Small Business Articles

Great Small Business Opportunities For Retirees

October 01, 2008
Retirement is not always an easy thing to adjust to, particularly for those who have worked hard at their jobs their whole lives. Many people have the strange idea that leaving the work force means retiring from life, resorting to sitting on the front porch and whittling until the end. But that doesn’t have to be your story if you don’t want it to. Among the numerous options available to the retiree with newfound time on his hands, starting a small business franchise is an excellent way to stay occupied, continue doing some good in the world, and make some money in the process. If the opportunity to operate your own franchise instead of whittling on your porch sounds attractive, here are a few business opportunities you should give some serious consideration to.

HomeTeam Inspection Service

The home inspection industry is in full bloom right now, making it the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in a new small business, even the retiree, and there is no better way to go than HomeTeam Inspection Service. With 300 franchises already in operation across the country, their system has more than proven its mettle in the industry, and for very good reason. What sets HomeTeam Inspection Service apart from the competition is the way that they do inspection. Instead of having one inspector scouring a home, they work in teams, covering more ground simultaneously and double-checking each other’s work. And since this is a work from home business, franchisees get to make their own schedule, accepting only those jobs that they wish to.

Cruise Planners LLC

The next best thing to going on vacation is planning incredible vacations for others, and, as luck would have it, that’s also one of the most profitable small businesses around. Riding high on the travel-industry wave, Cruise Planners LLC is one of the best companies among travel agencies, having been deemed the #1 franchise in their class by Entrepreneur Magazine for the last 5 years. In part, this success is due to a central staff dedicated to helping franchisees in any way possible, including the development of custom franchisee websites which help bring in clients in a specific area, clients that the franchisee never has to share with the central headquarters or other franchises.

Housewarmers

This business for sale is a rare opportunity to get out into the community and meet people while turning a profit. Franchisees create welcome bags for newcomers to their neighborhood, providing them with a variety of goods and coupons from nearby businesses, which is one of the best forms of advertising a company can get. The franchisee has the rare privilege of helping to acquaint people with their new surroundings, while simultaneously making money from the sales of this rare and novel advertising method.

All About Honeymoons

It is estimated that 99% of all newlyweds take a honeymoon, and for 96% of them, this means traveling to a fun or exotic destination. What’s more, this last year alone saw a 30% rise in destination weddings, marking the growing interest in that idea as well. The time is right to be in the business of honeymoon-planning and destination weddings, which is exactly what All About Honeymoons does. Franchisees with a background in business management, the ability to follow a proven system, and the desire to help people toward the best trips of their lives are precisely the kind of people that this quickly growing home based business is looking for.

Furniture Medic

This is the perfect business opportunity for the handy retiree. An owner/operator franchise business, Furniture Medic is the world’s largest and most appreciated name in the furniture repair and restoration industry. Franchisees are taught the ins and outs of repairing and cleaning damaged leather and wooden furniture, as well as leather car interiors, restoring them to their original beauty. Even if a potential franchisee has no experience with leather and woodworking, the franchisor can provide the necessary training to quickly get the franchisee into a very under-saturated market.

Real Property Management

One of the most recognizable names in the property management industry, Real Property Management provides franchisees with an entirely turnkey system, offering everything from a business model and manuals down to business cards and letterheads. The goal is to get franchisees into the market fast because, as it stands, 30% of today’s real estate sales are uninhabited by their buyers, and far too many of those are owned by people who don’t even live in the same region as the property. The time is perfect for property management success. And even as times change, this exceptional franchisor continues to chart the market and adapt their procedures, so franchisees will never be left in the cold with an out-of-date business plan.

These are some of the best businesses open to a driven retiree, but really, the business opportunities for someone in the retirement years are as plentiful and varied as they are for anyone else. What the decision really comes down to is the individual deciding exactly what he does or does not want to do. Successful business is the merging of one person’s passion and another person’s need, so find the public needs that you’re passionate about.
October 01, 2008