Why Investing In Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs Makes Good Sense

By Laura Reed


When enterprising seniors, seeking money to start a new business, meet with financial investors, those lenders have a lot of questions. They will not say so, but they are considering the senior's age and ability to repay any loan. Bankers sometimes have prejudices when it comes to the ability of older citizens to compete in a global marketplace. These lenders often underestimate baby boomer entrepreneurs and their commitment.

First of all they have a lifetime of experience. The business they want to start may not be at all related to what they did in their first careers, but seniors can take the knowledge from one enterprise and apply it to a new one. Even though they may be older, most of them are not afraid of putting in the effort necessary to succeed at their latest venture.

A lot of boomers looked forward to retirement. They loved the idea of plenty of extra time to do whatever they wanted. Many of these same seniors looked around after a few months and decided they were going to die of boredom if they didn't find something useful and mentally engaging to do. They want to get out of the house and back into the workforce, on their own terms.

Most older entrepreneurs have weighed the risks associated with starting a business and decided it is worth it. They don't have as much to prove as their younger counterparts, and they are often more single minded. Their goals tend to be shorter term and more realistic. These are people who would like to get back into the working world, but they want to do something they love. It isn't just for the paycheck.

Some seniors have found that retiring means downsizing and budgeting in areas where they never had to before. These older individuals may feel some pressure to bring in extra money. Others just want to feel a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. They are less concerned about the paycheck than the excitement.

Seniors have the advantage of being more single minded than younger workers. Their children have grown and are no longer the cause for time and attention away from the job. Many have gotten into the habit of going to bed and getting up early in order to get a fresh start on the day.

As an investor in a senior owned business, you want to feel assured your concerns are taken seriously. Boomers know all about budgeting, paying back loans with interest, business plans, and quarterly reviews. Many of them have been through it all before. You will have a partner who understands your bottom line and will appreciate your participation and interest in this new venture.

Not all boomers are interested in starting new businesses after retiring. Some are content to putter in their gardens or travel the world. Many do have commercially viable ideas and interests however, that they finally have time to explore.




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