Mary Beth Izard, professor emeritus, entrepreneurship, and president, Acheve Consulting Inc., has advice for entrepreneurs over 50. Her new book, BoomerPreneurs: How Baby Boomers Can Start Their Own Business, Make Money and Enjoy Life, is aimed at retirees, soon-to-be retirees, displaced workers and those who have always dreamed of owning their own business.  The book is a realistic guide to assessing those dreams before investing a nest egg.

Izard will present a workshop called BoomerPreneurs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 24 and 31, in the Regnier Center on the JCCC campus, sponsored by JCCC's Small Business Development Center. Cost is $50. Pre-registration is required by calling 913-469-2323 or going online at www.jccc.edu/ksbdc.

In the book, Izard includes stories and strategies from 15 entrepreneurs who started businesses after age 50. Five are from the Kansas City area, including three from Lenexa and Shawnee. She offers action steps for researching and evaluating ideas and gives a how-to for writing an abbreviated business plan. The book examines types of businesses that fit baby boomers' life situations and caveats for starting a business. A four-step process helps boomers identify and evaluate business opportunities that fit their goals and specific life situations:

• Considerations for baby boomers before starting a business
• Recognizing the opportunity that's right for you
• Refining your idea and doing your research
• Determining if your idea is viable and getting started

"There is a strong need for this type of business analysis. According to research reported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the 55- to 64-year-old age group is the group most likely to start a new business," Izard said.

Using herself as an example, Izard says many boomers find it a good idea to start their own business before retirement. She started her consulting business five years before retirement, allowing her to save money, retire early and pay for her daughters' college tuition.

"Baby boomers have different considerations than their younger counterparts," Izard said. "While boomers have more contacts, experience and resources, they need to choose businesses with low start-up costs and higher than average success rates in order to protect their savings." Her biggest piece of advice to boomerpreneurs?

"At this age, do something you are passionate about," Izard said.

Izard taught at JCCC for 25 years and continues teaching as an adjunct. She was responsible for developing and launching the JCCC entrepreneurship program in 1990. She has been a scholar in residence at the Kauffman Foundation and a member of its curriculum development team for their FastTrac programs. She also authored the book, Opportunity Analysis, Business Ideas: Identification and Evaluation.