Management · Podcast & training
Manager Tools
Mark Horstman & Michael Auzenne
Gave away practical management advice in a free podcast, then sold training.
manager-tools.com ↗CONSULTING AFTER RETIREMENT
Consulting after retirement, on your own terms.
Turn the job you did for decades into a small, clear offer that people already understand and need.
Find your thing →free · about 5 minutes
THE SHORT ANSWER
Retirees become consultants by turning their former role into a narrow, named offer, like a workshop, audit, or a monthly advisory retainer, for one type of client. Start with people who already know your work, set a fixed price per project, add a newsletter or course once you notice the same questions coming up.
WHY YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS
You’re already the expert people call.
If former colleagues still phone you for advice, you’re consulting already. You’re just not charging for it.
Consulting is the most direct path from a career to income because the market already exists: people inside companies need your judgment, briefly, without hiring you full-time.
The trick is to keep it small and clear. A named offer with a fixed price is easier to buy than “I’m available for consulting,” and it keeps you from working more than you want to.
IDEAS THAT FIT
Ways to package what you know
| Idea | Format | Effort to start | How it earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| A fixed-price audit or review | One project | Low | One flat fee |
| A monthly advisory retainer | A few calls a month | Low | Monthly fee |
| Workshops for teams | Half or full day | Medium | Fee per workshop |
| Interim or fractional roles | Part-time, set term | Medium | Monthly fee |
| Board or advisory seats | Quarterly meetings | Low | Stipend or equity |
| Expert-witness or review work | Case by case | Medium | Hourly fees |
| A training course from your playbook | Recorded lessons | Medium | Course sales |
| A newsletter for your industry | Weekly email | Low | Builds your client list |
PEOPLE WHO DID IT
Real people, real knowledge, real second acts.
Negotiation · Training & book
The Black Swan Group
Chris Voss
Turned a career in negotiation into training, coaching and a book.
blackswanltd.com ↗
Electrical trade · Training
Mike Holt Enterprises
Mike Holt
Became the go-to teacher of the electrical code with books, videos and exam prep.
mikeholt.com ↗
Publishing · Newsletter & classes
Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman
Built a paid newsletter and classes on decades inside publishing.
janefriedman.com ↗HOW TO START
Five steps, one at a time.
- 01
Know
Write down the three problems you solved best in your career. Pick one.
- 02
Find
Name the client: the kind of company or person who has that problem right now.
- 03
Tell
Describe one offer in a sentence, with what they get, how long it takes and the price.
- 04
Build
Reach out to five people who know your work and offer it.
- 05
Grow
Add a newsletter or short course once the same questions keep coming up.
FIND YOUR THING
Get a plan made for what you know.
Answer six quick questions and the free Know + Tell Business Builder suggests your best first thing, who it’s for and which tools to use. Your first answer is already filled in.
TOOLS FOR YOUR FIRST STEP
Start with these.
Calendly ↗Let clients book an intro call or a paid session in a click.Claude ↗Draft your offer, proposal template and outreach emails.beehiiv ↗Stay in front of past colleagues with a short, useful newsletter.
Know + Tell is free. Some tool links pay us a commission; here’s how we choose.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
Questions people ask.
How do I find my first consulting client?
Start with people who already know your work: former colleagues, managers, vendors and customers. A short, specific offer sent to five of them is more effective than a website.
How much should a retired consultant charge?
Price the result, not your hours. Look at what the problem costs the client and what similar experts charge, and use a fixed project fee so the client knows the cost up front.
Do I need a contract or insurance?
A simple written agreement is wise for every project, and some fields call for professional liability insurance. An attorney or insurance broker can tell you what fits your work.
Can I consult for my old employer?
Often, yes, but check any non-compete, confidentiality or pension rules that apply to you first.
How do I avoid working more than I want to?
Sell fixed offers with clear limits, like one audit or two calls a month, and say no to anything outside them.
KEEP GOING