Retirement Franchise or Business?

I am considering selling my home and retiring - somewhat.  I can't just quit, I'd die.

While I'm in my early 70's I still enjoy and am able to do all the things I did as a 30-40 year old.  I still water ski, play paintball & airsoft, play with cars, ride horses, do all my own repair work on my home, camp, hike, etc., etc.

I need to stay busy but I'm ready for a change.  I will get a very large chunk of change from the sale of my house and while we initially thought we might pick a "destination" location and build an AirBnB type of village we also realized that suddenly we'll have the large amount of disposable cash that we've always needed to make our current dream come true, but sadly we've been complacent in our business and hadn't thought about doing anything else for a while.

What are some good Franchises or businesses that won't tie us up completely, one that the "help" could handle?  In other words, what's hot right now?

We are open to almost anything.

I work at a company that builds big industrial machines. I work in the repair parts department. What I have seen first hand is fairly regular need for couriers. The customer needs to get there machine back up and running right now, so instead of using next day air shipping a courier shows up and drives it straight to the customer. I always thought this would be a good retirement job. You can make a couple hundred bucks for a few hours driving, and you can turn down any job you dont want. 95% of the parts we ship this way could sit on the passenger seat of your car, or if you had a transit van that a tow motor put a pallet in and out of the back would be perfect.

In reply to gearheadmb :

That actually sounds pretty awesome. I presume the trips can vary from somewhat local to cross-country?

I feel like a self storage facility can run pretty autonomously with very little input from ownership, but I could be wrong.

In reply to gearheadmb :

I have a friend that did exactly that.

He drove a small pickup and would sometimes be gone for two days on some of the deliveries.

Mr. Peabody said:

In reply to gearheadmb :

I have a friend that did exactly that.

He drove a small pickup and would sometimes be gone for two days on some of the deliveries.

Had a friend that drove the "Wide Load" truck , well the  Pick Up truck that had to Lead or Follow the "Wide Load"

gearheadmb said:

I work at a company that builds big industrial machines. I work in the repair parts department. What I have seen first hand is fairly regular need for couriers. The customer needs to get there machine back up and running right now, so instead of using next day air shipping a courier shows up and drives it straight to the customer. I always thought this would be a good retirement job. You can make a couple hundred bucks for a few hours driving, and you can turn down any job you dont want. 95% of the parts we ship this way could sit on the passenger seat of your car, or if you had a transit van that a tow motor put a pallet in and out of the back would be perfect.

Last job my Dad had before he actually retired was parts courier.

carguy123 said:

I will get a very large chunk of change from the sale of my house... What are some good Franchises or businesses that won't tie us up completely, one that the "help" could handle?

Starting a business of any kind is going to have some sunk costs and some risk.  Do you have any appetite for saving your proceeds and living off them, while perhaps doing some consulting or gig work for income?

I went back to work part tine, 20 hrs/week for $52/hr.  It wasn't the money but I felt I had a service to offer.  This went away with Covid.

Now I volunteer at the Saratoga Auto Museum.   You're retired, go find something you love, trust me; retirement IS NOT death.

A few retirees I know drive for medical labs delivering samples and medication around the area.  Pack a light lunch, pop in a book on tape and feel good about what you do.

If you decide to go the franchise route make sure you thoroughly investigate. Franchises share a lot in common with MLMs, but have largely avoided the stigma. Probably because the people who benefit have enough money to influence policy and public perception. Always be aware of *who* the customer is and who bears the risk of failure.

Medilab services are needed wherever you relocate to.  =~ )

carguy123 said:

I will get a very large chunk of change from the sale of my house... 

With the current tax climate changing regarding capitol gains rates, your first conversation should be with an accountant.

In reply to nderwater :

I don't mind the risk, as long as there's the potential for reward.

As far as consulting, in the mortgage/real estate biz (my years of experience) there's not much money to be made except in the big commercial market.

In reply to 914Driver :

I'm not retired, nor do I want to be.  I would like the freedom to take more 3 day weekends or leave early.  And to me real retirement would be death.

In reply to gearheadmb :

So the question becomes how do you get your clients if you start a courier business?

In reply to Scott_H :

Let's just presume I've already done my background work.

Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to gearheadmb :

That actually sounds pretty awesome. I presume the trips can vary from somewhat local to cross-country?

I would say the bulk of courier shipments are 100-400 miles. Less than 100 miles and the customers will just come pick them up. More than 400 and the big boys (UPS or fedex) next day air are more cost effective for similar delivery times.

carguy123 said:

In reply to gearheadmb :

So the question becomes how do you get your clients if you start a courier business?

Contact the shipping supervisor at local manufacturing plants and let them know you are available. I know that when I request expedited shipping for an order our shipping coordinator will typically get a few quotes. When a new shipper becomes available they like to get quotes from them to see if they are competitive. If you are you become regular contact. If not you go to the bottom of the list.

carguy123 said:

In reply to gearheadmb :

So the question becomes how do you get your clients if you start a courier business?

The work being described is known as hot shotting. There is a Canadian reality show called Back Road Truckers and hot shotting is their business - think Florida Man based in Barriere BC and you get the premise. I would imagine no one gets hired into a hot shotting operation you become a contractor operating your own rig. Do a good job and get lots of calls do a bad job no calls.

Edit: A web site that covers it https://www.smart-trucking.com/hot-shot-trucking/      

Find a broker - Coyote is one my big customer uses.  We state it's ready at X:XXpm and they find a driver to take it straight thru.   

Usually we finish at 2pm, driver picks it up and drives 5 hours to deliver.  Most of the guys have those tall Mercedes vans and most don't communicate very well. A lot of guys competing for the $800 cost.

My buddy retired at 55, got bored after 5 years and delivers auto parts 3 days a week on his schedule, not theirs.  They like him since he never calls in sick.  This might be more like it.  

Self serve carwash might be pretty low maintenance too

Here's a Hot Freight, Expedite Freight company locally,    https://bolt-express.com/drive-for-us/faq/

In their own FAQ's they write:  

HOW LONG ARE YOU OUT ON THE ROAD AWAY FROM HOME?

• In a semi or straight truck you’re generally out for 2 weeks at a time.
• If you’re bringing a sprinter van on as an owner operator it’s not forced dispatch, but you’ll want to be out at least 2 weeks at a time for it to be profitable.
• If you’re driving a sprinter van for a fleet owner you’ll be out 3-4 weeks at a time.

In the Hot Freight business you have a Sprinter or similar van.  You sit in Wichita, KS at a truck stop, living in your van until you get a call and accept a trip.  This trip takes you to St. Louis, MO which is 6.5 hours of driving.  When you say yes, you now do not stop until St. Loius.  The reason you got the job is because you can do it faster than FedEx.  

Now you are in St Louis waiting for another trip.  All that while, sleeping in the van!   

When I was working a parts counter, most of our delivery guys were retired guys (mostly) working for cash.  I have no idea how the back room folks kept the books straight.

STM317 said:

Self serve carwash might be pretty low maintenance too

^that and be the cool one that hosts themed show & shines twice a week

I had never considered any type of "hot-shotting" (I learned something new)

I had thought about one of those smaller 24hr fitness centers as the one I go to is only manned by the owner on Saturdays.

Self service car washes are all but gone in our part of the world.  The cheap $5ish drive through with all the whirling brushes and free vacuums have taken over.