This article is a guest post by Carla Lopez, owner & CEO of Boomer Biz.
Some retirees want nothing more than to relax and enjoy not having any serious commitments. Others feel like something is missing when they stop working. In the past, the only options were to either find a job or get by without one. Thanks to digital technology, seniors now have a third option: you can start your own business from home.
Unlike traditional small businesses, home-based businesses are easy to start with very little capital. Plus, you have the flexibility to work from home if mobility is a challenge, but you can also be a digital nomad and work from anywhere your heart desires! Investopedia defines digital nomads as “people who are location-independent and use technology to perform their job.”
Brainstorm the Best Ideas
If this sounds like the kind of retirement business you’d like, the place to start is with an idea. One option is to turn a hobby into a business. According to Business.com, the most important thing is to make sure your hobby is marketable. Do you make something that you can sell through your own website or an online marketplace? Or, do you have a skill that’s in demand, such as photography, writing, or graphic design?
Of course, you don’t have to start with a hobby to form a business. As long as you’re willing to learn, anyone can start an e-commerce business without having a specific hobby or skill.
Research the Latest Technology
Once you narrow down an idea, the next step is to develop a business plan and research what it will take to run your business successfully. To be a digital nomad, the main things you need are the right digital tools and apps. These are just a few of our favorites for getting started.
A Current Smartphone
You may need a laptop or tablet to do some work, but digital nomads also use their smartphones to get all kinds of business tasks done. This includes communication basics such as making calls and sending texts and emails. It also includes being able to run the latest apps for tasks like marketing and updating your website. In order to use your phone effectively, make sure you have a good data plan too. We suggest finding a provider that offers flexible or unlimited plans so you don’t run into costly overage charges.
Apps for Efficiency
When you start your own home-based business, it’s likely that you’ll be running a one-person show. This is why apps that increase efficiency are ideal because they help you get more done. One type of service we recommend is to use voice recording software. These services are easy to access online, and most provide free audio recordings for whatever you need. You can record podcasts for your marketing efforts or meetings you have with collaborators. While recording services are typically free, you can often pay a small fee to get your recordings transcribed.
We also love apps that increase efficiency by solving some of mundane but annoying parts of running a business. For example, Forbes recommends the app 1Password to keep track of passwords without compromising security, as well as the app Todoist for keeping up with everything you need to accomplish.
Cloud Storage Solutions
Of course, in order to get work done from any location, you need access to your files from wherever you are. According to Business News Daily, online data storage is one of the most important tech tools small businesses need to get started. There are lots of options out there, so compare the different services on the market to find the one that best fits your needs.
Running any business, even a home-based business in retirement, always takes work. The great thing about digital technology, though, is that it makes your work easier and more productive. This means all you really need are the right tools, and you can work from the comfort of your couch, a corner coffee shop, or a country halfway around the world!
Carla Lopez retired a couple of years ago, but she didn’t lose her entrepreneurial spirit. She created Boomer Biz for retirees like herself who still have a desire to work and achieve. The site is a resource for people in their golden years who want to start their own business or go back to work doing what they love.