This is a subscriber-only article.

Save 20% on Entrepreneur+ during our Spring Growth Flash Sale

Use code SPRING20 at checkout.

Subscribe Now

Already have an account?

Sign in
Entrepreneur Plus - Short White
For Subscribers

Tips for Business Owners on Retirement Planning 'I'll never retire' is a common refrain among ambitious entrepreneurs, but the fact is you are likely to decide to at some point. Here's a look at how to plan for that day.

By J.D. Roth

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Saving for retirement is tough. For one thing, there's no way to know exactly how much you'll need to save. All you can do is make your best guess based on your situation and goals.

Traditionally, financial planners and retirement calculators suggest you'll need 70 percent (or 80 percent or 100 percent) of your pre-retirement income to maintain your current lifestyle. This doesn't make much sense.

Say, for instance, you earn $80,000 a year but spend $70,000. If you based your retirement needs on your income (70 percent of $80,000 is $56,000), you'd fall short of supporting your current lifestyle. But if you earn $80,000 a year and spend only $35,000, basing your retirement goals on your income might lead you to save too much, meaning you could have used that money to enjoy life when you were younger.