People Thinking of Retirement Should Instead Think About Becoming Entrepreneurs
Have you thought about what to do when you retire from the workforce? Are you even considering retirement at all? If you are one of those who makes a big deal out of retirement then you might as well consider becoming an entrepreneur to maintain your income.
There is a louder buzz about senior workers preferring to start a business as soon as they reach their retirement years than just walk around the house thinking about what to get them busy with aside from watching TV or playing golf. Hard to believe? Well, according to the nonprofit AARP Public Policy Institute, in 2008, 21% of the self-employed were between 55 and 64, while 10% were 65 and older.
Follow Your Dreams and Start a Business in Retirement
It’s never too late to fulfill a dream. This is what many of today’s senior workers believe after they’ve convinced themselves that starting a business they are so passionate about when they retire is a good opportunity to invest time, energy, and savings.
Choosing the right franchise or business can be a challenge but one should look at the latest trends in franchising to determine what is a good fit for them
Take the case of Marilyn Grazioli, 59, a nursing supervisor at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital in Ferndale, Michigan, who resigned from her job to put up a knitting store using 401(k) and retirement funds to start her business. “I had been knitting since I was 9, and I always had a dream to work with fibers,” she said. Of course, Grazioli had to plan for her move. She took up the hospital system’s career transition training, including two workshops on entrepreneurship, to arm herself with technical know-how on becoming an entrepreneur.
Hottest Franchise Businesses of 2010
There is no stopping the franchise industry from booming these days and telling the business world their time has finally come. In recent years, franchising has been hugely responsible in bringing 18 million jobs and is expected to add more by 2010 with a staggering 36,000 opportunities, according to the Franchise Business Economic Outlook.
Unlike before where franchising seems to be limited to people who have strong entrepreneurial background, the industry has now began opening its doors to more individuals of different interests through their simplified franchise models. In fact, even retirees are now encouraged to get involved in operating a franchise business to maintain their income stream. Additionally, the industry has greatly evolved with several newer healthy franchise concepts to cater the changing needs of people and keep up with the current trends in the economy.
Operate a Franchise in Retirement and You Will Live Longer
Working can be a great stress reliever for older workers when done in proper moderation. This probably explains why more and more people are deciding to continue being part of the labor industry even after their retirement years.
According to AARP, one in every six seniors is part of the work force over the past 25 years, and one of their recent surveys showed that nearly 70 percent of boomers plan on working into their 70′s, giving a clear indication that the number of working seniors are rapidly growing. But are there enough retirement jobs for this population nowadays?
Finance a Franchise with Your 401(k) Plan
If there is an ample answer on how to reduce the growing rate of unemployment, it is in starting a small business that would maintain a stream of income. But many experts would say that it isn’t wise to invest all your hard-earned on a business because if it doesn’t work, all your savings can go down the drain in a snap.
Good news is, there are now several companies that have successful franchising models to fit an investor’s financial capabilities, allowing them to jump in with complete assistance in operating their franchise. But the next question is always: where to get the funds that would finance the business?
Healthy Restaurants Growing in America
Summer break is nearly over and as students make their way back to schools, parents are once again faced with the dilemma of whether to pack healthy lunch and snacks for their kids or let schools do the servings of healthy meals in the cafeteria. The great news is: schools are just as conscious as parents are in terms of the students’ health. In fact, in between the summer vacation, school administrators have busied themselves with concocting healthy menus to add on the students’ plates.
Meanwhile, along with the increased consciousness of schools, parents, and students in championing a healthy nation, healthy restaurants are also growing in numbers. And a good addition to these healthy eateries is Muscle Maker Grill, which can package a quick, great tasting lunch that kids can take to school as well as dinners that can be picked up on the way home from after-school activities.
Top Franchise Trends of the Year
Franchising is a serious business. One does not take the risk of spending money to get a franchise without hoping to recoup the expenses, or at the very least, one does not attempt to engage in franchising without proper knowledge of how to run the franchised business. While passion is an important element to succeed in the industry, it takes a good training that’s highly focused in the ins and outs of franchising to ensure complete success.
From the result of DC Strategy Research ‘Prospective Franchisee Surveys’ over the past two years, some important trends were highlighted in the franchising world, one of which shows that the group that experienced the biggest growth are those coming from a corporate background, whereas those with moderate business have chosen to tighten their belt to keep up with the recent economic slowdown. Laid off husbands and wives have also become big candidates for franchising and are by the fastest growing segment of franchise purchasers. Franchise areas that are seeing the fastest growth involve fitness franchises and other offerings related to healthy eating especially in the fast food natural and organic segments.
Business Opportunities That are Making a Positive Impact on Kids
To keep our children healthy, we must as well keep them active. And by that we mean introducing them to sports at an early age, not only to make them appreciate various sporting activities and develop their social skills, but more so to develop their overall personality. While parents are more at peace keeping their children in the confines of their home, there are just some areas in a child’s personality that are best developed when s/he’s actively engaged in sports.
This is what Sporty Beans, sports based programme provider from Pune for preschool and primary school kids, had in its agenda when it opened its business franchise model at the FRO Indore show. Currently, the company runs 1 center which has achieved an enrollment of 80 students and is expecting to hit 150 by the end of the year. A second center is now in the process of taking admission and readying its facility in welcoming incoming students eager to participate in Sporty Beans’ program that includes the 8-ball based sports namely Soccer, Golf, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Cricket, Hockey and Volleyball.
Healthy Franchises are the Hottest Trend in Franchising
Energy Kitchen is known for its nutritious menu with the simple principle of “anything below 500 calories” and its stable array of health-conscious customers since its founding in 2004. And now the establishment is making another remarkable achievement after signing a development agreement for three restaurants in Westchester County, N.Y., as part of the business’ national expansion plan which eyes for the addition of 1,000 locations in the next ten years.
True to form, more and more people are now starting to embrace a healthy lifestyle and the increasing healthy franchises among health-centric-themed restaurants validate the fact that people are becoming more aware about the impact of healthful food in their lives. And Energy Kitchen is one foolproof of this progressive phenomenon.