Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by Dennis
The idea of running an online business may seem like a formidable task to the over 50 crowd who are unfamiliar with many technical aspects of the Internet.
Some baby boomers have had trouble learning the language of computers and the ‘net. After all, there are so many technical terms which may be totally unfamiliar to them, but are part of most people’s everyday language.
The good news is that nowadays, unlimited support is available for people over 50 who want to learn more about computers and the Internet. Plus, many tasks can be outsourced if you’re not ready to tackle them.
Starting and Running a Business for Under $30 a Month
More retirees are choosing to supplement their retirement incomes with an online business rather than enduring the astronomical costs of an offline business. The cost is low and they can set their own hours and be their own boss.
Unlike a traditional offline business, the requirements of an online business are as simple as having an idea and developing a blog and website.
All you need are a computer and an Internet connection and some knowledge of both and you’re ready to go.
There are so many types of online business which utilize the skills and experiences that seniors likely have that it can be fairly easy to find a niche that will be profitable and even fun and rewarding. And it’s cheap!
Most people in the over 50 camp simply cannot believe that you can start a business online for less than $30 a month. Especially because starting a business before the birth of the Internet usually was a multi-thousand dollar venture.
But it’s true. That’s all you’re going to pay to start your new online business.
A domain name is less than $10 per year at namecheap.com and that’s less than $1 per month!
You can get reliable web hosting for about $8 per month at HostGator. Their Hatchling
Add in a $19 a month autoresponder account for automated email follow-ups, I use and recommend GetResponse, and you’re still spending less than $25 a month on your entire business.
The remainder of tasks for your new business can be done by you – unless you choose to outsource some of the work (such as writing content). I outsource all the time at Fiverr.com for just $5-$10 a pop, on everything from social media to design and more.
And hey, if you don’t want to outsource, you can simply enlist the help of children and grandchildren whenever you get stuck.
But before you get started know this…
More than anything else, starting an online business requires discipline. If you’re used to working for a boss, you may find it difficult to set your own hours and work at your own pace – but with patience and fortitude, you can make it work.
You also have to remember that there is a lot of competition in online businesses. Your consumers will be looking for quality and value and your job is to convince them that your product is what they need.
That can be accomplished with research of your niche and offering the highest quality products you can possible provide. Put up a quality website or blog. Spending some time and even money as needed to polish your website and create interesting content will drive traffic to your site and the result will be more sales and profit.
Types of Businesses You Can Launch Online
No matter what your skills or preference, there is likely an online business that will appeal to you.
If you’re just out of retirement, it’s especially enticing to start another career or build your own business with very little startup costs and the pleasure of being your own boss.
The types of businesses from which you can choose are many and varied.
Consider your skills and experience and check out such businesses as affiliate marketing,
coaching or selling content (PLR).
If you’re into creating stuff check out Etsy.com. It’s a rapidly growing platform where
people sell really interesting things they create.
In fact, if more people know about all the great stuff on Etsy, there would be a stampede there.
Right now there’s only 4.3 Million sellers and over 60M buyers. So it’s the PERFECT TIME for you to build an income USING Etsy … AND SHOWING OTHERS how to use it.
My friends Charles and Laurel create over the shoulder videos showing you how to use platforms like Etsy.
They completed this Etsy PLR video series in 2020 you may want to grab.
Maybe you prefer to buy and sell stuff instead. If you like to buy and sell, consider using
Ebay. (I sell golf clubs all the time on Ebay and it is a breeze!)
If you have a knack for writing, you may want to consider writing reports for businesses or writing blog posts for online business owners. Free online tools are available and easy to implement and can be very powerful as a way to get you started. One of the top online demands for services on the Internet is freelance writing.
As a freelance writer, you would write articles and content and possibly propose creative ideas for future work. Most large businesses and websites prefer to outsource their writing tasks on an as-need basis, so there are enough freelance writing jobs for most everyone.
There are also ways to become a virtual assistant to a company or person or you could begin creating graphics for eBooks and other specialties. You may want to consider becoming a virtual assistant if you have experience in managing an office or projects.
As a virtual assistant, you would help businesses and people stay organized and help them complete administrative tasks. Keep in mind that your list of tasks may vary according to your client’s needs.
The growth of the Internet has made it possible for people to have a home-based business.
This is the perfect scenario for retired seniors, those with disabilities that make it difficult to commute to a job or to those who desire to create their own businesses and leave a legacy they can be proud of.
Learn more and start your own side hustle here.
To your success online, no matter what your age!