Practical guidance, tools, and insights to help you start,
sustain, and grow a solo business.

This Hub is here to help you:

    • Think clearly about what you want to build
    • Plan realistically based on your skills, time, and priorities
    • Choose tools and strategies that fit your goals—not someone else’s playbook

Use what’s useful now. Come back as your needs evolve.

Common Solo Businesses 

Consulting, advisory, freelance, creative, contract, and other service businesses are common solo models.

They’re often lower risk, easier to start, and well suited to changing priorities so you can start where you are and grow intentionally.

How to Use This Hub

This Hub supports you as you explore, start, or grow a solo business. It doesn’t prescribe a single path.

    • There’s no start-to-finish checklist
    • Resources are curated, not comprehensive
    • Content is organized around the real questions solopreneurs face

Start where your need or curiosity is strongest. Return as your business and ideas evolve.

Each section explains why the topic matters and points you to a small number of trusted resources you can use right away.

The Hub will continue to grow as new tools, ideas, and insights emerge.

Note: Some resources aren’t specific to solopreneurs or to people over 50. All are included because they are highly relevant to encore solo businesses.

Why Consider A Solo Business

    • You’ve lost your job or your career has been disrupted by age bias 
    • You want or need income, but with more flexibility and control
    • You’re not ready for full retirement, but you are ready for something different
    • You’ve always wanted to work for yourself, and now feels like the moment
    • You want to turn experience, expertise, or a long-standing interest into paid work
    • You prefer to stay solo rather than hire and manage employees
    • You’re exploring what’s possible and want to make smart, informed decisions before committing

Why Solo Works for People Over 50

Solopreneurship isn’t about slowing down. It’s about aligning work with purpose, values, and lived experience, while keeping flexibility and control.

People over 50 bring deep expertise, credibility, and networks built over time. And today’s tools — from digital platforms to AI and subcontractors — make it possible to run high-impact businesses without employees.

Solopreneur Business Thinking Canvas

Throughout the Hub, you’ll see references to our Solopreneur Business Thinking Canvas, a practical tool that helps you organize these topics into a coherent business model. Think of it as a companion, not a requirement. Some people use it early to organize their thinking. Others return to it later to sharpen and strengthen what they’re building.

View The Canvas

Encore Solopreneur Hub Topics

These topics shape solo business success.  Click on each topic below to find articles,
stories, videos, tools, and other resources.  Dig into those that are helpful
now.  Then come back when you’re ready for more.

A - Mindset, Risk Profile & Confidence

Clarifies why you want a solo business and what success looks like for you.

LinkedIn Newsletter: Surprising Solopreneur Trends 

Paul Tasner TED Talk: “How I Became an Entrepreneur at 66” (5 minutes)

  • Link: https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_tasner_how_i_became_an_entrepreneur_at_66
  • Why it’s valuable: This short, inspiring video tells the real story of someone fired at 64 who started a successful business at 66. Addresses age-specific fears (what if I fail with limited time to recover?), lack of role models, and finding meaningful work. Perfect for someone questioning whether they’re “too old.”

Encore Network Video: The Many Ways to Be an Encore Entrepreneur from The Encore Network

  • Link: https://encorenetwork.org/the-many-ways-to-be-an-encore-entrepreneur/
  • Why it’s valuable: This recording of an Encore Network panel spotlights people over 50 who have started businesses, ranging from large companies to nonprofits and one-person businesses.

Encore Network Video: Becoming a High Impact Solopreneur – from The Encore Network

  • Why it’s valuable: This recording of an Encore Network panel discussion shows the wide variety of solopreneur business possibilities, how each panelist decided to start a solo business and how they have structured their businesses to be successful without employees.

Encore Network Video: Finding a Job Without Getting Hired

  • Link: https://encorenetwork.org/becoming-self-employed/
  • Why it’s valuable: This tongue-in-cheek title conveys the reality that many businesses now purchase services once provided by employees. In this panel discussion moderated by Chris Farrell, economics contributor to NPR Marketplace, you’ll learn about the expanding world of non-traditional work and how it benefits older workers. 

Podcast: Second Act Stories

  • Link: https://www.secondactstories.org/
  • Why it’s valuable: This podcast from Encore Network member Andy Levine offers more than 150 episodes featuring people who have made career shirts, many of them later in life and shifting to one-person businesses. 

CO- by US Chamber: “Successful Startups Founded by Entrepreneurs Over 50”

B - Self-Management

Supports decisions about workload, boundaries, pace, and sustainability.

Darin Persinger Article: “Time Management for Solopreneurs: The Ultimate Guide”

Heights Platform Article: “7 Essential Time Management Tips for Solopreneurs Working From Home”

C - Learning, Preparation & Readiness

Helps you assess timing, readiness, and gaps before committing energy or money.

Kiplinger Article: “A Guide to Starting a Successful Business After 50” (November 2024)

CNBC Article: “7 Tips for Starting a Business in Your 50s and Beyond”

Shopify Article: “Life Lessons From 11 Entrepreneurs Over 50”

  • Link: https://www.shopify.com/blog/entrepreneurs-over-50
  • Why it’s valuable: Features 11 real stories of people who started businesses at 50+, showing the diversity of possibilities (from soap-making after grief to 86-year-old cooking classes). Each story includes specific lessons learned and challenges overcome that resonate with the 50+ experience.

Redefining Retirement Article: “Are You Too Old to Start a Business at 50? Think Again”

  • Link: https://redefiningretirement.io/p/start-a-business-at-50
  • Why it’s valuable: Written by a Gen X solopreneur specifically for the 50+ crowd, busts myths about age, provides data showing 50+ founders succeed MORE often, and includes a practical section on staying relevant with modern tools without becoming a “tech expert.”

AARP Foundation: Work for Yourself@50+ Workshop & Toolkit

D - Leveraging Resources & Professionals

Informs choices about legal, financial, operational, and advisory support.

Encore Network Resource: Starter Kit for Freelance, Consulting, Contract and Other Independent Workers

  • Why it’s valuable: This guide from The Encore Network offers info about online platforms that create support communities and connect workers to business opportunities. It also identifies the kinds of professionals that are available to assist solopreneurs.

SCORE: “How Entrepreneurs Over 50 Are Making Their Mark”

LifeStarr: A Community to Optimize Solopreneur Success

  • Link: https://www.lifestarr.com/
  • Why it’s valuable: Lifestarr is an online membership platform (with a free option) that offers support through peer meetings, podcasts and newsletters, and a variety of resources, including their new book, Solopreneur Business for Dummies.
E - Technical Support & AI Tools

Enables you to operate solo while still delivering professional-grade work.

Encore Network Video: More Growth, Less Grind: Using AI to Build an Over-50 Solo Business

  • Why it’s valuable: This panel discussion from The Encore Network features three solopreneurs who have developed eye-opening ways to use AI tools to improve their productivity and create new opportunities for growth.

Online Directory: “There’s An AI For That” 

  • Link: https://theresanaiforthat.com/
  • Why it’s valuable: Searchable, constantly updated directory of AI tools organized by business function. No technical jargon – just “I need help with [invoicing/writing/scheduling]” and it shows you options. Perfect for those unfamiliar with AI who need simple solutions.

Forbes Article: 15 Free Tools Solopreneurs Can Use to Start Their Business on a Budget

  • Link: https://www.forbes.com/councils/theyec/2021/03/12/15-free-tools-solopreneurs-can-use-to-start-their-business-on-a-budget/
  • Why it’s valuable: As the title suggests, this article lists software products with free entry-level options. You can then move up to paid tiers as your business grows. Forbes also has articles comparing software options for specific purposes, like CRM, finance, bookkeeping, marketing, etc., for small businesses.
F - Brand, Messaging & Awareness

Sharpens how you describe what you do and who it’s for.

Indypendently/Brendon Schrader Article: “How to Succeed as a Solopreneur Over 50”

  • Link: https://indypendently.com/trends/how-to-succeed-as-a-solopreneur-over-50
  • Why it’s valuable: Based on Doug Freeman’s book “Workarounds: 50+ Insider Tactics,” this article specifically addresses how to market yourself as an older solopreneur – showcasing experience without seeming dated, pricing for your value, and using your network for visibility.

Enterprise Nation Article: “How to Start a Business When You’re Over 50”

G - Marketing, Sales & Upselling

Connects your offering to income, growth, and long-term viability.

ZenBusiness Article: “How to Start a Business Over 50: Pro Tips for Older Entrepreneurs” (October 2024)

  • Link: https://www.zenbusiness.com/start-a-business-over-50/
  • Why it’s valuable: Recent, practical article that covers marketing plan essentials for older entrepreneurs, emphasizing leveraging your professional network for sales, learning from peers’ successes/failures, and maintaining professionalism that builds trust with clients.

Selzy Blog: “7 Inspirational Senior Entrepreneurs Share Their Life & Business Lessons”

  • Link: https://selzy.com/en/blog/senior-entrepreneurs/
  • Why it’s valuable: First-person accounts from 50+ entrepreneurs about their biggest challenges (many mention learning social media marketing, email marketing, Instagram). Shows it’s learnable and provides context for why these skills matter for customer acquisition.

Not Sure Where to Begin?

Start Here

If you’re still exploring

Start with Mindset, Risk & Confidence and Learning, Preparation & Readiness. These sections help you clarify what you want, what you’re willing to take on, and whether a solo business is the right next step.

If you have an idea but aren’t
sure it’s viable

Look at Brand, Messaging & Awareness and Marketing, Sales & Upselling to test whether there’s real demand for what you want to offer.

If you’re ready to act

Explore Self-Management, Resources & Professionals, and Technical Support & AI Tools to build a solo business that’s sustainable—not overwhelming.

Check Out the Solopreneur Business Thinking Canvas

A practical tool that helps you organize these topics into a coherent business model.

View The Canvas

BEYOND THE HUB:
When You Want More Support

The Hub is designed to give you clear, practical guidance you can use on your own. But starting or growing an encore solo business doesn’t have to be a journey you take by yourself. This section points to deeper resources and human support for those moments when you want more structure, accountability, or personalized guidance. Think of this section as your bridge from self-guided exploration to supported action, available when you’re ready for it.

Books

Starting Up Smarter: Why Founders Over 50 Build Better Businesses, Mary J Cronin, 2021. Filled with research findings and stories about what makes older entrepreneurs four times more likely to start a successful business. Includes but not limited to solopreneurship examples.

Solopreneur Business for Dummies, Joe Rando and Carly Ries, 2025. A practical guide for starting and managing a one-person business, focusing on operations, finances, marketing, and avoiding burnout to align with personal goals.

Never Too Late to Get Rich: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business Mid-Life, Kerry Hannon, 2019. A roadmap for anyone over 50 who wants to start a business, Includes inspiring profiles, up-to-date resources, and action steps for getting started.

Second Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit from Your Passions during Semi-Retirement, by Nancy Collamer, 2013. A handbook of ideas for creating flexible, fulfilling and profitable work in later life. Inspiring stories to spark your imagination.

Learning

Free 5-Step Guide to Self-Employment from AARP Foundation. This free resource maps everything you need to know to take the first steps to start your own business.

Work for Yourseof@50+ Freelance Resource Center from AARP Foundation. Provides support to both first-time freelancers and experienced independent workers. Includes lessons and resources, including the Work Finder tool to help you find and secure work.

SCORE Workshops & Events. SCORE chapters across the US offer a series of online live events, recorded webinars and online courses. They also offer The Startup Roadmap, a step-by-step, how-to guide to starting a business.

The Aspiring Solopreneur, a podcast series for freelancers and solopreneurs from LifeStarr. Guest interviews and deep dives on topics related to the Solopreneur Success Cycle.

Coaching

SCORE offers one-on-one mentoring for business owners and founders. Enter your zip code and get matched to a mentor in your area. Mentors bring professional experience as well as specialized training to their roles.

LifeStarr is an online community of solopreneurs for learning, networking and mutual support. It includes courses, tools and resources as well as ways to connect with other solopreneurs.

Dana Hall, Franchise Consultant for FranNet, a business franchise broker and consulting firm. There are numerous franchises that can be run as solo businesses and working with a consultant will help you find the best match.

Online Platforms

Upwork, the world’s largest remote work talent platform connecting freelance professionals and agencies with businesses.

Fiverr, a marketing platform for freelance workers to sell their services to businesses. 

Umbrex, connecting top-tier independent consultants to each other and to clients. 

SideHusl, researches, reviews and rates more than 450 online platforms that allow you to make money by working, renting or selling. 

WAHVE (Work at Home Vintage Experts), brings businesses together with “pretiring” professionals who want to use their skills working from home as contractors. 

Business Services

Coming Soon!