Travel is usually associated with leisure and anything but work, but if you are developing an internet business, it can be possible to combine the two and even improve your financial situation and build your business at the same time. This idea is not going to work for everyone, especially if you have children, but if you are single or have a partner who is willing to accompany you, it is entirely possible.
This idea is also only going to work if you have a business that can be mostly run on the internet. If you need to be taking calls during business hours, it could be difficult. However, if you think from the start as to how you can structure your business model so you don’t have to be working 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, not only will you be able to travel, but you will likely come up with a business system where you are not tied to it, like an employee is tied to their job.
Living costs
One of the hardest things with starting a business is building and maintaining a cash flow which can sustain your living costs. One way you can use travel to improve on this situation is to live in a country or region where living costs are low.
Consider for example where I was staying not so long ago in Nha Trang, Vietnam. It is a beach resort with plenty of places to stay starting at around $5 a night or $150 a month. I heard that could rent a house for around $100 a month. If you are in a hotel you basically have no household bills to pay - no bills for electricity, water or gas.
You can get your laundry done for 50 cents a kilo. Food and beer is also extremely cheap. If you eat at one of the roadside food stalls you can get a rice dish with BBQ’ed pork and salad for 50 cents. A bottle of Saigon beer is just 50 cents at most places.
Internet access
As long as you have your own laptop, numerous places offer free WiFi for the price of a coffee, usually around 50 cents. Connections are not the fastest in the world, but usually fast enough to get your work done.
Benefits
Other than the obvious cost savings, you will also find yourself with more time on your hands to either work or to spend at your leisure. Think of it - no commutes, no housework (even at cheap hotels they have staff to clean your room), no cooking and no laundry. You can live wherever you want, whether it is on a hill station in India or on a tropical island in Thailand. Since you are free from the usual distractions in life, the time that you actually spend working is likely to be more productive. Travel often brings new experiences and the chance to meet new and interesting people from every corner of the globe.
Other considerations
Of course you still need to get to your ideal location, but if you fly out of season you can usually get a good deal. You will also need to purchase some travel insurance and you need to keep abreast of visa regulations of staying in a particular country. Working in an idyllic location may require a little more motivation for some people, but if you think of the possible alternative to being stuck in a cubicle it might help keep you motivated to do a little bit of work each day.
Thanks Mike for the reminder 🙂 To often whilst doing the 9-5 one forgets how little one realy needs to live if you can be flexible as to where you live 😉 I’m right at the point of been able to cover my expenses in asia from online incomes
with the extra time I would have, I’d probably see a profit each month. But as I have a commitment to fill I must wait till next year.
Your story & others have most definatly help me see that it realy is possible to work & travel.
I agree with your post Mike. I am not sure if people realize how much they could save by setting up a base for themselves in some “cheaper” country. Especially for the guys (like yourself) who make majority of their living on the Net.
On the other hand living in a developing country long term is not all rosy though also. Things which one is takes for granted at home are may not be so straightforward plus even in this age some things are still quite difficult mastering online (ie. business accounting/tax affairs in your home country or try to lose/mistype/forget any of your your online banking/whatever PINs).
Soundofgold, I agree that this is not going to be for everyone, but it is an alternative way of living. One thing I failed to mention was health care. I would make sure your insurance includes emergency evacuation. You don’t want to get sick in a developing country. Although the situation is improving all the time. Singapore and Thailand to an extent, have excellent health facilities and are only a short flight away.
With regards to banking/finance I can go most stuff done over the internet. You also need someone in your home country to open your mail and help out where needed. An annual trip home should be enough to get all your business stuff sorted out.
A great article - my favourite thing about earning money online is the geographical freedom it gives me.
I absolutely love travelling, and work solely from a laptop even when at home in the UK. When people see pictures of my ‘workspace’ they are often surprised to see a laptop sitting on an empty desk - I guess they are expecting to see dual monitors, and a big desktop machine.
No way - I take full advantage of the freedom the Internet offers, and love to pack my bags (and my laptop) at any given moment.
I am off to the USA for five weeks next week - all the while I will still be making money and enjoying the great conversion rate between £ Sterling and the US Dollar.
I wouldn’t change it for the world.
- Martin Reed
CBB, thanks for the comment. I am planning on starting a new forum myself so I subscribed to your blog.
That’s great, Mike. Feel free to email me if you would like any specific advice 🙂
- Martin Reed