101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than One Thousand Dollars: For Retirees

Entrepreneurial endeavors are on the rise and this informational guide will undoubtedly provide a great resource to those interested in jumping on the bandwagon.

Throughout the entire text, the authors take individuals step by step. The process begins with the positives and negatives involved in self-employment. A list of reasons to start a business is included and a list of resources to help is thrown into the mix.

The two most helpful sections of this text are the self evaluation and the lists of business to start. The self evaluation walks the reader through a list of simple checklists on marketing, sales, administration, finances, and person characteristics. As you go through these checklists, you can easily see how qualified you are to start your own business. Once you’re ready to move on, the guide gives a worksheet on calculating income needs and overhead costs; a checklist for building groundwork ends the self assessment.

Extensive detail is put into the two business chapters of this book. For anywhere between $0 and $1000, you can jump into any of the opportunities listed. Each employment option includes the duties and education necessary, the income possibilities, the required equipment, the business base, and the clientele.

Without a doubt, this is a fabulous resource!

Rating: 4 / 5

I am no where near retirement age, but with my parents getting closer and closer to that phase out stage I am increasingly aware of the need for them to have something that they can call their own. An income producing business that will allow them the flexibility of long vacations visiting the grandkids, or just weekends off when they need it.

Heather L. Shepard comes to the rescue with her timely book, “101 Businesses you can start for less than One Thousand Dollars for Retirees”. This book is informative while telling it like it is. Starting your own business is not easy and you are not going to get rich quick. And this is a good way to start the book because it’s been my experience that any book that makes making money sound simple will not deliver between the covers. The meat of Ms. Shepard’s book does not fail to deliver. Ms. Shepard gives an honest look into starting your own home business and goes on to give a step- by- step guideline for getting it done. She first explores whether or not starting a home business is what you should even attempt. After all not everyone is able to manage himself or herself. She then goes on to tell, in detail, how to do it. This is refreshing as so many how to books tell you what to do, but fall short on the “how to do”.

The text is presented in a readable format that won’t leave retirees bored or re-reading paragraphs over and over trying to pick apart the meaning. I am sure that this alone will make this book popular amongst the retiree set. My parents, who love to read, do not enjoy wasting their time trying to dissect verbose paragraphs that lead to nowhere.

The personal profiles presented in the book were a nice addition as well. Ms. Shepard gives an in depth look into how these people took their businesses from concept to reality. The profiles were interesting to read and encouraging to any retiree who is not quite ready to hang up their “work shoes”.

What makes this book a jewel is that Ms. Shepard then goes on to give ideas for the kinds of businesses that retirees can start and provides detailed information on how much it will cost, how much you can expect to make, and how much time and energy you will have to put into making a go at each prospective business. She also references helpful websites and organizations that retirees can use for guidance.

This book is a must have for anyone who is ready to call their own shots.
Rating: 5 / 5

Sandy Eckert

Book Review 101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than $1,000: For Retirees ***** (5 stars)

101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than $1,000: For Retirees is not an all-you-have-to-do-is-dream how-to. It is a well organized succinct book that tells retirees how to consider, invest in, open and operate a business based on an enjoyed activity, often a hobby. It is a think-invest-work book.

In good old plain English author Heather L. Shepherd describes every aspect of setting yourself up in business, from the pros and cons of self-employment and business plan to financing and expanding your retirement career.

That business plan can make or break you, writes Shepherd. In fact, “business plans are the most essential part of getting your business off the ground and in finding funding for your business.” A lender won’t even talk to you until seeing a business plan that contains all essential information, which Shepherd spells out clearly.

Of course you might not need a loan to start your business, but each element in a business plan will keep you on track, will remind you of your goals so you don’t go off on a tangent.

Shepherd’s two chapters that list business ideas are divided into those with start-up costs between $0 and $500 and those with start-ups ranging from $500 to $1,000. She also includes a list of what you need to start particular enterprises and how much annual income you can expect from each. For instance, if you want to be a cake decorator, you will need the proper kitchen tools in addition to the usual items, like telephone, fax, invoices and other necessities, and you can expect to make between $5,000 and $25,000 a year.

In those chapters listing business possibilities there are several you might not think of, like astrology, animal breeder and disc jockey. Every chapter also includes at least one success story that consist of hows, whys, highs and lows of people’s businesses.

Overall, the step-by-step, clear instructions for every aspect of starting an inexpensive retirement business make this book a must-have for the new business person.

Rating: 5 / 5