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8 Ideas to Start a Business Helping Seniors
by Rieva Lesonsky
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June 19, 2023
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Woman taking notes as she speaks with senior Black man

Are you looking for a profitable, affluent, and growing market to target with a new business? Then you may want to stop thinking about those trendy millennial and Generation Z consumers and start focusing on senior citizens.

From Older Americans Month in May to National Senior Citizens Day in August, there are plenty of days to celebrate people aged 65 and older. In fact, small business owners and entrepreneurs should celebrate seniors all year long, because there are so many businesses you can start to serve them.

Here are some facts and tips on how to create a business for seniors:

The year 2030 marks an important demographic turning point in U.S. history according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 National Population Projections. By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65. This will expand the size of the older population so 1 in every 5 residents will be retirement age.

By 2035, there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.4 million under the age of 18. Between 2020 and 2050, the number of deaths is projected to rise substantially as the population ages and a significant share of the population, the baby boomers, age into older adulthood.

There are some 44.7 million people 65 and older in the United States, accounting for 14.1 percent of the total population. In 15 years (by 2033), however, the population 65 and older is projected to outnumber people younger than 18 for the first time. By 2060, the number of seniors is projected to more than double, with people 65 and over accounting for nearly one-fourth of the population.

A big part of that senior population is the baby boomer generation, currently between 54 and 72 years old.

Baby boomers occupy a unique consumer position: Not only are some of them seniors themselves, but because Americans are living longer, many of them are also buying products and services for their parents. Many are also affluent. Overall, the spending power of Baby Boomers is expected to reach $15 trillion worldwide by the end of 2019.

Here are 8 growth industries related to seniors and ideas for businesses you can start to serve them.

  1. Senior care consultant: These professionals help find the best living arrangements for seniors, whether that is at home, daycare, or a senior living facility. You’ll work with community services and local government agencies that help seniors to get client referrals. 
  2. Home retrofitting/remodeling: Seniors who want to stay in their homes as long as possible are getting their homes retrofitted with features like wider doorways, shower grab bars, and other changes to make their homes safer and more accessible. 
  3. Travel company: Active seniors are eager to travel, and a travel business focused on senior or family travel can be a big hit. These days, many seniors are planning multi-generation vacations, “girlfriend getaways” or vacations with grandchildren. 
  4. Home services: More than eight in 10 (82%) of seniors own their own homes, but as they get older, they may prefer to have others handle the maintenance. Home-related services, such as housecleaning, lawn care, and handyman services aren't just for seniors, but targeting this clientele can help you build a thriving business. Earn the trust of seniors and their adult children, and you'll have more referrals than you can handle. 
  5. Nutrition/exercise consultant: You can work with physical therapists, geriatric physicians, fitness centers, and other organizations targeting seniors to provide fitness and nutrition programs for their patients and/or customers. You can also market your services to individuals. Yoga, Pilates, dance, and swimming are popular exercise programs among seniors. 
  6. Non-medical in-home care: Adult children often worry about aging parents living at home alone. Your service can ease their worries by helping senior clients with tasks of daily life, such as getting to and from appointments, shopping, cleaning, and cooking, so they're able to stay in their homes longer. You’ll need to market the service to adult children since few seniors will admit they need this type of care. 
  7. Medical claims assistance: If you’re familiar with health insurance, Medicare, and the healthcare industry, you can start a business to help seniors and their families manage medical bills. You’ll review bills and medical records to make sure seniors aren’t paying too much and are getting all of the benefits they’re entitled to. Market your services to senior centers, medical offices, and financial professionals that can refer you to potential clients.
  8. Senior transportation services:  Seniors who can’t or don’t want to drive still need transportation to and from doctors’ appointments, to go shopping, or to get to social engagements. Their children aren’t always available to drive, and taxis can get expensive. Even in areas with good public transportation, seniors unable to walk to bus or train stops can spell an opportunity for senior transportation services. Do your homework about territory and market before starting this business, and find out what type of driver's license and insurance is necessary.   

To successfully market to seniors, keep these tips in mind:

  • Seniors—especially baby boomers—don’t think of themselves as “old.” No matter what you’re selling, your marketing should speak to healthy, active customers. Focus on how your product or service enables customers to stay independent, enjoy life, and keep fit.
  • Trust matters—especially if you’re selling a service that involves coming into seniors’ homes. You will need to be licensed, insured, and bonded (if relevant to your industry). Since seniors are most likely to trust companies they hear about from friends and relatives, strong word-of-mouth is essential to attract new customers.
  • Diversify your marketing. While traditional marketing tactics such as direct mail and print advertising will attract senior customers, the vast majority of seniors are also online. And since adult children buying for their parents are also a key target market, an integrated marketing campaign incorporating both traditional and digital media ensures you cover all the bases.

Need more help launching or marketing your senior-related business? The experts at SCORE are there for you 24/7.

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About the author
Rieva Lesonsky
Rieva Lesonsky is president and CEO of GrowBiz Media, a custom content and media company focusing on small business and entrepreneurship, and the blog SmallBusinessCurrents.com.
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