Texoma Area Living Well Magazine September/October 2021 | Page 46

Self-Employment Ideas for Seniors to Take Charge of Their Destiny

By KIMBERLY BLAKER
44 • SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021

For a variety of reasons , many older Americans won ’ t retire . According to a May 29 , 2019 , report by the

U . S . Bureau of Labor Statistics , 30.2 % of Americans ages 65 to 74 are projected to be in the workforce in 2026 . While financial necessity is one big reason many people won ’ t retire , others are choosing to stay employed for as long as they can . According to Maurie Backman , in “ 3 Reasons to Work During Retirement ,” generating extra income , saving on leisure costs , and warding off depression top the reasons many seniors choose to remain in the workforce .
Still , working after retirement age doesn ’ t necessarily mean seniors are punching time clocks . According to data from the Kauffman 2017 National Report on Early-Stage Entrepreneurship , 26 % of new entrepreneurs are aged 55 to 64 years old .
So if you plan to remain in the workforce , but would like to work for yourself , there are plenty of business opportunities that don ’ t cost a bundle to get started . Here are 19 companies you can start from home , most of which require minimal to no investment .
WEDDING PLANNER . Does the idea of helping couples with one of the most important and romantic days of their lives make your heart skip a beat ? Wedding planners help couples with every aspect of their wedding and reception , from invitations and the wedding party ’ s attire to the cake , reception hall , and entertainment .
EVENT PLANNER . If you have excellent organizational and time management skills as well as business acumen , this might be the perfect fit . Event planners coordinate every aspect of a meeting or convention , and sometimes social events as well . Planners arrange the location , catering , speakers , and printed materials for events , and more .
HOME STAGING CONSULTANT . According to the real estate industry , well-staged homes sell faster and for more money . Yet , when it comes down to it , most people ’ s homes are anything but show-ready . If you like home decorating and rearranging furniture , this might be up your alley . You can either offer consulting services or do the staging yourself .