you comfortable with technology? Do you prefer working with people directly or creating educational content? Your honest answers will guide you toward the right model.

How do I start a consulting business after retirement?

Starting a consulting business after retirement requires five key steps that can be completed in 4-8 weeks:

First, identify the specific problems you solved repeatedly in your career. What did colleagues ask for your help with? What situations did you handle that others found overwhelming? What processes or strategies did you develop that worked consistently? These patterns reveal your consulting services.

Second, define your niche by combining your industry expertise with the type of problem you solve. "Business consultant" is too vague. "Operations consultant helping healthcare clinics reduce patient wait times while maintaining quality" is specific and valuable.

Third, set your pricing strategically. Most consultants charge $100-250 per hour according to industry data, though rates vary by expertise and market. Consider value-based pricing—what's the result worth to the client?—rather than just calculating your time. Package pricing (fixed fee for defined scope) often converts better than hourly rates.

Fourth, leverage your existing network for your first three clients. Sixty percent of consultants get their first client via referral, so announce your new practice to former colleagues, industry contacts, and professional networks. Offer "founding client" pricing (discounted rate) in exchange for detailed testimonials and referrals.

Fifth, create a simple one-page consulting proposal outlining the problem, your approach, deliverables, timeline, and investment. Pair it with a basic consulting agreement that defines scope and protects both you and the client from misunderstandings.

Total startup costs typically run $500-$1,000 for business registration, liability insurance, and basic tools. Over 50% of consultants reach their previous employment income within 2 years.

Are franchises good business opportunities for retirees?

Franchises can be excellent opportunities for retirees who have $50,000-$150,000+ to invest and want a proven business model with built-in support rather than building from scratch.

The senior care franchise sector is particularly attractive for retirement entrepreneurs. The market fundamentals are compelling: 58 million Americans are currently over 65, projected to reach 80+ million within 20 years, with 10,000 Baby Boomers hitting retirement age daily through 2030. Eighty percent of adults 65+ have at least one chronic condition requiring some level of care.

Franchise Business Review ranks senior care franchises as the most profitable sector overall among all franchise categories. The average earnings for senior care franchises exceed the average across all franchises by over 25%, while the average total investment is 25% less than the national average for franchises generally.

Popular franchise options for retirees include Home Instead (1,200+ locations in 13 countries), Home Helpers (300+ locations with 9.1% compound annual growth over the past decade), Seniors Helping Seniors ($82,000-$144,000 investment range), Cruise Planners (home-based travel agency), and property management franchises offering recurring revenue.

However, franchises require significantly higher capital than consulting, coaching, or course creation businesses (which typically start under $5,000). You'll also pay ongoing royalty fees of 5-10% of gross revenue plus marketing fees of 1-3%, which reduce profit margins. Franchisors control branding, pricing, suppliers, and operational procedures, limiting entrepreneurial flexibility.

Franchises work best for retirees who want semi-absentee ownership models, have substantial capital to invest, prefer established systems over building from scratch, and don't mind the operational structure that franchise agreements require.

Always review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully, paying special attention to Item 19 (financial performance data showing what current franchisees actually earn), and consider consulting with a franchise attorney before signing multi-year agreements.

What home-based business ideas work well for retirees?

Home-based businesses that work well for retirees include consulting (in any industry you have expertise), coaching (life, career, business, or specialty niches), online course creation, bookkeeping and tax services (especially for CPAs and accountants), virtual assistant services, writing and editing, and specialized advisory work.

These businesses require minimal investment—typically $500-$2,000 to start—eliminating the financial risk of brick-and-mortar businesses or franchises. You avoid commute time and commercial lease expenses. You have complete schedule flexibility, working early mornings, evenings, or whatever hours suit your lifestyle. Most importantly, they leverage skills and expertise you've already developed over 30+ years rather than requiring you to learn entirely new capabilities.

According to SBA data, 64% of small businesses start with $10,000 or less, and 78% rely on personal savings rather than outside funding. Home-based models make these low capital requirements achievable.

The key advantage of home-based service businesses is geographic reach. Rather than being limited to your local market, you can serve clients nationwide or globally via Zoom, email, and cloud-based collaboration tools. This dramatically expands your potential client base compared to location-dependent businesses.

Technology requirements are minimal. You need reliable internet, a computer, video conferencing capability (Zoom or similar), and basic software for your specific service. Most retirees already own this technology.

Home-based businesses work best for tech-comfortable retirees who enjoy digital communication, those seeking maximum schedule flexibility, and people with supplemental income goals of $2,000-$5,000 monthly rather than immediately replacing six-figure corporate salaries.

Can I start a business with my spouse or partner after retirement?

Yes, many retired couples successfully start and operate businesses together, often finding the experience strengthens their relationship while building something meaningful.

The best business ideas for retired couples include joint consulting practices (combining complementary expertise like finance and operations or sales and marketing), co-teaching online courses (one handles content creation while the other manages student support and marketing), franchise ownership as an owner-operator team, small service businesses like event planning or property management, and travel agency franchises like Cruise Planners.

The key to success is clearly defining roles based on each person's strengths rather than trying to do everything together. One partner might handle client relationships, sales, and marketing while the other manages operations, finances, and delivery. This division of labor prevents stepping on each other's toes while ensuring all critical business functions receive focused attention.

According to the SBA, 27.3% of employer firms are family-owned. Interestingly, family-owned firms employ more people on average (14 employees per firm) than non-family-owned businesses (10 employees per firm), suggesting strong stability and growth potential when couples align on business vision and execution.

Before launching together, have honest conversations about decision-making authority, conflict resolution, work-life boundaries, and exit strategies. Agree on how you'll handle disagreements about business direction. Establish clear "business hours" so work doesn't consume all your time together. Discuss what happens if one partner wants to exit the business or if health issues arise.

Many couples find working together incredibly rewarding—you share the excitement of wins, support each other through challenges, and build something tangible together during retirement years. Just ensure you enter with clear expectations and defined roles.

How much money do I need to start a business after retirement?

Most retirees can start a consulting, coaching, or course creation business for $500-$5,000 total investment. This covers all essential setup costs without requiring you to risk significant retirement savings.

According to SBA data, 64% of small businesses start with $10,000 or less, and 33% launch with under $5,000. Seventy-eight percent rely on personal savings rather than outside investors or business credit lines.

Essential startup costs for expertise-based businesses include: business registration ($50-200 depending on your state), liability insurance ($300-500 annually), basic website and professional email ($10-30 monthly through services like Google Workspace), and email marketing software ($0-20 monthly with free tiers available from platforms like Beehiiv).

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is completely free from IRS.gov and takes approximately 10 minutes to obtain online. This allows you to open business bank accounts and file taxes without using your Social Security number.

You don't need expensive office space (work from home), fancy equipment (use your existing computer and phone), or inventory (you're selling expertise, not products). These factors keep expertise-based businesses remarkably affordable to launch.

Franchises require significantly more capital—typically $50,000-$150,000+ depending on the franchise system and territory. Service businesses vary widely ($1,000-$15,000) depending on equipment needs for cleaning, landscaping, or handyman services.

The conservative approach is to keep startup costs minimal and validate demand before investing heavily. Start with the $500-$1,000 basic setup, land your first 2-3 clients or students, then reinvest those earnings into expanded tools, marketing, or business development.

What are good online business ideas for retirees?

Good online business ideas for retirees include virtual consulting, online coaching, course creation, virtual bookkeeping and tax services (for CPAs and accountants), freelance writing or editing, and digital product sales (templates, guides, toolkits, worksheets).

Online businesses offer distinct advantages for retirement entrepreneurs: location independence (work from home, beach house, or while traveling), lower overhead than physical businesses (no storefront, minimal equipment), access to national or global markets rather than just local clients, and the ability to scale without proportional time increases.

The consulting industry alone is valued at over $1 trillion globally with 8% projected annual growth through 2028. This creates enormous opportunity for experienced professionals who can package their expertise for online delivery.

To succeed with online business models, you need basic technology comfort (video calls via Zoom, email communication, cloud-based file storage), a professional website (starting at $10-30 monthly with simple builders or Google Sites), and the ability to market yourself through LinkedIn, email newsletters, or content creation.

Many retirees find online models ideal for "semi-retirement"—working 10-20 hours per week from anywhere while generating $2,000-$5,000 monthly income. This provides financial security and intellectual engagement without the constraints of traditional employment.

Online businesses also allow gradual scaling. Start with one consulting client, add a second, then a third. Begin with 1-on-1 coaching, then introduce group programs. Launch one course, refine based on feedback, then create additional courses. This incremental approach reduces risk while building confidence.

The key is choosing an online business model that genuinely fits your skills and interests rather than chasing trends. Your decades of professional experience in finance, operations, marketing, project management, or any specialized field can translate directly into valuable online services.

Do I need special certifications or licenses to start a consulting business?

Most consultants do not need special certifications or licenses—your decades of professional experience serve as your primary credential. Clients hire consultants for proven expertise and documented results, not necessarily for degrees or certifications.

However, certain fields have specific requirements you must meet:

Financial services: Financial advisors typically need Series 7, Series 65, or CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designations. CPAs doing tax preparation must maintain active state certification. Investment advisors require proper SEC or state registration.

Legal services: Attorneys must maintain active bar licenses in states where they practice. Providing legal advice without proper licensing constitutes unauthorized practice of law.

Healthcare and medical: Medical consultants generally need to maintain relevant professional licenses (MD, RN, etc.) even if consulting rather than practicing. Healthcare administration consulting may not require clinical licenses.

Regulated industries: Some industries like insurance, real estate, or securities require specific licenses even for consulting work.

For general business consulting, strategy work, operations improvement, marketing consulting, or career coaching, no certifications are legally required. Your track record speaks for itself.

In fact, 60% of consultants get their first client through referrals from their existing network—people who already know their capabilities and results. These clients care about whether you can solve their problems, not whether you completed a certification program.

Focus your energy on documenting career successes, creating case studies showing measurable results, and building testimonials from satisfied clients. Your pattern recognition from 30+ years solving real problems is more valuable than any certification course.

Some consultants pursue industry certifications (PMP for project management, Six Sigma for process improvement, Certified Management Consultant designation) to enhance credibility, but these are optional enhancements rather than prerequisites to starting a practice.

How does starting a business affect my Social Security benefits?

Starting a business while collecting Social Security depends primarily on your age and when you began receiving benefits.

If you're under Full Retirement Age (FRA):

You face annual earnings limits. For 2024, that limit is $22,320 (this amount adjusts annually for inflation). If you earn more than this limit, Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above it. For example, if you earn $30,000 from your business while under FRA, you're $7,680 over the limit, so Social Security would withhold $3,840 from your benefits.

In the year you reach Full Retirement Age:

The earnings limit increases significantly—$59,520 for 2024. The withholding formula changes to $1 withheld for every $3 above the limit. This higher limit and better formula recognize you're approaching the age where earnings don't affect benefits.

Once you reach Full Retirement Age:

There is no earnings limit whatsoever. You can earn unlimited income from your business without any penalty or reduction in Social Security benefits. The withheld benefits from earlier years are recalculated and returned to you in the form of higher monthly payments going forward.

Full Retirement Age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, 66 and some months for those born 1955-1959, depending on birth year.

Self-employment tax considerations:

Beyond Social Security benefit calculations, you'll pay self-employment tax on net business profits. This is currently 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security (on earnings up to $168,600 for 2024) plus 2.9% for Medicare (no cap). This effectively replaces the FICA taxes withheld from employee paychecks.

However, self-employment also creates tax advantages. You can contribute to a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA, potentially reducing taxable income significantly while building additional retirement savings. These retirement contributions can shelter business income from immediate taxation.

Consult with a CPA or tax professional to optimize your specific situation based on your age, Social Security claiming strategy, and business income projections.

What's the difference between consulting and coaching?

Consulting and coaching both leverage your professional experience but differ fundamentally in approach, delivery, and client relationship structure.

Consultants provide expert solutions. You diagnose problems, analyze situations, recommend specific strategies, and often implement solutions based on your specialized knowledge and industry expertise. You're hired as "the expert" who knows the answer and will tell clients what to do. Deliverables are typically tangible: reports, process documentation, strategic plans, implementation roadmaps, or completed projects.

Coaches facilitate client discovery. You guide clients to their own solutions through powerful questioning, accountability structures, and supportive frameworks. Rather than telling clients what to do, you help them clarify thinking, identify obstacles, explore options, and commit to action. You facilitate transformation rather than provide prescriptive answers.

Engagement structure differs significantly:

Consulting engagements tend to be project-based with defined scope, timelines, and deliverables. A 60-day operations improvement project might include current state analysis, recommendation development, and implementation support. Once the project completes, the relationship often ends unless additional work is identified.

Coaching relationships are typically longer-term with ongoing sessions. A 6-month executive coaching program might include twice-monthly calls, between-session email support, and accountability check-ins. The relationship focuses on sustained behavioral change and growth rather than solving a discrete problem.

Pricing and economics:

Consultants typically charge higher rates for shorter engagements. Hourly rates commonly range $100-250, with project fees from $5,000-$50,000 depending on scope and expertise. Consultants sell expertise and time.

Coaches often build longer relationships at lower monthly rates. A 3-month coaching package might run $1,500-$5,000, averaging $500-$1,600 per month. Coaches sell transformation and accountability over time.

Which should you choose?

Choose consulting if you have deep technical or industry expertise, enjoy solving specific business problems, prefer project work with clear deliverables, and want to position as "the expert" providing answers.

Choose coaching if you excel at helping people develop and grow, prefer ongoing relationships over transactional projects, enjoy asking powerful questions more than giving advice, and want to facilitate client breakthroughs rather than implement solutions for them.

Many experienced professionals successfully blend both models—offering strategic consulting to solve immediate business problems while providing coaching to help leaders develop long-term capabilities.

Is 65 too old to start a business?

No—65 is absolutely not too old to start a business. In fact, extensive data shows older entrepreneurs have significant advantages over younger founders.

The average age of successful startup founders is 45 years old, not 25. Research from MIT found that individuals aged 55-64 represent one of the fastest-growing segments of new entrepreneurs, with a 35% increase in first-time founder applications from 2015 to 2024—outpacing all other age groups.

Founders with just three years of prior industry experience are 85% more likely to succeed than inexperienced peers according to MIT research. At 65, you don't have three years of experience—you have 30-40 years. This pattern recognition, judgment, and contextual understanding dramatically increases your probability of business success.

Your competitive advantages at 65+:

You bring deep domain expertise that younger founders spend decades trying to acquire. You've navigated economic downturns, difficult clients, operational challenges, and organizational politics—experience that informs better business decisions.

You have established professional networks built over 30-40 years. These relationships create instant credibility, access to resources, and referral opportunities that twenty-somethings can't replicate.

You possess financial stability and access to capital through retirement accounts, home equity, and established credit. This eliminates the desperate financial pressure that causes many young entrepreneurs to make poor decisions or give up prematurely.

You've developed risk-adjusted decision-making from living through professional setbacks. You understand the difference between calculated risks and reckless gambles, leading to sustainable business models rather than "growth at all costs" strategies that often fail.

The data supports older entrepreneurship:

Self-employment among those 65 and older increased from 13.0% in 2013 to 16.3% in 2023 according to the SBA Office of Advocacy. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis found that 14% of self-employed individuals are now 67 or older—up from just 9% a decade ago.

Many successful businesses were founded by 60+ entrepreneurs: Morris Chang founded TSMC (now a global chipmaking powerhouse) at age 55. Bernie Marcus co-founded Home Depot at 50, eventually building it into the world's largest home-improvement retailer. These aren't anomalies—they're examples of the advantages mature entrepreneurs possess.

Your experience is your competitive advantage, not a liability. The question isn't whether 65 is too old—it's whether you're ready to leverage what you know into a business that serves you.

Your Next Steps: Turning Experience Into Income

The opportunity has never been clearer. Fifty-two point three percent of U.S. businesses are owned by people 55 and older—and that percentage is growing faster than any other demographic. The "silver tsunami" isn't just a succession crisis; it's creating market gaps and opportunities for experienced professionals who understand industries from the inside.

You have everything you need to succeed. Your 30+ years of expertise provide pattern recognition younger entrepreneurs spend decades trying to acquire. Your professional networks create instant credibility and access. Your financial stability eliminates the desperate pressure that derails many startups. Your risk-adjusted judgment leads to sustainable business models rather than unsustainable "growth at all costs" strategies.

The three core business models—consulting, coaching, and course creation—offer the ideal combination for retirement entrepreneurs: leverage your existing expertise, require minimal capital investment ($500-$5,000), provide schedule flexibility, and create income beyond simply trading hours for dollars.

Your action plan is straightforward:

→ This week: Choose which model aligns with your goals using the frameworks in Section 5. Do you prefer solving problems (consulting), guiding people (coaching), or teaching at scale (courses)?

→ Next week: Validate your idea by talking to 10 people in your network. Don't pitch—ask about their problems and gauge willingness to pay for solutions.

→ Weeks 3-4: Set up business basics (registration, EIN, insurance, bank account). Total investment: $500-$1,000.

→ Weeks 5-8: Find your first 3 clients through your existing network. Offer founding member pricing in exchange for testimonials.

→ Month 3 and beyond: Refine your process based on client feedback and build systems for sustainable growth.

Your most successful chapter doesn't have to be behind you. Experience compounds—every year after 55 makes you MORE valuable, not less. The market needs what you know. Businesses need your judgment. Individuals need your guidance.

Start before you feel completely ready. No one feels fully prepared when launching something new. The difference between those who succeed and those who don't isn't confidence—it's action despite uncertainty.

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About the Author

Curt Roese is a Certified Public Accountant, Real Estate Broker, and holds a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida (3.94 GPA, graduated December 2025). With over 40 years of experience in finance and business—including roles as CFO of a $6B+ SBA lender and co-founder of a custom homebuilding company—Curt understands both the challenges and opportunities of building businesses after traditional retirement age.

Rather than teaching from past success, Curt is building Retirepreneur alongside you, documenting the real journey of turning expertise into flexible income. His approach combines CFO-level financial perspective with practical, tested strategies for professionals 55+ who want to leverage their experience without risking retirement security.

Learn more about Curt's journey →