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Explore Self-Employment After 50

Millions of older adults are turning to self-employment for flexibility and help making ends meet.


spinner image Andrew Ziccardi Work for Yourself @50+
Andrew Ziccardi had a great idea to help seniors with hand-strength issues. Work for Yourself@50+ put him on the road to success.

For many older adults, self-employment can mean more flexibility and independence. For others, it's a way to earn extra income that helps them make ends meet. If you've ever thought about starting your own business, picking up gig work, or becoming an independent contractor, it could be time for you to take the next step.

Get Started With Work for Yourself@50+

Older entrepreneurs are brimming with ideas, but they sometimes need help getting those ideas off the ground. Entrepreneurs like Andrew Ziccardi, who came up with a great solution for seniors with hand-strength issues but didn’t know how to take his idea from concept to production. Our free Work for Yourself@50+ workshop put him on a path to success.

Andrew’s product is now for sale in hardware stores and pharmacies in Illinois, as well as on Amazon — an exciting development that he hopes will soon enable him to turn his side hustle into a going concern. “I will pursue this to where I’m successful enough to either pass it on to my children, sell the company, or be semi-retired and work on other projects,” Andrew says. “That’s my dream.”

Not sure you have what it takes to launch your own business? Work for Yourself@50+ can help you gain the confidence to succeed. Even if you’re living on a limited income, our free workshops, tools, and resources make it easy to explore self-employment and decide if it’s right for you.

Whether you have a rough idea you want to develop or are curious about what owning a business is like, our free entrepreneurship workshop maps out everything you need to know about what it takes to start your own business, along with guidance and support to help you succeed.

Discover the World of Side Hustles

Not ready to be a business owner? A growing number of older adults are working all kinds of side hustles — gig, freelance, or contract jobs — even in retirement.

The Freelancing Resource Center is your full-service destination for free workshops, webinars, tips, and job postings. Here you can:

  • Learn the difference between gig work, freelancing, and contract jobs.
  • Find out how to make extra cash with a side hustle.
  • Explore remote and in-person gigs.

Whether you need extra cash to pay the bills or flexible hours that free you up to care for loved ones, we've got tips and guidance to help you find the side hustle that works best for you.

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Explore Your Self-Employment Options

Curious about starting your own business or making extra cash with a side hustle? Find helpful support and resources you can trust from Work for Yourself@50+.