Ideas for a part-time business after 55 in a seaside town

[Greenseacat]

I am 55 and trying to work out what small business I could start after struggling to find a role as an employee.

My previous work involved marketing, design, communications and copywriting but the industry is quite ageist and affected by AI so I don't think I can realistically work in that field until I retire. I have also done fundraising, project management and administration for charities and small businesses

I live in a seaside town (South East) with a slightly older demographic and my passions are art, physical activity (swimming, walking, running, pilates) and animals but I am not sure there is a way to really monetise that.

My town already has a lot of yoga and pilates teachers and a fair number of dog walkers. Comms and marketing is not an option either as the industry is fairly ageist and it has been badly affected by AI and I could not compete with creative agencies.

I only need a part-time income as I have a small mortgage and a simple lifestyle.

Any suggestions of what I could go into?

I have been self-employed when working in marketing/copywriting and I am already registered with HMRC so at least I am familiar with having to file self-employed tax returns and keeping track of expenses and income.

Not going to earn you a huge amount of money but pet boarding/sitting sounds like it could be popular for your location demographic and as a more mature person, people are more likely to trust you. You would need to get some initial recommendations though .

Why can’t you do small bits of marketing for the small business owners? There is a market for this as its my full time job ☺️

I was going to say this. Small businesses are often terrible at publicity/marketing. Sorting out their websites, publicising good news stories, running their Instagram or Facebook accounts would be a perfect part time role.

Tarot card reader

matched betting

airbnb

dog walking.

I have done a couple of freelance contracts doing exactly that this year.

Honestly I am fed up with the sector and would really like to do something else.
But I might try to see if I can get drum up some local business again as a freelance comms person but I know my heart is just not in it.

I think I would enjoy that and was considering looking at pet boarding and only look after a small number of animals.

Maybe you do need a change then. Art groups are a growing area. You say it's an interest. Would you be confident organising a group to do art activities. It's a big hen weekend thing. Something like this.

www.henswithpens.com/our-party-options/lets-get-arty?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20359787199&gbraid=0AAAAADlARFbj8NFfgWK-cn2MaPY0fR9Fu&gclid=CjwKCAjw2aPVBhBkEiwA0Cptt6UxOadgjH_-3wXGg_O134verca9TOsLj9aIZj8QSjv0sH6EGA8yLhoCBB4QAvD_BwE

You could run “craft and sip” evenings and charge people to come along and teach them how to make a Christmas wreath. Those are big business round here! Eg £50 each ticket. You could run it in a licensed venue or hire a nice community venue and get a temporary notice to provide alcohol.

Art/craft and sip sessions seem to be all over my FB so there seems to be a big market for them.

Lots of pubs seem to host them now so I assume someone teaches the art bit.

What about teaching marketing?