So maybe you’re approaching retirement age or have already stepped back from full-time employment but are feeling bored by the extra time you have on hand. Are you planning to look for a new job? Or instead, do you see yourself on track to starting your own thing- being your own boss, building something from scratch, finally throwing yourself into something you’re passionate about? Well, if that’s your sentiment, you’re not alone. Adults over 65 are starting new businesses at a rate never seen before, and there’s lots of advice and support out there to guide you on your way. 

First, some advice. Over at Next Avenue, writer Leslie Hunter-Gadsden suggests if at all possible, begin the planning and develop the concept before you actually retire from your full-time position, to have time to test your ideas and sharpen your concept while limiting your risks when you still have an income. And if you want to broaden your exposure to a range of older entrepreneurs who have gone down the path, take a look at the examples and advice provided in the Next Avenue American Entrepreneurs section of their website.

You may also want to make sure you have a supportive community lined up when you start. As older entrepreneur and Modern Elder Academy founder Chip Conley discovered from his own experiences, “Instead of toiling to become individual business geniuses, we sought out a “scene” or group of peers to sharpen our wisdom…sometimes wisdom flourishes more in the sparks of a tightly knit supportive community.” Luckily, it seems there’s now a trend for shared work-spaces for older adults (a “WeWork” concept for more mature people) to facilitate just the sort of community bonding Conley suggests. As Kerry Hannon outlines in a recent piece in her website, the H Street Greenhouse, a co-working space for midlife entrepreneurs in the Washington DC area, is now becoming a trend and expanding to other areas, so that older entrepreneurs have a dedicated space to create, “cohabitate”, be mentored and thrive in an age-friendly environment. 

And there’s no lack of experts out there cheering you on as an older entrepreneur. Recently in Thrive Global, a successful entrepreneur, Kevin Harrington, urged budding entrepreneurs to put aside their skepticism and embrace the notion that you’re never too old to start a new venture. As Harrington said, life-experience matters in the business world and most of us have a wealth of accumulated experience once we reach an older age. Or take a look at this recent PBS profile of some older entrepreneurs who’ve been inspired by passion (or need for income) to start up something new later in life. Many have been helped and supported by the folks at Senior Planet, originally a New York-based entity that has now spread to 6 locations across the country and helps older adults acquire technology skills and savvy so that they can start their own businesses (or just become more comfortable navigating new technology platforms).

Whether you’re a novice selling your hand-made creations on Etsy, or a budding entrepreneur learning how to use LinkedIn to find kindred spirits (take a look at this video for LinkedIn beginners), don’t let your age stop you from pursuing your dreams.