How to create a location independent business
Having a location independent business comes with endless benefits. The freedom entrepreneurship brings is doubled when you can run your business from anywhere in the world.
It also comes with a great deal of responsibility and requires a lot of discipline, because a location independent business doesn’t just create itself.
While we do technically run a location independent business today, it didn’t start off that way. John and I never sat down and said “Ok, how are we going to make sure we can do this from anywhere in the world?”
Instead, we sat down and said, “How are we going to make this business a success?”
So it was only after we had already created our business – and had it set up and running – that we decided to shift our lifestyle, and with that shift, turned a business that we built at home into a business we could run from anywhere in the world.
We’ve also brought our audience along on that journey with us – sharing both the amazing experiences we’ve had during our travels, along with what it takes preparation and planning-wise to take your work on the road.
Creating a location independent business
As I’m sure you can imagine, creating a location independent business takes a lot of hard work, and even once you’ve created it, actually running it requires loads of preparation and planning.
But it is possible.
There are two main paths you can take towards creating a location independent business, and I put together a list of the top considerations you should focus on depending on which path you’ll take.
The one consideration that’s mandatory – regardless of which path you take – is this:
Determine what your business looks like one year from now
You can think of this almost like a vision board exercise.
When determining what your business looks like one year from now, ask yourself questions like:
In one year…
- Where are you in the world?
- What are your daily activities?
- How do you balance life and work?
- How much revenue are you generating?
- What products and/or services are you selling?
- Who is your favorite client or customer?
Really think about what your life and business look like one year from now, because these should be mandatories as you start walking down your path to location independence.
So, based on what your business will look like one year from now, which path are you going to take to get there?
Path 1: Become location independent, then create your business
No one path is easier than the other, per say, but in choosing Path 1 you are adding what I would consider unnecessary roadblocks to your journey.
I don’t say it to scare you – I am speaking from experience – and my experience comes from running a location independent business that already has a strong foundation.
So beware: there are unique struggles that come with starting a business – period – and putting yourself in a situation where you’re trying to face those unique struggles with the additional struggles of traveling and living anywhere in the world will not be easy.
Here are some things to consider if you want to take Path 1
1. How will you make money?
If you haven’t already started your business, then it’ll be mandatory that you have a plan in place to generate some type of revenue while you’re traveling. Whether that be freelance work or a local part-time job wherever you’ll be living, make sure you know how you’re going to make it happen, preferably before you leave.
Unless you have a really long runway, if you’re jumping into living a location independent lifestyle without a plan in place to generate revenue, then your location independence might not last very long.
2. Will you be able to focus?
Location independence is amazing for many reasons, including the exploration and experiences aspects that await in your new and various locations.
Along with the exploration and experiences come a lot of distractions, and so if you’re not great at focusing, it will prove to be a challenge. Remember, your location independence relies on your ability to create a successful location independent business, so when distractions creep in remind yourself of your WHY to bring yourself back to focus.
3. What if you don’t have Internet?
No matter how much research you do or how many people assure you that the Internet is great wherever you’re going, there’s always a chance that you’ll go entire days without access to the Internet. And since most location independent businesses rely on the Internet to function properly, you should always have a plan in place to prevent disasters as a result of poor (or no) Internet connection.
My favorite way of doing this: never put yourself in a situation where your back is up against the wall, whether that be in terms of creating and publishing new content, being prepared for a big launch, or otherwise. Preparation and planning will be your two best friends as a location independent entrepreneur.
4. What type of community can you create where you’re headed – be it online or in person?
Location independence sounds awesome in every way; who wouldn’t want to travel the world and explore and experience new things every day?!
Well, it is awesome in pretty much every way, except that sometimes it can be a bit lonely if you’re doing it by yourself. So just be prepared and know how it is you’ll go about creating community.
5. Will you have proper support?
This is very much in line with the last point, but it deserves to also stand on its own because you need to know that even if you don’t have in-person support where you’re going, that you definitely have it by way of a Skype chat or a FaceTime call with your family and friends back home.
6. Can you deliver on your promises to clients?
It’s great to think that you’ll definitely be available for your clients throughout your travels, but what about the time difference? What about tight deadlines?
Be sure that whatever product or service it is you’re promising to your audience and clients that it’s one you can deliver on regardless of where you are in the world.
Once you’ve sat down and answered these questions – and really thought about the situations you’ll potentially be in after making your move – talk with others about it. Ideally, you’ll get to chat with someone who has already had experience with going location-independent and then starting a business.
It’s important to get others viewpoints and input, so don’t hesitate to jump into online forums or communities where other location independent business owners are hanging out at.
It’s also important to consider that you may not know the actual answer to many of these questions until you just DO IT. I’m all about taking that step, so more power to you!
Path 2: Create your business first, then become location independent
Again, Path 2 is no walk in the park, and I can definitely argue the point that if you put off location independence in order to create your business first, then you’re missing out on the experiences you could be having as a result of traveling.
However, for me, these two things don’t exist without the other, and therefore, traveling the world as if you own a location independent business when you actually don’t isn’t going to work – at least not long-term.
Because we created a business first, and then became location independent, we know exactly what’s required of us in order to keep the business running, and so making decisions based on something that’s already pretty predictable is a lot easier than guessing in two areas (both creating your business and being location independent).
Here are some things to consider if you want to take Path 2
1. Do you want to build a large team, or keep it small?
Building a successful and sustainable business almost always requires that you have a team in place, especially if you’re interested in growing and/or scaling that business.
This should also be a big consideration and something you’re thinking about if you’re looking to take your business on the road with you, because regardless of whether you’re building a large team or a small team, you’re going to have to be able to rely on them to have your back and manage them from anywhere.
2. Can you create a system for that?
Something that has absolutely made it possible for us to run a location independent business is having systems in place, especially when it comes to the repeatable tasks.
Equally important (if not more) is having systems in place for the things that generate revenue, because as I mentioned earlier, being on the road, living anywhere and traveling on a whim introduce the constant possibility of not having access to the Internet.
Anything that can have a system built around it should; that will save you time and time again when it comes to being able to actually enjoy the location independence you’ve created.
3. What if you don’t have Internet?
Yep, it will always be a consideration. For example, once our business went completely location independent, we made a pretty big move down to Puerto Rico.
One of our mandatories: we have to be able to have great Internet.
While Puerto Rico does have options you can setup that will give you great Internet, it also has power outages about one time per week, and when the power is out, the Internet is out.
So we’ve had to not only install multiple things to have the Internet connection we have, but we’ve also had to install backup options so that when our power goes out, we’re not left with zero connection.
4. Can you become great at preparation and planning?
Our location independence didn’t stop with our move to Puerto Rico. Since relocating we’ve traveled about 40% of every year, whether that be a quick weekend trip somewhere, all the way to 5+ weeks on the road.
That type of travel takes loads of preparation and planning, and if the location independent lifestyle is what you have in mind, know that you’ll have to find a way to become great at these two things.
Again, it’s critically important to get others viewpoints and input, so don’t hesitate to jump into online forums or communities where other location independent business owners are hanging out at.
It’s also important to consider that you may not know the actual answer to many of these questions until you just DO IT. I’m all about taking that step, so more power to you!
Which path will you take?
There is no right or wrong way to create a business or become location independent because there are so many different variables that come into play based on your personality, your life, your family, your beliefs, and so on.
Know that whatever path you choose, regardless of whether you stumble along the way, that it IS the right path for YOU. Every time you stumble, you give yourself the opportunity to get back up and try again – this time with more knowledge and strength than the last time.
