Well, that seems not the case any more if you read Heather Shepherd’s 101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than One Thousand Dollars. Talk of an inspirational, practical guide to retirees wondering where to get the money to pay for their much-needed healthcare or vacational spending. The book, written in an easy to read and comprehend format, takes the reader through the A-Z of starting a business with concrete ideas on planning, financing and sustaining the business.

Shepherd lays out some key reasons why businesses fail while suggesting to potential business owners the pitfalls they need to avoid to find success in the business world. The book is a real guide to making money through a business, though it is heavily tilted towards home-based, online-based businesses. But this seems appropriate considering the area is among those experiencing the biggest growth everywhere.

Retired and can’t live on pension? You’ve the tool you need at your nearest book store: 101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than One Thousand Dollars! You’ve everything to gain and nothing to lose by investing in this straightforward guide to literally minting money.

Even if you already own a business, Heather L. Shepherd’s latest book, 101 BUSINESSES YOU CAN START WITH LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS: FOR RETIREES, is still a must-have for your reference library. Written in a logical format, this book not only lists a wide variety of business types, it also allows gives the reader a “true” picture of what to expect when starting a business (including pitfalls to watch out for), realistic expectations for business growth, and provides insight from individuals who already made the successful transformation from worker to entrepreneur.

Shepherd does an excellent job of covering topics, both pro and con, for each step in developing a business. Helpful links provided throughout the book allow the reader multiple opportunities for additional reference that emphasize and further explain ideas presented.

Readers may be surprised at the variety of business offered, and the depth in which Shepherd explains that particular business. The addition of “success stories” for each section provides a way for readers to understand how a particular individual achieved success, and what a reasonable expectation for their own business might involve.

Starting a business is a serious undertaking, and Shepherd’s book does a great job of highlighting specific details one must understand prior making that decision. Questions listed in each section provide a vehicle for readers to asses their own success potential, and the links to websites, agencies, and periodicals provide an added resource for knowledge.

Shepherd’s book, 101 BUSINESSES YOU CAN START WITH LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS: FOR RETIREES, is an excellent reference tool for business owners, or for anyone who might want to start his or her own business.

Throughout the entire text, the authors take individuals step by step. The process begins with the positives and negatives involved in self-employment. A list of reasons to start a business is included and a list of resources to help is thrown into the mix.

The two most helpful sections of this text are the self evaluation and the lists of business to start. The self evaluation walks the reader through a list of simple checklists on marketing, sales, administration, finances, and person characteristics. As you go through these checklists, you can easily see how qualified you are to start your own business. Once you’re ready to move on, the guide gives a worksheet on calculating income needs and overhead costs; a checklist for building groundwork ends the self assessment.

Extensive detail is put into the two business chapters of this book. For anywhere between $0 and $1000, you can jump into any of the opportunities listed. Each employment option includes the duties and education necessary, the income possibilities, the required equipment, the business base, and the clientele.

Without a doubt, this is a fabulous resource!

The book is divided into clear, concise sections, and the first, titled “Retirees and Self-Employment,” deals with some of the things facing retirees looking to start their own business, such as financial concerns, pros and cons of any kind of self-employment, and even specific problems that can crop up for those entrepreneurs over 50.

The author takes the time to list a number of resources and places that would-be business owners can turn to for help getting started, and success stories throughout the narrative add to the positive tone of the book.

An entire chapter is devoted to self-evaluation, and while the author is encouraging, she makes a point of stressing the importance of goals, planning, and research into the type of business the retiree is looking to start. Marketing, administration, startup costs, and expected earnings are all discussed in a very easy-to-understand way.

Once the book gets into the actual listings of businesses available to start, the author is very thorough. Typical earnings, required equipment, business base, and expected clientele are laid out, as well as starting points for each business. The first section of businesses can be started for only $100. What makes the listings so interesting is that there are literally jobs in every field imaginable: Administration, graphic design, freelancing, hobbies, writing, sports, real estate and much more. The author even covers a list of pursuits known as “sister businesses,” which complement and augment the businesses listed earlier in the book.

Once the retiree has decided on a business type, it’s time for the business plan. Shepherd walks the reader through a sample business plan, pausing to explain each section, its purpose, and how to effectively convey the business’ needs and projections.

Next is establishing the business, and the author starts at the beginning—naming the venture, and setting up the legal entity. Which is better—a limited liability partnership or sole proprietorship? All of the options, from a one-man show up to a corporation are explained in a way that doesn’t leave the reader feeling overwhelmed and confused.

One of the things I liked about this book is that while it claims to cater to retirees that wish to begin a business, the information and tips contained in it are applicable to anyone who is looking to take that leap into self-employment. The style is informative yet engaging, and overall this is a solid purchase.