Small Business Q & A: There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!

Written by Tim Knox


Q: I'm curious. What isrepparttar dumbest business question you've ever been asked? -- Norris W.

A: Shame on you, Norris. There is no such thing as a dumb business question. OK, that's not exactly true. There are dumb business questions and I do get quite a few of them. Not through this column, of course. People intelligent enough to actually use a computer and surfrepparttar 104820 World Wide Web would never submit dumb questions now, would they. OK, that's a lie, too. I've gotten a few head-scratchers in response to this column. You know who you are, but don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

I have a confession to make. Writing an advice column, whether it be advice for love or money or business, is often hard to do with a straight face. Occasionally a question comes overrepparttar 104821 digital transom that just makes me go, "Huh?"

It's kind of like trying to stifle a giggle when Grandma breaks wind at Sunday dinner. Some things are just better left ignored.

Of course it's hard to blame a dumb business question onrepparttar 104822 dog.

I've been writing advice columns for a long time. Most ofrepparttar 104823 requests for advice I receive are sincere and intelligent, and as a (usually) sincere and (somewhat) intelligent columnist, I feel obligated to dispenserepparttar 104824 best advice I can forrepparttar 104825 betterment ofrepparttar 104826 person who askedrepparttar 104827 question.

However, once in a while a real stinker hitsrepparttar 104828 old email box and it takes everything I've got to resist shooting back an answer that is worthy ofrepparttar 104829 question asked.

In other words, when I get a dumb question, my gut reaction is to respond with an answer of equal intelligence, orrepparttar 104830 lack thereof. Something subtle, like, "Forget business, my friend. The best thing you can do for mankind is to go find a pair of sharp scissors and run… really fast…"

Stupid is as stupid does, Forrest. Greater words of wisdom have rarely been offered before or since.

Then I remember that as an advice columnist I have a duty to my reader, my editor, my publisher, and above all, to my family, who enjoys eating on a regular basis. There aren't too many openings for smart aleck writers anymore (darn that Dave Berry), so I bite my tongue and respond torepparttar 104831 question as intelligently as I can. That usually involves requesting more information fromrepparttar 104832 reader so I can offer an informed answer. It's not as satisfying as firing off a sarcastic retort, but it is much better onrepparttar 104833 old bank account.

Small Business Q&A: Entrepreneurs Just Get Better With Age

Written by Tim Knox


Q: I'm thinking about starting a business after I retire next month. I'll be 65. Am I too old to start a business? -- Milton A.

A: Milton, congratulations on your pending retirement. I find it admirable that after many years of hard work you are thinking about starting a business. While most men your age would be content to sit onrepparttar porch and watchrepparttar 104819 world go by, you are considering a ride onrepparttar 104820 entrepreneurial roller coaster. You're certainly tall enough to ride this ride, but are you too old?

Here's my standard answer: It depends. It depends on your health, your energy, your drive, your goals, and of course, your finances. If all those are in good shape and you have your spouse's approval (that's a biggie), then there is absolutely no reason why you should not start a business at your age.

In fact,repparttar 104821 numbers are actually in your favor. According to recent studies 22 percent of men and 14 percent of women over 65 are self-employed. That's compared to just 7 percent for other age groups.

According to a Vanderbilt University studyrepparttar 104822 number of entrepreneurs age 45 to 64 will grow by 15 million by 2006.

That's compared to a 4 million decline for entrepreneurs age 25 to 44.

A 1998 survey of baby boomers conducted byrepparttar 104823 American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) revealed that 80 percent of respondants planned to work beyond retirement age, and 17 percent of those planned to launch new businesses.

The study noted, "Self-employment among American workers increases with age, withrepparttar 104824 most dramatic jump occurring at age 65."

Older entrepreneurs may also find starting a business easier than their younger counterparts because older entrepreneurs tend to have more experience to draw from and more assets with which to finance a business.

Further evidence comes from a report released by Barclays Bank entitled Third Age Entrepreneurs - Profiting From Experience. The report shows that older entrepreneurs are responsible for 50 percent more business start-ups than 10 years ago. This amounts to around 60,000 business start-ups last year alone.

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