November is Entrepreneurship Month
Retirees are encouraged to turn to the internet to make money in order to help supplement their golden years
After retirement, 51% of South Africans cannot make ends meet, this is according to the annual Sanlam Benchmark Survey. Increasingly, retirees are having to embark on a second career or start a small business after they formally leave work. Even for those who save carefully, it is challenging to live comfortably for 30 years on only a small percentage of your salary from the previous 40.
During Entrepreneurship Month, which runs each year in November, retirees are being encouraged to turn to the internet to make money to help supplement their golden years; “The web allows a flexible schedule and the ability to work from home, perfect for someone who doesn’t want to face traffic or needs a reduced work day. All you need is an internet connection and an online presence to get started,” says head of local hosting company 1-grid.com, Thomas Vollrath.
When it comes to how to make additional income online, Vollrath says the key is to think about what skills you have to offer and then use online targeting to tap into a niche market. He offers the following ideas for post-retirement careers:
Homestay host or tour guide
Retirees make for excellent Airbnb or homestay hosts and tour guides for their cities. An online presence where people can read about you, see some testimonials and get a sense of your experience goes a long way for establishing trust.
Online store owner
With a simple website, you can set up a virtual store selling crafts, refurbished electronics, collectables or antiques. If you are business-minded you can find and resell excess stock from a local factory for a profit.
Home-based services
Turn a hobby into a home-based career by offering cooked meals, baby or pet sitting, repairs or short courses from home. All of these services can be managed, booked and paid upfront for online.
Blogger
Setting up a well-designed blog able to host revenue-generating adverts is very affordable. Depending on your skills, you can blog about anything from gardening to business strategy, carpentry or cooking. Affiliate programmes, where you earn commission on sales for goods mentioned on your blog, are another way to generate income. The New York Times recently ran a feature on the glamourous grannies of Instagram – with a bit of pizazz, you could even become a celebrity!
Internet usage is not only a means of topping up savings and being entrepreneurial into one’s eighties, it is also strongly associated with lower rates of depression among the elderly. Research published in leading medical and psychological journals has shown that social networks and support that can be found online lifts mood and keeps retirees busy and engaged well after they leave the office.
With a focus on the SMB market in South Africa, 1-grid.com offers domain, web and email hosting, SSL certification, website design, website building and online marketing expertise to their customers. “We want to make having an online presence easy for South African entrepreneurs and small business owners, regardless of their age and tech know how. Our packages come with great support for those who find online business daunting, including a website builder that is very easy and intuitive to use,” says Vollrath.
If this article was of interest, consider reading the following:
The unique challenges of Retirement: Challenge #2 – Working in retirement
https://youve-earned-it.co.za/entrepreneurs/rent-a-room-and-supplement-your-pension/
It is not a good idea to rent a room out to somebody. It is not safe. Especially older people are vulnerable. IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA to rent a room in ones house.
I’ve heard of terrible things regarding taking in people. They rob you and you can even be murdered. Even if I need money, this is the route I would NEVER take, especially in this climate of crime, etc., etc.
Dear Elaine
Thanks for your input. We do respect everyone’s point of view, and in this case, it’s quite interesting that we have just received a mail from a YEI reader who would like to tell other YEI readers their experience of this very topic, and in their case, it’s very positive. But you are quite right, one does need to be particularly cautious when taking people into their homes, and conduct the right checks, especially when you are vulnerable as a senior.
Warm regards
YEI
I have been transporting children to school and back for the past 3 years. Now I sell Various bottled foodstuffs and have ventured into making home cooked meals, which is growing nicely.
Would like other retired people to join in selling hone made goodies. We could start a website advertise what we sell.
Hi
I would very much like to join and sell homemade gherkins, marmalade and other home baked items.
Please let me know more.
Hi there I’m also making and selling concentrate Homemade Ginger beer and it’s a bit of a substitute for the pension I get , I would love to second your idea of forming a group to encourage and also build or grow our home small busineses.
I participate in on line surveys.sometimes they can be tedious, however it is an easy way to earn some money. Well actually not money per se but vouchers from various companies and airtime. They are Valued Opinions, Tell us about it, Enlighten
Hi
I am retiring at the end of January 2019 and found myself in this very position. I actually cannot afford to retire. Please advise how I can become part of a group to earn a means,of living.
Kind regards
I would like to do translating from Afrikaans to English or visa versa ,how do I go about it, Alternatively start a club for Senior Citizens where we arrange bus trips for short holidays or breakaways within the borders of South Africa. I don’t want it to be a dating club on line, I just want to have people having fun, relaxing and get to meet others of within a group of their age and genre. Could someone out there please give me advice on how and where to start
Regards
Hi Ricky
Watch this space re club for senior citizens…
Re translating from Afrikaans to English – our recommendation is to start small – advertise your services on Facebook community pages and business pages in the first instance.
Kind regards,
YEI
How about having a shuttle service for school children having to go from their home to their school that is rather out of the way especially where there is no City Bus Service available nearby
HI Annette
A lovely idea for retirees with the right qualifications, insurance and PDP licence. And very helpful to young families too.
Regards, YEI
Ek wil n skoolboek publiseer as hulpmiddel vir persone of leetders wat nie toegang het tot internet of biblioteke nie. Dit loop hand aan hand met die Caps Curriculum wat in Suid Afrika gebruik word.
I would like to transport parcels of children to school…..freelance work
Starting a scholar transport service can be a rewarding way to earn extra income, but because it involves the safety of children, it is heavily regulated. In South Africa, scholar transport is classified legally as a form of public transport. You will need specific legal qualifications, documentation, and vehicle standards.
1. Driver Qualifications & Personal Documents Valid Driver’s Licence: The appropriate class of licence depending on the vehicle used (e.g., Code B for a standard car/minibus, or Code C1 / EC1 for a larger bus or midi-bus).Professional Driving Permit (PDP): This is compulsory for anyone driving a vehicle that transports passengers for a fare.
To obtain a PDP, the driver must: Be at least 21 years old. Pass a medical examination and eye test. Obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (proving no criminal record, which is strictly enforced since you will be working closely with children). Driving Experience: While a specific number of years is not always numerically fixed by law, a clean driving record and defensive driving experience are crucial for insurance and parent peace of mind.
2. Vehicle and Operational Requirements. Operating Licence (Permit): You cannot just start driving children informally. You must apply for a Public Operating Licence for Learner Transport through the provincial Transport Regulatory Entity/Board. Operating without this risks heavy fines and vehicle impoundment. Roadworthy Certificate: The vehicle must be regularly tested and certified as roadworthy. Passenger Liability Insurance: Specialized commercial insurance that covers passengers in the event of an accident is essential. Standard personal car insurance typically does not cover paid passenger transport. Vehicle Capacity Limits: Overloading is illegal and dangerous. Every child must have their own seat and seatbelt. 3. Practical Experience & Business Skills. First Aid Certification: While not always legally mandated for standard car transport, having a basic first-aid qualification is a massive selling point for parents and vital for child safety. Reliability and Punctuality: Managing multiple school drop-off and pick-up times requires strict time-management and route planning. Communication Skills: Building trust with parents (often via WhatsApp groups for updates and emergencies) is key to growing and maintaining a client base. You would need to visit your local provincial Department of Transport office or traffic department to pick up the application forms and checklists for a PDP and a Scholar Transport Operating Licence.
Hope that helps.
The YEI Team