99 Businesses For RetireesPage 3 of 4If you have a tip, idea or article to share, please email us. Some of the links listed below will take you to our message forums where you can post your questions. Remember to check back frequently! 34 - JEWELRY BOXES. Make fine jewelry boxes (lined, lacquered,
inlaid, shell covered). Sell them to gift stores, catalog sales
and retail. Offer music box works as optional extras.
35 - LAPIDARY (GEM MAKING). Operate a "rock shop" in your
garage. Buy rough semi-precious material and fashion them into
beautiful stones. Sell mounted, unmounted gems and jewelry.
36 - HOME SITTING. Agree to stay in OR look after houses,
apartments while owners are away (water flowers, remove papers,
turn on lights). Call the owners in the event of emergency.
37 - RAG DOLLS. Make and sell rag, sock and similar stuffed
dolls in your own unique fashion. Attach your own label and
offer on consignment to stores in your area and nationwide.
38 - STAMP DEALING. Buy, sell and/or trade postage stamps of
the USA and/or world. Buy in bulk, sell packets, mixture sets
and singles to beginning or intermediate collectors.
39 - CANDLE MAKING.
Turn a hobby into a profitable business.
Design your own line, offer custom styling, scents and special
effects. Between orders, make a variety of items to display.
40 - PICTURE FRAMING. Make or assemble unique picture frames
for stores, artists and clients from driftwood, scraps and
unusual fabrics. Set up jigs in your shop for standard sizes.
41 - KITCHENWARE RENEWAL. Specialize in the renewal of fine
cutlery, pans and wood kitchen utensils. Refinish, install new
handles, reshape, make pieces to match missing parts of sets.
42 - OWNER'S AGENT. Check on and report condition of absentee
owner's property (whether rented or vacant). Recommend (and
arrange for, when authorized) necessary repairs or maintenance.
43 - DRIFTWOOD ART. With sandblaster or wire brush, form and
finish pieces into lamps, candle holders, plant mounts to sell.
Spend deductible "vacations" collecting your driftwood.
44 - COLLECTIONS. Accumulate collectables (glass, matchbooks,
baseball cards, comic books). Sell starter collections of lower
priced items and higher priced items as individual pieces.
45 - HOMEOPATHY. Specialize in natural remedy products and
related folklore. Provide information on "reputed" remedial
properties, but be very careful not to represent as "cures".
46 - WOODEN TOYS. Set up an assembly line to mass produce native
wood toys from your shop for large markets. Rent booths at shows
to help locate big buyers; contact mail order houses.
47 - WILDFLOWER SEEDS. In your travels, gather wildflower seeds.
Seal and label, then take home and cultivate to produce seeds
for your wild flower packets "from around the nation".
48 - BRONZING. Bronze (or pearlize) baby shoes, etc. Make
mementoes, awards and trophies. Design plaques and unique bases.
Arrange for engraved plates on your plaques.
49- FURNITURE RESALE. Select promising articles of furniture
cheap at garage sales and auctions. Clean up, do minor repairs
and sell from your home (as your own) for a nice profit.
50 - AUTO SECOND OPINION. For a fee, check customer's car to
determine repairs needed and probable cost. Provide your expert
and UNBIASED opinion. Offer list of several repair shops.
51 - RESIDENTIAL POSTCARDS. Take pictures of picturesque or
well-kept homes and make into postcards. Mail to homeowners with
offer of additional copies at a "special, reduced" price.
52 - SEWING CLASSES. When qualified, hold sewing classes in
your home. Offer full courses and special "how-to" seminars for
specific techniques. Sell material and supplies to students.
53 - BUSINESS EQUIPMENT. Buy equipment and supplies from
bankruptcy sales and auctions. Store until qualified buyers are
found, then sell at double or triple your investment.
54 - HANGING PLANTS. Specialize in hanging plants of all sizes
and descriptions. Display only when in peak condition in various
types of attractive pots, holders and hangers.
55 - MERCHANDISE APPRAISAL. When qualified, offer a "certified"
appraisal service to prospective buyers, sellers, insurance
companies and market surveyors in your field of expertise.
56 - QUILTING. Make and sell beautiful homemade quilts from
"scraps" in your "spare time". Take color photographs of each
quilt, attach your label and make up a "catalog" to show them.
57 - EQUIPMENT RENTAL. Rent out your tools and equipment (after
retirement?). Expand your rental inventory by looking for
bargains at sales and buying large items for rental contracts.
58 - CHILD PICK-UP SERVICE. Pick up and deliver client's kids
after school, theater, games. Pick-up, deliver to parties, but
charge if you have to stay with them until the parents return.
59 - CANE MAKING. Gather promising green hardwood pieces (like
hickory) and bend and shape into interesting canes. Look for
unusual shapes. Add tips, special effects and a nice finish.
60 - UNDERCOVER CRITIC. Evaluate restaurants, hotels as a
patron. Report findings to owners, head office, or compile info
for your own column or dining and accommodation guide.
61- ANTIQUE DEALING. When qualified, buy and sell bona fide
antiques from your home showroom or gallery. Visit antique
auctions regularly. Keep ads in paper to buy and sell.
62 - HERBAL AND SPICE TEA. Blend and sell different blends of
herbal teas. Include leaflets with history and folklore in each
package. Use uniquely decorated, preferably tin containers.
63 - REAL ESTATE ADVISOR. For a one-time fee, represent and
advise either the real estate buyer or the seller (real estate
agents represent neither really, they just want the sale).
64 - RENTAL AGENCY. Represent homeowners or real estate agents.
Place ads, show properties, collect rents, have repairs made,
check on renters; have units readied for new tenants.
65 - COLLECTION AGENCY. Work with one or more professional
collection agencies; solicit delinquent accounts from local
businesses. Earn a percentage of monies they collect.
66 - COOKBOOK PUBLISHING. Publish a cookbook of your own
favorite recipes (usually a catchy, interesting subject
collection). Promote and sell through appearances, ads and
stores. <<-Back | Next->> |
