If you’re interested in finding out how skilled tradespeople over 50 are building residual income streams before their bodies force them to stop…
Then read on.
I’m in my 60s, and I’ve been a qualified electrician for over 45 years.
In my younger years, I genuinely loved the work. The problem-solving. The satisfaction of a job well done. The pride in my craft.
But somewhere along the way, things changed.
The construction industry changed. My body changed. And I realised this life was no longer my passion—or physically sustainable.
Maybe you know exactly what I’m talking about.
That moment when you wake up, and your back’s already aching before you’ve even started the day.
When you’re knackered by lunchtime.
When you look at your pension statement and think, “That’s it? After all these years?”
When you realise you’re one injury away from losing everything you’ve worked for.
If that sounds familiar, this article is for you.
The Reality Most Tradespeople Over 50 Face (And Nobody Talks About)
Let me be blunt: the traditional trades career path doesn’t work for people our age anymore.
Here’s what I see happening to skilled tradespeople in their 50s and 60s:
Your Body’s Breaking Down
You’ve spent decades climbing ladders, carrying heavy materials, working in all weather, crawling into tight spaces, and putting your body through hell.
And now? Your knees hurt. Your back’s done. Your shoulders ache constantly.
You’re not bouncing back as you used to, and you know it.
The physical toll of manual work compounds over time. What you could shake off at 30 takes weeks to recover from at 55.
Your Pension’s a Joke
You’ve been told to contribute to your pension for years. Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t—but either way, when you actually look at the numbers, they don’t add up.
That pension pot you’ve been building? It’s not going to give you the retirement you imagined.
Not even close.
Weather Costs You Money
Rain? Can’t work.
Snow? No jobs.
Extreme heat? Dangerous.
You’re losing days—sometimes weeks—of income every year through no fault of your own.
And unlike office workers, you don’t get paid when you’re not on site.
The Constant Hustle Never Stops
Even after 40+ years in the trade, you’re still chasing the next job.
Quoting. Marketing. Following up, chasing payment. Competing with younger lads who charge less.
You thought it would get easier. It hasn’t.
There’s No Financial Cushion
If you don’t work, you don’t get paid.
Holiday? That’s lost income.
Sick? Lost income.
Injured? Lost income.
There’s no such thing as passive income when you’re a tradesperson. Your income dies the moment you stop working.
Sound familiar?
Why “Just Keep Going” Isn’t a Strategy
Here’s what I see happening to tradespeople who don’t have a plan:
They keep working into their 60s—not because they want to, but because they have to.
Their bodies get worse. The work gets harder. They start cutting corners or turning down difficult jobs.
Eventually, something gives.
An injury. Burnout. Or they just physically can’t do it anymore.
And then what?
They’re forced to retire with inadequate savings, a small pension, and no backup plan.
That’s not the ending any of us want.
What Changed for Me (And Why I’m Sharing This With You)
Ten years ago, I realised I needed to do something different.
I enjoyed being an electrician, but I didn’t enjoy what it was doing to my body. And I knew I couldn’t keep doing it forever.
So I started researching: How do I create an income online?
Not to get rich quick. Not to replace my income overnight.
Just to build something sustainable. Something that didn’t require my body to break down further. Something that could grow over time and give me options.
That’s when I discovered affiliate marketing.
What Is Affiliate Marketing? (And Why It’s Perfect for Tradespeople)
Affiliate marketing is simple: you promote other people’s products or services, and you earn a commission when someone buys through your recommendation.
Think about it this way—if you’ve ever recommended a good tool to another tradesperson, or told a mate about the best IPAF training, or a great van lease deal, you’ve already done affiliate marketing. You just weren’t getting paid for it.
Here’s why it works so well for people like us:
1. No Physical Demand
You work from a laptop or phone. That’s it.
No lifting. No climbing. No crawling into lofts. No working in freezing cold or baking heat.
Your body gets a break.
2. Residual Income
This is the game-changer.
With many affiliate programs, you earn recurring commissions. That means you do the work once, and you get paid month after month.
Even when you’re not actively working. Even when you’re on holiday. Even when you’re sleeping.
3. Low Startup Costs
Compared to starting a traditional business (van, tools, insurance, premises), affiliate marketing has a very low barrier to entry.
You don’t need inventory. You don’t need a shopfront. You don’t need employees.
4. Flexible Schedule
You work when you want.
Still doing trade work part-time? Fine—do this in the evenings or weekends.
Want to take a Wednesday off? Do it.
Nobody’s chasing you for quotes or asking when you can start.
5. Weather-Proof Income
Rain, snow, or sunshine—it doesn’t matter. You can work from home, a coffee shop, or anywhere with an internet connection.
Your income doesn’t stop because the weather’s bad.
6. You Don’t Need to Be “Techy”
I know what you’re thinking: “I’m not a computer person.”
I wasn’t either. I’m an electrician, not an IT expert.
Let me ask you this:
“Do you have a mobile phone? Do you know how to use it?”
“Do you do online banking?”
“Do you use Facebook?”
“ Do you know how to send an email?”
If the answer to any of the above is yes, you have the technical skills; it’s just your brain telling you you don’t think you do.
But here’s the thing—you don’t need to be a tech wizard. The skills you need are learnable, and there are communities (like the one I’m part of) that will teach you everything step by step.
If I can do it in my 60s, you can too.
The Skills You Already Have (That Make This Easier)
Here’s something most people don’t realise: tradespeople are perfectly positioned to succeed at affiliate marketing.
Why? Because you already have the most important skills:
You Understand Your Audience
You’ve spent decades working with clients, understanding their problems, and providing solutions.
That’s literally what marketing is—understanding what people need and showing them how to get it.
You’re a Problem-Solver
Every job you’ve done has involved diagnosing problems and fixing them.
Online business is the same. Something not working? You figure it out.
You’re Used to Learning
Regulations change. Technology in your trade evolves. You’ve adapted before.
Learning affiliate marketing is no different.
You’ve Built Trust
People hire you because they trust you to do the job properly.
That same trust-building skill works online. You recommend products you believe in, and people trust your judgment.
You’re Not Afraid of Hard Work
Let’s be honest—affiliate marketing isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme.
Like anything worthwhile, it takes effort, consistency, and commitment.
But you’ve been working hard your entire life. You know what it takes to build something. That work ethic? That’s your advantage.
My Honest Experience: What It Actually Took
I’m not going to sugarcoat this.
When I started 10 years ago, I didn’t know what I was doing.
I spent time learning. I made mistakes. I joined programmes that didn’t work out. I wasted money on things I didn’t need.
But here’s what changed everything for me: I found the right community and the right training.
I’m now part of the Home Business Academy—a platform built on trust, integrity, and transparency (values that matter to people like us).
They taught me:
- How to choose the right affiliate programs
- How to create content that connects with people
- How to build an email list
- How to market authentically without being sleazy
- How to create systems that generate residual income
- How to use their ‘Turnkey’ done-for-you system
And most importantly, they gave me a community of people who actually cared about my success.
That made all the difference.
What Residual Income Actually Looks Like
Let me give you a realistic picture.
In my first year, I made a few hundred pounds. Not life-changing, but it proved the concept worked.
By year two, I was covering my monthly costs—website, tools, training. I wasn’t losing money anymore.
By year three, I was earning enough to cut back on the physical trade work. My body thanked me.
Now, ten years in, I’ve built multiple income streams that generate recurring commissions every single month—whether I’m working that day or not.
That’s what residual income means:
You build it once, and it keeps paying you.
You take a holiday, and the income keeps coming.
You have a bad back week, and the income keeps coming.
You sleep, and the income keeps coming.
It’s not about getting rich. It’s about creating financial security and options for the next 10, 20, or 30 years of your life.
The Three Biggest Objections (And The Truth)
Let me address the three things I hear most often from tradespeople:
“I’m too old to learn this stuff.”
No, you’re not.
I started in my 50s. I know people who started at 60, 65, even 70.
Age isn’t the barrier—mindset is.
If you can learn new building regs, new health and safety rules, and new tools, you can learn this.
“I’m not a computer person.”
Neither was I.
I could send emails and use Word. That was it.
Everything else? I learned as I went. And so can you.
The skills you need aren’t complicated—they’re just new. There’s a difference.
“I don’t have time.”
I get it. You’re working full-time, you’ve got family commitments, you’re knackered at the end of the day.
But here’s the question: Do you have 2-4 hours a week?
That’s all it takes to start.
A couple of evenings. A Sunday morning. Bits of time here and there.
You’re not building this overnight. You’re building it gradually, alongside your current work, so that when your body says “enough,” you’ve got something in place.
What Happens If You Don’t Do This?
I’m not here to scare you, but let’s be realistic.
If you don’t build an alternative income stream, what’s the plan?
Work until you’re 70? Hope your pension stretches? Rely on the state?
What happens when you physically can’t do the work anymore?
What happens if you get injured tomorrow?
The truth is: hoping for the best isn’t a strategy.
And waiting until you have to stop working to figure this out? That’s too late.
The best time to build a safety net is before you need it.
How to Get Started (Without Overcomplicating It)
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Okay, I’m interested—but where do I even start?”—here’s what I recommend:
Step 1: Educate Yourself
You don’t need to know everything. You just need to understand the basics.
Read articles. Watch videos. Learn what affiliate marketing actually is and how it works.
Step 2: Find the Right Training and Community
Don’t try to figure this out alone. You’ll waste time and money.
Find a reputable platform with proper training, support, and a community of people who are doing what you want to do.
I’m part of the Home Business Academy because they offer:
- Step-by-step training for complete beginners
- Daily masterminds and live coaching
- A supportive community
- Done-for-you systems (so you don’t have to build everything from scratch)
- 80% commissions (unheard of in the industry)
They’ve been around for over a decade, and they’re built on integrity—not hype.
Step 3: Start Small and Stay Consistent
You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow.
Start with a few hours a week. Learn the basics. Apply what you’re learning. Build momentum.
Consistency beats intensity every time.
Step 4: Give Yourself Time
This isn’t a lottery ticket. It’s a business.
It takes time to build, but the time investment is worth it.
Would you rather spend the next year building something that could support you for the next 20 years?
Or would you rather look back in five years, wishing you’d started today?
Why I’m Sharing This With You
I didn’t write this article to sell you something.
I wrote it because I know what it’s like to be a skilled tradesperson in your 50s, watching your body break down and wondering what comes next.
I know the fear of not having enough saved.
I know the frustration of working harder for less.
I know the exhaustion of doing physically demanding work when your body’s screaming at you to stop.
And I know there’s another way—because I’ve lived it.
Affiliate marketing gave me options.
It gave me an income. It gave me time. It gave me a business that doesn’t require my body to keep breaking down.
And I want the same for you.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Got More Time Than You Think (But Not Forever)
If you’re 50, 55, or 60, you’ve probably got another 20-30 years of life ahead of you.
That’s a long time to be worrying about money.
It’s also plenty of time to build something sustainable that gives you peace of mind and financial freedom.
But here’s the thing: the best time to start was five years ago. The second best time is today.
Not when you’re forced to stop working.
Not when your body gives out.
Not when you’re desperate.
Now. While you still have time.
Your body’s already telling you it can’t keep doing this forever.
Are you going to listen?
Ready to Learn More?
Why not take a look at our community, a community that covers:
- Why traditional retirement planning fails most tradespeople
- How affiliate marketing works (in plain English)
- The exact steps to get started
- Real talk about what it actually takes to succeed
This is the exact community and training platform I use and highly recommend.
If you are interested you can check it out here.
Or if you’ve got questions, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help.
Here’s to your financial freedom—and to a future where your income doesn’t depend on your body holding up.
Take care,
John Davies
Former Electrician, Now Full-Time Affiliate Marketer
