Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs Are Solid Investment Opportunities

By Laura Reed


Seniors, who want to go into business for themselves, face a lot of hurdles. If they need venture capital, the lenders they contact are often reluctant to offer assistance. They sometimes question the retiree's age and stamina. Bankers may believe that the global marketplace is too competitive for seniors, and they worry they won't get their investment back before the senior is permanently out of the picture. Underestimating baby boomer entrepreneurs however, can result in missed opportunities.

First of all they have a lifetime of experience. The business they want to start may not be at all related to what they did in their first careers, but seniors can take the knowledge from one enterprise and apply it to a new one. Even though they may be older, most of them are not afraid of putting in the effort necessary to succeed at their latest venture.

A lot of boomers looked forward to retirement. They loved the idea of plenty of extra time to do whatever they wanted. Many of these same seniors looked around after a few months and decided they were going to die of boredom if they didn't find something useful and mentally engaging to do. They want to get out of the house and back into the workforce, on their own terms.

Most older entrepreneurs have weighed the risks associated with starting a business and decided it is worth it. They don't have as much to prove as their younger counterparts, and they are often more single minded. Their goals tend to be shorter term and more realistic. These are people who would like to get back into the working world, but they want to do something they love. It isn't just for the paycheck.

Money is important to boomers, and some of them are faced with not enough money to get them through the last part of life. For these people going back to work may be a necessity. Others are more concerned with the quality of their life and getting back the sense of accomplishment they felt before retirement.

Potential investors should consider the fact that boomers don't have the distractions that younger entrepreneurs often face. Seniors have already raised their families and been through all the childhood ailments and problems that keep young parents away from work. Boomers are ready to focus on the job at hand without having to worry about children and house payments.

Once they get the capital a lot of young entrepreneurs ignore the concerns of their investors. Older business owners understand those concerns and go out of their way to address them. These are people who have spent years in budget negotiations, annual planning meetings, and have learned how to deal with money partners. Repaying loans on time with interest is nothing new to them.

Not all boomers are interested in starting new businesses after retiring. Some are content to putter in their gardens or travel the world. Many do have commercially viable ideas and interests however, that they finally have time to explore.




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