Essential Equipment and Applications for Your Retirement Side Business: What You Absolutely Cannot Do Without
In the ever-evolving landscape of retirement, more and more seniors are choosing to "unretire" and return to work. According to a 2024 survey from ResumeBuilder.com, roughly 13% of retired seniors aged 65 to 85 plan to rejoin the workforce this year [1]. This trend is not only providing financial security but also offering purpose, alignment, and productivity in retirement.
One of the most popular tools for organising tasks in a side hustle is Todoist, a digital to-do list that can help manage your day and keep you on track [2]. Todoist offers a free Beginner plan, a Pro plan for $4/month, and a Business plan for $6/month, billed annually [3].
Financial management is another crucial aspect of a successful side hustle. Free budgeting apps can assist in managing expenses like rent and groceries, making them particularly useful for side hustle income management [4].
Marketing and content creation are essential for promoting a side hustle, and AI tools such as ChatGPT or similar generative AI platforms can help create marketing content, optimize online listings for sales platforms like Etsy or Facebook Marketplace, and generate business cards, taglines, and emails [5]. These AI tools often have freemium models, helping retirees maximize earnings with low upfront costs.
Etsy and Shopify are popular platforms for selling handmade or digital products. Etsy boasts 95.5 million active buyers in 2024, while Shopify's basic plan starts at $29/month [6]. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing and a 6.5% transaction fee, while Shopify's fees depend on the plan chosen.
Retirees can also offer their expertise on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, where they can connect with clients seeking specific skill sets [7]. Upwork charges a 10% service fee per project, while Fiverr takes 20% per gig, and Freelancer takes 10% of total earnings.
TaskRabbit is another platform where individuals can offer their services for various tasks, such as cleaning, home repairs, and assembly. Taskers set their own rates, with varying rates based on task, location, and experience [8].
For pet lovers, Rover and Wag offer opportunities for dog walking and pet-sitting services. It's free to sign up, but Rover takes a 20% commission, and Wag takes 40%. [9]
Driving and delivering groceries or passengers are other options offered by platforms like DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, Lyft, and Uber Eats. These opportunities offer flexible schedules and low start-up costs, with varying commission fees and payment structures [10].
When choosing tools for a side hustle, it's important to keep things simple and choose tools that feel approachable and build confidence. Nic Adams, co-founder and CEO at 0rcus, emphasises the importance of using just one or two tools for retirees who may feel intimidated by technology or overwhelmed by too many options [1].
Christina Muller, a Licensed Workplace Mental Health Expert and Strategist at R3 Continuum, agrees, stating that choosing tools that feel approachable and build confidence in starting a side hustle is crucial [11].
In conclusion, the rise of retirees returning to work is an exciting development, offering numerous opportunities for financial security, purpose, and productivity in retirement. By utilising the right tools and platforms, seniors can embark on a successful side hustle journey, making the most of their skills and experience.
References: [1] https://www.resumebuilder.com/blog/retiring-seniors-returning-to-work [2] https://todoist.com/ [3] https://help.todoist.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001124346-Todoist-Pricing [4] https://www.mint.com/ [5] https://chat.openai.com/ [6] https://www.etsy.com/ [7] https://www.upwork.com/ [8] https://www.taskrabbit.com/ [9] https://www.rover.com/ [10] https://www.doordash.com/ [11] https://r3continuum.com/
- Retirees can utilize digital tools like Todoist, a digital to-do list, for organizing tasks in their side hustle, helping manage their day and keep them on track.
- Financial management is essential for a successful side hustle, and budgeting apps such as Mint can assist in managing expenses like rent and groceries, making them particularly useful for side hustle income management.
- Marketing and content creation are essential for promoting a side hustle, and AI tools like ChatGPT can help create marketing content, optimize online listings, and generate business cards and emails.
- Etsy and Shopify are popular platforms for selling handmade or digital products, with Etsy boasting 95.5 million active buyers in 2024, while Shopify's basic plan starts at $29/month.
- Retirees can also offer their expertise on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, where they can connect with clients seeking specific skill sets and earn money.
- Rover and Wag offer opportunities for pet lovers to offer services such as dog walking and pet-sitting, although they take a commission fee for their services.
