The decades you spent at a job you (hopefully) loved have paid off. Now that youre retired, you are completely in charge of how you spend your free time. The years you spent building and recalculating your nest egg will allow you the means to live comfortably in this next chapter of your life.

Theres a whole host of things you can do now that youre retired. From traveling to those faraway places youve been meaning to visit or to writing that book youve been talking about for the last 20 years, your time has come. Still, some seniors find themselves feeling restless in retirement, and eager to carve their own path back into the workforce. If youre thinking of starting your own business, youll want to do so without sacrificing the financial health plan that youve worked so hard on. Your next move will take some planning and determination, but you can do it.

 

Using What Youve Got

Starting a small or home-based business based on what you already know allows you to get started more quickly. Rather than working off a steep learning curve, you can quickly build a business in a field youre already familiar with. Perhaps you spent a decade helping small businesses reach new customers with creative branding campaigns. You probably amassed quite a large network by now, so why not leverage your previous work experience and contacts to create your own coaching or consulting business? You could also turn to a hobby youre passionate about, whether it be quilting, crafting or baking, and developing a home business. Odds are, youve got friends who are fans of your artisanal skills who would love to be your first customers and who will refer your business to others.

Trying Something New

If youve exhausted the list of business ideas that play well off of what youre already good at, you might consider some additional training for a new type of job or doing something different altogether. Now is the time to explore whatever it is that excites you. If you do decide to go for additional training or certifications, youll be in good company. New Retirement reports, According to the Department of Education, more than a half million men and women over 50 are part- or full-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs in the United States. Many more seniors engage in training programs and other vocational education. If you want to explore a new path, consider a switch to a field like real estate. You can do so with relatively little investment in time and money. Being your own agent allows you a flexible schedule, though you may have to work some evenings and weekends as youre starting out.

 

Make Smart Financial Choices

 

Whether you decide to start a business venture in a field you know or in unexplored territory, its important to take steps to budget wisely for your expenses. Youve worked hard your whole career to set yourself up financially in retirement, so you dont want to blow through your savings for the sake of starting something new. It may be worth exploring your borrowing options. The Small Business Administration may be a good place to start, or you could consider getting a personal loan. Also be sure youre keeping costs low however you can. Working from a home office will be less expensive than renting a space to work. Buying materials you need for handmade products in bulk will cut your costs, as will selling your products online via platforms like Etsy or Ebay rather than having a store front. Think about simple ways you can save even a few bucks here and there – those savings will really add up and keep you from having to dip into your hard-earned savings.

Now that youre retired, the world is at your fingertips. You can make anything happen, including starting your own part- or full-time business. The first steps are deciding whether to go with something youre familiar with or a brand new adventure, and then budget accordingly.