Starting a Business After 60: Why It’s Not Too Late for Teachers to Begin Again

If you’re a teacher in your 60s who feels ready to leave the long hours, heavy workload, and

constant changes behind you are probably wondering what’s next! Starting a business can give you freedom, purpose, and the joy of creating something that’s truly yours.

The terms ‘greypreneurs’ or ‘encore entrepreneurs’ refer to people who start a business later in life often after retiring from traditional careers or deciding they want more control, purpose or passion in their work.

Have you thought about starting your own business but assume that it’s too late to start a business at your age?

The short answer is absolutely not. In fact, this stage of life may be the perfect time to begin. Starting a business in your 60s can be a transformative experience that allows you to make the most of your unique insights, skills and networks. With the right strategies and mindset, this can be the best chapter of your career.

Why Age Is an Asset, Not a Barrier

There’s a common myth that entrepreneurship is only for the young. In reality, people over 50 are twice as likely to succeed in business than those in their 20s. And the reason is of course experience. Experience = wisdom.

Think about everything you’ve done as a teacher and all those transferable skills that you have  that many younger entrepreneurs are still trying to develop. 

• Communication and public speaking.

• Problem-solving, adaptability and resilience

• Organisation and time management.

• Project management

• The ability to motivate, mentor, and inspire others.

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You also bring credibility. After years of shaping young minds, your voice carries weight. Clients and customers trust someone with a proven track record of commitment and reliability.

What’s Different About Starting a Business Later in Life

Starting a business after 60 doesn’t look the same as it might for someone 30 years younger. And that’s a good thing.

At this stage, it’s not always about chasing financial success or building an empire. It’s about creating something meaningful, flexible, and aligned with the life you want to live.

You may want:

• A part-time venture that fits around family, hobbies, and travel.

• An online business that gives you location freedom.

• A way to share your skills without the stress of full-time teaching.

The beauty of this season of life is that you get to design your business on your terms.

Business Ideas That Suit Experienced Teachers

Teachers have so many transferable skills that lend themselves to entrepreneurship. Here are some options:

• Coaching or mentoring: Helping other teachers, students, or career changers with careers guidance and support.

• Tutoring or teaching: Online or face-to-face, with the freedom to choose your clients and schedule.

• Creating teaching resources or online courses: Package your knowledge into materials that sell worldwide.

• Consulting: Offer advice to schools, educational businesses, or community organisations.

• Writing or editing: Share your insights in blogs, e-books, or freelance projects.

• Lifestyle-based ventures: Turn passions like gardening, crafts, yoga, or cooking into workshops, products or courses

The key is to start with something that uses both your expertise and your interests.

Practical Considerations

Starting a business is not easy, there is a huge learning curve. With online businesses there are lots of tools and platforms that you will have to learn to use, and these platforms change frequently.

It’s a great opportunity to learn new things and challenge yourself. You will create new neural pathways and keep your brain active – important as we get older.

Of course, starting a business requires planning. A few tips to make it smoother:

• Start small. Test your idea before investing money or too much time into it.

• Embrace digital tools and learn the basics. Marketing, social media, and finance can seem daunting, but there are countless free tools and short courses  to get you started. You tube and Chat GPT will become your best friends

• Manage risk. Build your business alongside your retirement plan — it doesn’t have to replace it.

• Seek support. Business networks, mentors, and even online communities can provide guidance and encouragement.

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Mindset Shifts You’ll Need

Leaving teaching and stepping into business requires a new mindset:

• Let go of the old retirement model. You don’t have to fade quietly into retirement, you can reinvent yourself Increasing life spans and good health mean that many of us spend longer in our retirement than previous generations.

• Shift your mindset from employee to entrepreneur. You’re not waiting for instructions anymore; you’re creating your own path.

• A common concern of older potential business owners is that they are not tech-savvy enough. You don't need to be a tech genius to run a business today. Tools are more user- friendly than ever, and there's a wealth of free resources available to help you learn. A good tip is to focus on learning one tool at a time. Start with what's essential – like setting up a website or managing social media and build from there.

• Reframe mistakes, because you will make them, as learning. Just as you tell students that errors are part of progress, the same applies here.

•  Believe in yourself and acknowledge that your experience is an advantage. Your life skills, wisdom, and credibility are all assets .

  
  

 As someone who started my own business after 60 here’s a bit of extra advice from ME.

• Look at it as a passion project not your means of financial security.

• Avoid tapping into your retirement savings to make it work.

• Be prepared to learn about marketing, social media, lead magnets, scheduling etc and constantly update your skills as platforms change.

• Take advantage of free online trainings and tools as you start out. You can upgrade later when you are generating the money to cover it.

• Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of working when and how you desire.

• You already have the skills. What you need is the courage to take the first step.

  
  

If you’re not quite sure if business is for you or if you’d like help exploring your other options and discovering how your teaching skills can translate into a new business or career, I’ve created a free guide: “10 Steps to Find Out What Else You Can Do With Your Teaching Skills and Experience.”

👉 Download it here

Your next chapter is waiting and it might just be your most exciting one yet.