Orientations offered by PCC’s Small Business Development Center (at no cost!) are a great way to learn about the opportunities we offer to help turn  business ideas into action. A typical orientation includes a small group of future entrepreneurs – but may also include sole-proprietors and small business owners seeking to find efficient, practical and effective solutions to common business-related challenges. You’ll leave our 2-hour orientation having identified new resources, and with an action plan to guide your next steps.

After years of working as a solo entrepreneur, a CPA, and a strategic adviser at the Portland Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Jackie Babicky Peterson realized her clients did not want to hire employees, but rather were interested in making a living doing what they love (especially those over 50),  So she created a program to address their needs.

Kim Allchurch-Flick began her work with the PCC Small Business Develop Center in January 2019. She is the cohort lead for the Encore & Solo Business Builders Program.

businessJackie Babicky Peterson is a strategic adviser to small businesses at Portland Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Her clients are interested in making a living doing what they love. Her most recent project is a book titled, "Age is Opportunity," and capitalizes on her energetic approach to equip SBDC clients with the ability to combine their small business ideas with decades of professional experience into a plan to become successful business owners later in life. 

Orientations offered by PCC’s Small Business Development Center (at no cost!) are a great way to learn about the opportunities we offer to help you turn your business idea into action. A typical orientation includes a small group of future entrepreneurs – but may also include sole-proprietors and small business owners seeking to find efficient, practical and effective solutions to common business-related challenges. You’ll leave our 2-hour orientation having identified new resources, and with an action plan to guide your next steps.

For people ready for a second act in life, an encore entrepreneurship may be the perfect choice. Whether you’re retired, unemployed, or looking for some extra income, joining the ranks of entrepreneurs over 50 can be a great opportunity to pursue a business that’s always interested you. Or you may choose to dip your toe in the water of the many unexplored opportunities you never had time for. In this post, we’ll discuss how to get started with an encore business.

Article originally posted on AARP Oregon on June 1, 2017.

What is encore entrepreneurship?

If you haven’t heard of it yet, you will soon. Encore entrepreneurship is on the rise!

As an artist, writer, design or creative entrepreneur, you have the skills to create great work, but do you have the business skills to get great work? When starting your own creative business, you will need to do some digging into business topics and getting to know your market. Though it might take some trial and error, by doing your homework, you can run an effective business.

There’s something special about the later years in life, including the freedom to do different things like travel, explore, and even start a business.

Those individuals who endeavor to create their own business at this stage in life are often referred to as  “encore entrepreneurs”. Individuals who start business after 50 accounted for nearly one-quarter of new businesses started last year. People in this age range actually start businesses at a higher rate than those in their 20s. If you consider full-time independent workers, baby boomers and seniors combined are actually the largest segment at 37 percent according to the MBO independent workforce study.