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Instead of enjoying a leisurely retirement, many people want to stay active and start a business.
Regardless of how much we enjoy our careers, retirement is the golden ring that nearly all workers hope to attain one day. We prepare for retirement accordingly, setting up retirement plans and daydreaming about how we’ll cruise the world and spend leisurely days on the golf course during our golden years. But is this really what we want?
For some, the prospect of retirement sparks a desire not to cease working but to pivot toward new and exciting opportunities. This mindset challenges the traditional notion of retirement and suggests that many people see their golden years as a chance to pursue passion projects or leverage their experience. This article explores the trend of retirees embracing entrepreneurship, the potential benefits and drawbacks, and the obstacles that aspiring business owners might face.
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Rather than viewing retirement as a time to slow down, many Americans see it as an opportunity to engage in meaningful and fulfilling activities. This desire to stay in the workforce isn’t solely for financial reasons. Many hope to find a sense of purpose, which entrepreneurship can provide. According to Luke Pittaway, director of innovation at the Ohio University College of Business, the advantage of starting a business at this time of life is that retirement-age people “tend to bring more financial wealth, experience and personal networks to their startup efforts.”
Survey data suggests that many retirees feel this is true; 65 percent of Americans polled in the 2019 Inside Small Business survey said they want to open a business when they reach retirement. This demonstrates that these ambitions existed even before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pandemic likely accelerated this trend as many people reassessed their career paths and financial plans. Some 60 percent of retirees and pre-retirees believe the ideal version of their golden years would include leisure and some work, according to an Edward Jones/Age Wave study.
Several factors contribute to the desire among retirees to start a business or continue working.
Many retirees find that continuing to work, especially in a field they’re passionate about, gives them a sense of accomplishment. That desire for personal fulfillment and purpose spurs people to start a business or find other employment.
That value is a major concern for Americans, with 41 percent saying personal fulfillment is their main motivation for staying employed through retirement and 37 percent stating it’s to keep their sense of purpose, the Empower study found.
Staying mentally sharp and socially engaged has numerous benefits, making it a primary reason many people continue to work after they reach retirement age. That’s particularly important, as studies have shown that staying active and mentally stimulated can significantly enhance people’s quality of life during retirement.
Additionally, retirees often bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and networks that can be invaluable to their newfound entrepreneurship. Their career-long accumulation of skills and insights can give them a competitive edge in business.
Retirees are starting their own businesses or staying employed in some capacity because they find work benefits their health. In the Empower study, 37 percent of Americans said working helped keep their mind active, with 36 percent asserting it helped maintain their physicality.
Financial stability may not be people’s only motivation for continuing to work, but it remains on retirees’ minds. Postretirement income from a business or part-time work can help retirees manage expenses without dipping into retirement savings too soon.
Having enough money to last through retirement is a pressing concern. Delaying Social Security benefits is one way to be more financially stable. Extending your income into retirement delays the need to draw down retirement account balances. It helps tide you over until you reach age 70 and can maximize your Social Security benefits.
While there’s no specific best age to become a boss, more than half of U.S. small business owners are 50 or older, according to SCORE. Additionally, the Inside Small Business Survey showed that of all retirees chasing the entrepreneurial dream, 54 percent said the idea of succeeding and finding pride in their business is what excites them. [Read our step-by-step guide on how to start a business.]
Community support for small businesses is often strong. The Inside Small Business Survey indicated that 70 percent of consumers like to support small businesses in their neighborhood. Tim Davis, president of WTD Consulting, said the survey’s findings show that even other small business owners “really want to help new business owners in their communities succeed.”
As with any significant life decision, there are both advantages and disadvantages of starting a business or continuing to work in retirement.
Many people leaving the workforce contemplate continuing their professional life, either by consulting or starting their own business. Here are some of the benefits of this approach.
After the economic fluctuations of the past few years, Americans have seen changes to their finances and retirement plans. Many have responded by rethinking their career paths, taking time off, or switching to freelance or independent work. Here are the cons of starting a business:
As with any major life decision, outside forces can get in the way of starting a business. For more than a decade, many Americans have been reluctant to set up shop at their own expense, as they remember the 2008 recession and subsequent volatility in the marketplace.
One of the biggest hindrances to starting a small business is fear. Some concerns, according to a KeyBank survey, include compliance with laws and regulations (25 percent), fluctuating sales/revenue (35 percent), increased operating costs (37 percent) and payment fraud (44 percent).
New technology is also daunting for some entrepreneurs. In a Bipartisan Policy survey, 48 percent of small business owners said they aren’t sure what tools to use for artificial intelligence, such as those found in autonomous machines or automated customer support. Many people also said they lack digital skills (46 percent). However, as the learning curve flattens and technological literacy spreads, the horizon for innovation and growth appears brighter than ever.
The traditional concept of retirement is undergoing a significant transformation. Rather than viewing retirement as a period of complete leisure and inactivity, many retirees are choosing to embark on entrepreneurial ventures or continue working. Retirees bring valuable experience, networks and a strong sense of purpose to their new endeavors, which lets them contribute positively to their communities and achieve a satisfying balance between work and leisure.
While starting a business or continuing to work comes with challenges, the potential benefits include an enhanced quality of life and better financial stability. As people live longer and healthier lives, the pursuit of entrepreneurial dreams in retirement is likely to become an even more popular and rewarding choice.
Andrew Martins and Dock Treece contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.