Control & Efficiency in Niche Work by focusing on a specific niche — AKA: shower door repairs — means you have all the know-how, components, and tools on hand. Niche work gives you an advantage, especially if you’re looking for a low-stress, lifestyle-friendly way to work.
The hard truth — if you’re 55+ and living on less than R20k a month (retirement income or investments), life is hard! Given your age, your options are rather narrow 😐 – The reality is, you need more than R20k to live a comfortable life. The good news is, you have skills, experience, and a lifetime of know-how. Skills count for something – so I hope you find your niche here.
Top Niches for (Un)Retirement: Want to craft the life in your second phase of life? Here are some niche business ideas worth exploring: ✅ Easy-install home improvement solutions ✅ Specialized repair services ✅ Senior-friendly tech setups ✅ Pet-friendly home modifications ✅ Security & convenience upgrades
Find what resonates with you and turn it into a fulfilling, stress-free business that can bring you a flexibility and the extra income you need.
Let’s dive in –
Air Conditioning Services
Start an Advisory Service:
Help clients navigate upgrades, and smart investments. Simplify decision-making, help avoid costly mistakes, and stress-free solutions tailored to their unique needs.
Start a Repair Service:
Retired pros bring trusted expertise — fixing cooling issues fast, from experience. This is a great niche for a seasoned pro!
Do Installation of Smaller Units:
Quick, hassle-free cooling solutions for homes and businesses. Expert installation of compact AC units — perfect for retirees looking for low-maintenance income. Collaborate with online sellers and stores.
Appliances Repair Services
Start a Washing Machine / Dryers Repair Service:
Expert troubleshooting and repair for washing machines on location. We suggest limiting your range to just 2 or 3 well supported brands (trying to repair all brands create complications). Aim at repairs at clients homes and businesses.
Focus on Dish washer Repairs:
Appliance repairs doesn’t mean you have to (try) fix all appliance. If you’re an expert at dishwashers, then select 2-3 brands, and become the go to person for dishwashers only. Collaborate with brands like SMEG and Siemens.
Add Exhaust Canopies to the Mix:
Again, stay within 3 brands to better understand the spares and diagnostics in one visit.
Espresso Coffee machines:
Coffee shops and restaurants are everywhere – all have these expensive espresso machines that need frequent servicing. Build a niche around this servicing and repairing commercial espresso machines. Diagnosing issues from pressure faults to grinder malfunctions, ensuring consistent performance and quality coffee for cafes, offices, and hospitality businesses
Architectural Services
Specialize in Models & Renders:
If you’ve worked in the industry and have the experience, you’ll know that physical and digital representations of architectural designs, showcasing form, function, and aesthetics are essential additions to help clients bring concepts to life.
Specialize in Concept Design:
If you can offer a concept design at a practical price – helping transforming ideas into tangible designs — adding creativity and functionality to early-stage planning – this is a great niche for someone with design flare.
Start a small Design Agency Doing House & Small business plans:
Offer detailed architectural plans and design ideas to home and business owners wanting renovations, add-ons, etc.
Art & picture framing Services
Open a Framing Home Studio:
Work with high-end residential Clients and Hospitality Clients. Offer pick-up and Delivery Service. Collaborate with local artists and upsell their art and prints.
Auto Care Service
Minor Body Repairs & Renewal:
Offer expert restoration for vehicles — fixing minor dents, scratches, and wear. Offer mobile precision minor repairs and refinishing with the right equipment and tools.
Older Models Carburetor Tuning / Repairs:
Offer precision tuning for classic and older vehicles — optimizing fuel-air mixture for peak performance, smooth idling, and efficient combustion. Essential for maintaining reliability and drivability in carburetor-equipped car
Vintage Car Mechanical Expert:
Specialized care for classic and vintage vehicles — expert pre-purchase advisory, tuning, restoration, and repairs to preserve authenticity, performance, and reliability.
Bicycle Repair Service
Pick up / delivery repair service:
Love cycling? Start a convenient, expert bike repairs from home — no hassle, no shop visits. Pickup and delivery ensure quick turnaround, keeping your ride road-ready with professional maintenance, tuning, and part replacements.
Blinds & Shutter Installations
Measure and install (from online purchase):
More and more people are buying blinds and shutters (and curtains) on line. Google ‘window blinds’ and you’ll get blindsdirect.co.za and others in this space. Someone has to install the blinds when they arrive and most homeowners don’t have the tools and basic skill set to do this work properly – this is where you come in.
Burglar Gates Installation Service
These days, there is absolutely no need for welding or a fabrication shop. Install trellis and traditional gates from EXPANDA – MAXIDOR and others (contact these companies to get into the preferred installer list (get certified) – there’s no shortage of business in security – and installing ready-made high quality products like this is quick and easy.
Business Services
Loans advisory and oversight:
Guide private and business owners through loan options with clarity – advise on compliance, filling forms, bank requirements, avoid pitfalls, etc. For a small fee, this service can save prospective loan seekers time and money.
Tax advisory service:
There is something to be said about seasoned professionals helping individuals and businesses navigate tax complexities – ensuring compliance, minimizing liabilities, and optimizing financial strategies—trusted advice from retired specialists with decades of experience.
Business strategist advisory:
If you have deep knowledge and real-life experience under your belt – guiding entrepreneurs and businesses with expert strategy, sharp insights, and executive-level decision-making. Proven methods from a retired CEO ensure sustainable growth, smart investments, and competitive advantage.
Buy & sell business advisory:
Start a “buy-sell business advisory service. As a seasoned specialists, you bring decades of experience to guide buyers and sellers through business transactions. Expert insights on business audit, valuation, negotiation, and exit strategies ensure smart decisions or clients.
Virtual assistant:
Provide professional remote support — handling administrative tasks, scheduling, communication, and organization with efficiency and reliability. A seasoned expert delivering seamless assistance for businesses and entrepreneurs.
Graphic design, branding kit / advisory:
Craft cohesive brand identities — logos, color schemes, typography, and marketing assets. Professional design tailored to elevate business presence, ensuring consistency and impact across digital and print platforms.
Carpenters / cabinet experts
Cabinet assembly Service:
If you’re an expert at assembly for kitchen, bathroom, and storage cabinets — this is a great niche to focus in. Ensure precise installation, and functionality. Hassle-free setup with professional craftsmanship for a seamless fit in any space.
Bespoke cabinets & tables fabricator (from home)
Do you have a home shop / studio (hobby) to make beautiful bespoke pieced for interior designers and high-end clients? Earn extra money from a hobby turned business.
Door hanging experts – including barn doors.
If you’re have the tools and machinery for precision installation of interior, exterior, and barn doors, you won’t ever run out of work.
Fine carpentry (fit-outs)
There’s a shortage of skilled carpentry skills around the world. Take on light-weight work doing smaller shop fit-outs, hotel room renewals, smaller refurbishment projects.
Cleaning Services
Hygiene expert:
If you’ve been in this industry long enough, you’ll know there’s demand for specialist hygiene services. This could be small clinics wanting periodic hygiene inspections and cleanups – laboratories – food processing plants, etc.
Commercial kitchen hygiene specialists:
Decades of expertise ensuring spotless, compliant, and efficient kitchen environments. Offer precision cleaning, sanitation strategies, and hygiene audits—all backed by seasoned professionals who understand the industry inside and out.
Mattress cleaning (rug cleaning)
Want an easy business – start a deep-cleaning solutions cleaning mattresses (residential & hospitality) removing allergens, dust, and stains — ensuring mattresses stay clean and hygienic – all backed by seasoned professionals with experience. Upsell rug cleaning (and vice versa).
Pressure Cleaning Service:
Few people have the right pressure cleaning machinery. Offer high-powered cleaning for homes, driveways, and businesses—removing dirt, grime, and stains with expert precision. Retired professionals bring experience to do it right.
Tenant in/out Cleaning Service:
This service can be offered to rental agents, apartment owners and tenants alike. Normally, when a tenants moves out, the apartment requires a cleaning – same with move-ins. With the right equipment and tools (and know-how), cleaning 10 apartments per month is not unrealistic – meaning R10k / month – and spare time for golf. Upsell small fixes, like handyman work, leaky taps, shower door fixes, painting, etc.
Electrical
Offer Small Repairs:
If you’re an certified electrician (even single phase license) – there’s lots of work in small repairs – switches, plugs, board faults, etc. For a (un)retired expert, this can be a great business doing just two repair a day (4-days / week) = R25k / month +
Small installation (AKA renovation high-end apartments)
Focus on interior work (remember you’re not getting any younger 🙂 with focus on high-end apartment renovations. People buy apartments all the time – and refurbish them. Electrical work in apartments does not demand climbing into ceiling spaces.
Compliance inspections & reporting:
Have a wireman license (master electrician)? Homeowners and business owners need compliance and a safe installation. It’s a natural for an (un)retired electrician.
Hang light fitting (chandeliers)
With the right approach, hanging light fixtures can be a non-complicated retirement business offering flexibility – focus on buyers (many people are buying lights online these days) – offer to put them up for R500 first light and R300 thereafter. Put up 20 of these and make R10k plus with time to spare.
Keyless Locks
Start installing keyless locks for homes and businesses. Offer expert guidance ensures convenience, reliability, and enhanced protection with cutting-edge entry system. Upsell from other related activities like video door bells.
Video doorbells & cameras:
See above
Pool pump repair specialists:
Pool electrics and leaks are common repairs with pools. If you know pumps well, and how to fix them efficiently, this can keep your mornings busy – add electrical faults like timers, circuit breakers, etc. and you have a winner.
Automatic gate / garage door motors:
Why not list two business that run on similar lines – pool pumps and gate motor repairs?
HT terminations and jointing specialist (master electrician):
This is such a in-demand task for specialist HT/Master electricians with high-tension experience. Sub-contract to electrical contractors, municipalities, big industry – and offer a service that is highly specialized.
Events
Children parties (i.e. pizza baking / Muppet show:
Bring in years of wisdom and fun to kids’ celebrations—interactive pizza baking, themed puppet shows, and engaging activities that make parties unforgettable. Creative, hands-on entertainment backed by seasoned professionals who know how to spark joy.
Wedding planner:
If you have expert planning, coordination, and execution skills as a seasoned professionals with years of practical experience – and you can handle logistics, vendors, and creative details, ensuring a stress-free, unforgettable day – this is for you!
Balloon Delivery Service:
You don’t need skills for a balloon delivery service – but you can still bring celebrations to life with vibrant balloon arrangements—delivered straight to your clients door and collected hassle-free. Create stunning displays for events, birthdays, and special occasions with convenience and reliability.
Bubble / smoke machine rentals:
Renting out bubble machines – or smoke machines – or confetti machines, is a great way for an active retiree to make some extra coffee money. It’s a simple business – buy good quality machines through say, alibaba.com – and rent them out for weddings, special anniversaries, product launches, events.
Gas (LPG
Electric to Gas Stove conversions:
If you’re a certified gas installer, this is a no brainer. There’s a trend to covert to LPG given the power situation in South Africa.
Gas fireplaces:
Ditto
Compliance inspections:
Ditto
If you’re a certified gas installer, this is a no brainer.
Handyman services (too general – rather specialize)
Show Door Repair Specialists:
This is a typical niche taken from the handyman service sector – precise work that is predictable because, as a specialist, there are fewer surprises.
Pet Doors Delivery & Installation:
This is another one of those niche jobs, off the handyman services arena – easy to install (30 min) and plenty of buyers who own cats and small dogs, living in townhouse, apartments with patios, etc. Quick and easy turn-over.
Cabinet door hinge repairs:
Another one of those easy to deliver ‘problem-solver’ – these hinge repair kits come in the form of a plate, which take minutes to install and – Voila, door fixed! Easy coffee money.
Hospitality
Boutique hotel / guest lodge relief (fill in) (management)
Boutique and smaller hotels, lodges and glamping spots sometimes need [relievers] to run things while the manager / owner is away on holiday, sick leave – or whatever. This is where you come step in for a week, two week – or a month.
Chef stand in (relief):
Ditto
Fire & life safety advisory:
Hotels and guest accommodation spots, like glamping, etc. are legally obliged to conform to regulatory practices for legal and insurance purpose. As an experienced F&LS expert, this is where you step in – helping smaller operations through the legislative procedures, advisory, oversight.
House sitters (house guardians:
Catering for high-end cliental, this is a legitimate way to look after people’s assets while they’re away.
IT Services
Trouble shooting hot line:
Charge a fee for virtual – phone trouble shooting and advice. Offer as a critical service available to smaller businesses. Keep it tight, small menu, and easy to access by the average non-computer person.
Assist with setting up IT Systems:
Start and advisory and oversight (projects) business catering for people wanting to set up a network IT system.
Laptop keyboard cleaning service:
Another sound business idea for not-to-techie but adequately skilled retirees – read more >
Cyber security advisory:
This is knowledge few people possess – so trust in an expert is the key. Be a cyber security expert.
Junk Removal Service
Remove discarded furniture from homes and businesses:
A small truck or 2-tonne van, and there’s lots of business going around collecting and disposing of discarded stuff like old furniture, fridges, washing machines, etc. A fantastic niche if you lack technical skills.
Legacy Creations
This is such a great niche for retirees who want to combine their hobby with creative work and income potential.
Bespoke Cakes
Bespoke Furniture (AKA coffee tables)
Gift Basket Delivery Service
High-End Decor Candles
Pest Control Services
Household Getting Rid of Roaches:
If you know how to do this effectively and affordably – there is no shortage of business. Do expert assessments, safe treatments, and long-term prevention strategies. No heavy lifting – perfect for expert retirees.
Resolving Mosquito Problems 🙁
I don’t know how or even if any methodology exists – but if you have an effective solution, you’re gonna be a hero!
Plants & Garden
Small spaces garden design:
Are you an expert in design and plant selection? Start a small business in plants and layout for balconies, courtyards, and urban gardens (small spaces). Push – “retired specialists bring decades of experience to create beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes tailored to any small space.”
Plant advisory and delivery for indoor spaces:
Advise small business and high-end clients on what best plants to buy for their spaces.
Veg Garden Advisory:
Help individuals and businesses grow thriving vegetable gardens—expert advice on soil quality, plant selection, pest control, and sustainable cultivation. “Seasoned professionals bring decades of knowledge to ensure bountiful harvests in any space”.
Pool care specialist
Cleaning and re-calibrating:
Be that expert who ensures crystal-clear, well-balanced water with expert cleaning and maintenance. Handle filtration, chemical treatments, and repairs—delivering hassle-free pool care for homes and businesses.
Pool Re-Painting:
Revive pools with durable, high-quality fiberglass coatings—ensuring a smooth, long-lasting finish resistant to wear and chemicals. “Seasoned professionals bring decades of expertise to restore beauty and functionality with precision craftsmanship”.
Pool Pumps and Electrics Repairs:
Upsell your pool services if you’re know what you’re doing with technical stuff like pumps, electrics, plumbing.
Professional Engineers Collective
Structural engineer for smaller projects
Architects
Fire and life safety engineers
Zoning and land use specialists (land survey)
Furniture
Furniture Renewal and Upholstering:
Become an expert reupholstering, refinishing, and restoration. Offer quality craftsmanship, transforming worn-out furniture into stylish, durable creations.
Upselling:
Buy cheap – renew – sell for profit. Use Facebook Market Place – Gumtree – and OlderWarriors.co.za (this site) to sell your artisanal master pieces.
Interior design
Wallpaper hanging Service:
People are buying wallpaper (and murals) online – direct. But they don’t know how to hang wallpaper and rely on referrals to pint them to a wallpaper hanger – reviews are key.
Interior Designer Assistance & Advisory:
Many people enjoy doing their interiors themselves and just need a helping hand for guidance and some oversight. You can be that person.
… and there you have it – the value of niche work – for Control & Efficiency in Niche Work to give you the flexibility, life purpose, and extra money that you need – enjoy! Stay sharp!