Need advice -starting new business
 

I am getting ready to retire, and I'm interested in starting a new business here in the villages. Anyone have any input on the greatest need?

For a first post, you have thrown yourself in at the deep end.
What was your skill set before retirement?
Would it be useful in TV.
Better the devil you know.

I think the greatest need is for reliable, affordable transportation both locally and to airports and cruise departures.

Repair turn signals - seems a lot do not work here

I always thought "retiring" meant you didn't work any more?

do search on ToTV.................we have been down this road before.

Something that doesn't require employees because there are none.

Invest in some buckets, a ladder, some squeegees, and study up on the best way to wash windows.

Very little investment and you will never run out of windows to wash in TV.

Boomer

Many amusing answers here, but you didn't mention your experience or even your interests. If you glace through the daily paper classifieds, you will see there are almost no ideas that have not been pursued, or franchises we don't don't have. My opinion is we could sure use a Waffle House inside our boundaries, but others would say we have too many breakfast cafes now. As someone mentioned, with about 3000 (yep !) types of lessons, clubs, activities, sports, etc. you might first try a full year or two and see if you can't find many of your favorite interests and hobbies, and even try some you have never before considered ? Take a few art classes if you have never had any interest in art, or join a philosophy club, a travel group, a scuba group ? You may just find that running a business, stress and deadlines, demanding customers, or any number of the negatives, may not be what you want after all ? And, if you find you just can't stand life without some working hours, there are all kinds of villages jobs at gates, pools, golf courses and rec centers. People often come thinking they want to have a job, and soon become way too busy to work, so they quit constantly !

Also, look carefully at your deed restrictions if you are thinking about running your business out of your house, generally NOT allowed. I do not have any specific suggestions for your business. Also, you might look into the newer sections of TV as there appears to be a lack of local businesses in that area.

#1. Manage a Costco Store.

#2. Be a police officer with a willingness to write speeding tickets at lest one every 1/2 hour.

#3. Set up a doggie care business so people can to out to eat without taking their mutts along.

The south of 44 villages need just about every type of business imaginable, fast food to sit down food just about any retail store you can think of however there are very few if any retail spaces available for lease, so not only is there a lack of employees down here, there's really nowhere to open a business until more retail space is built so there you go.

One thing we're in short supply of:

Primary Care Physicians who accept new patients and Florida Blue insurance, both Medicare and not-Medicare, especially in the northeastern half of the community. Ones who speak English well enough that the average 60-year-old American-born retiree wouldn't have trouble understanding.

So there's a goal for ya. Let us know when you've completed your residency.

Good one, I'd welcome that person.

The South end of The Villages/Sumter County needs a Chic-fi-A