The USA has millions of small businesses run by enterprising third agers, very often operating from their own homes. It is a model that could so easily be replicated in the UK given the need, particularly with the uncertain times ahead when many retirees are likely to find their pensions inadequate for their future needs.

So popular are retirement businesses in Florida in particular, that one enterprising gentleman has retired purely to set up his own Retirement Brokerage  to satisfy the demand from fellow retirees looking for small businesses that could be run on a part-time basis from their own homes.

For reasons ranging from economic necessity to the desire to remain fit, healthy and socially active, millions of American retirees now operate small, part-time business from spare rooms or converted garages.

Businesses including one-chair nail, hair and beauty salons, local property management businesses, building maintenance and gardening services, dog walking and child-minding, provide a valuable service to the local community and a modest income to subsidise an existing pension. These ‘mom and pop’ businesses as they are called in America, provide an experienced and willing workforce working flexible hours offering services that may not economically viable for those with growing families to support, but which are ideal for those who simply wish to augment the likes of a modest pension.

Whether an extension of a previous career but operated on a more limited basis, or a new field entirely, the same opportunities exist in the UK for equally enterprising retirees who wish to subsidise their existing income, continue to be active in their local community, and put to good use knowledge and experience gained from a lifetime of work.

So if you are retired and wish to set up your own small business, whether out of economic necessity, the need to fill time or the desire to pass on or make use of your experience, the opportunities have never been greater.

And if you do, do please let us know!

Editor, Third Age.