Starting an Online Business After 60 With No Tech Skills? I’m Doing It.

I’m 60 years old. I drive an Uber with one working eye to pay the bills, and I build affiliate websites at night — hoping to retire at 62. My wife says we need an extra $100 a day. And no, I didn’t grow up with computers. I don’t know Python from a python. If you’re wondering whether you can start an online business after 60 with no tech skills, I’m living proof that the answer is yes — but it’s not the kind of yes the gurus sell you.

They’ll tell you it’s easy. Push a button, collect a check. I’ve been lied to enough times to know better. So let me tell you what actually works when you’re over 60 and your tech knowledge tops out at hitting “reply all.”

You Don’t Need to Be a Coder

First thing I learned: online business doesn’t mean writing code. It means writing words, picking products to promote, and connecting two things together with a link. That’s it. I use affiliate programs like Amazon Associates and ShareASale. No coding required. I pick a product I’ve actually used — a good phone mount for my car, a back support cushion — and I write a simple honest review. Then I paste a link. If someone buys, I get a small cut.

The tech is just learning how to copy-and-paste a link. My grandkid showed me that in five minutes. If you can send an email, you can do this.

The Minimal Tech Setup That Works

I use a $9-per-month hosting plan and a free WordPress theme. I don’t touch any code. I pick a theme that looks decent, plug in my content, and that’s my website. People overthink this part. You don’t need a custom design or fancy plugins. You just need a clean page that’s easy to read.

If you really hate WordPress, try Ghost (that’s what I use on jims.one). It’s even simpler — just write and hit publish. No database, no FTP, no nonsense. I can set up a new site in two hours, and I’m slower than most. The trick is to stop worrying about the “tech” and start worrying about the content. Your first site will look ugly. Mine did. It’s fine. Affiliate marketing for seniors works even when your site looks like a 1998 geocities page — as long as the words help someone.

How I Learned Without a Computer Science Degree

YouTube is my teacher. I search “how to start a blog for beginners 2024” and watch the videos that don’t ask me to buy a course first. I take notes on paper. I follow along at my own pace. Sometimes I pause the video for ten minutes while I figure out where the button went. It’s slow, but it sticks.

I also learned by failing. I bought a domain for a site about hiking gear, wrote three posts, then realized I hate hiking. That’s okay. That mistake taught me to pick a topic I actually care about — cars, driving, maybe something about health for people my age. No tech skills required, just interest and patience. The hardest part is not giving up after the first two months of zero visitors.

Why Your Age Is Actually an Advantage

You know what a 25-year-old influencer can’t do? Write like someone who’s lived through four recessions, raised kids, and driven a cab for 12 hours. Your life experience is your real asset. When I write about dash cams or seat cushions, I’m not reading specs — I’ve sat on that cushion for 300 miles. That honesty comes through. Readers trust an old guy who says “this is the best thing for your back because my back is wrecked.” A young blogger can’t fake that.

You don’t need to learn complicated software or master SEO. You just need to be real and consistent. Post one piece a week. Answer questions your readers actually have. The tech part will come slowly — and that’s fine. The part that makes money is the part that can’t be automated: your voice, your story, your willingness to keep going.

So can you start an online business after 60 with no tech skills? Yes, but only if you’re okay with being a beginner, making mistakes, and not quitting when the first three months earn you $12. I’m still working at it. My dashboard at jims.one shows the real numbers — the wins and the zeros. You can watch a 60-year-old Uber driver try to hit $100 a day. I’m not pretending it’s easy, but I am proof it’s possible.

Watch the real numbers at jims.one — I'm not pretending this is easy.