How to Run a Business From a Beach (or a Mountain, or a Café in Paris) in the Digital Nomad Entrepreneur’s Playbook
Let’s be honest: the thought of running a business from a hammock in Bali while drinking a coconut sounds like a dream. But here’s the secret: It is feasible. Every day, digital nomad entrepreneurs make it happen by trading cubicles for co-working facilities with views of the ocean. The catch? You need more than just a laptop and a goal. You need a plan.
First things first: What is a digital nomad entrepreneur, anyway?
Imagine this: You wake up in Lisbon, work on your web business from a sunny café in the morning, then take the afternoon free to explore before calling a client in New York on Zoom. That’s how life is. Digital nomad entrepreneurs start enterprises that don’t have to be in one place, such freelancing, e-commerce, consulting, content development, and more. What can’t be changed? Wi-Fi that works well (and maybe a good VPN).
Realistic Business Ideas for Travelling
Not every company is ready to live on the road. You might want to consider again if your aim is to ship real things from a warehouse. But what about these ideas? They do well when things are flexible:
Freelancing your skills: You can do graphic design, copywriting, scripting, and more from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. It’s easy to locate clients on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
Dropshipping: No stock? No issue. Set up an internet business, work with suppliers, and let them ship your products while you market them from a beach in Thailand.
Online Courses and Coaching: Do you know something that other people will pay to learn? Put your knowledge into courses or coaching sessions. Whatever sells, teach it: English, business strategy, yoga.
Making content: writing blogs, making videos for YouTube, and making podcasts. Get people to follow you, make money from ads or sponsorships, and work whenever you feel like it, preferably in a beautiful place.
The Basics: Banking, Taxes, and Not Getting Ripped Off
This is when most people who want to be nomads freak out. How do you deal with money when you move from one country to another every few months? First, open a bank account that doesn’t have borders. Wise, Revolut, and N26 are all good choices. Stay away from big foreign fees and keep your money simple.
Taxes? More difficult. There are some great discounts for digital nomads in some countries, like Portugal and Estonia. Not so much for others. Every cent is worth it for a qualified accountant who knows how to work with businesses that don’t have a set location.
The Reality Check: Not Everything Is Sunsets and Work
Let’s be honest. It sounds great to work from a tropical paradise, but what happens when your Airbnb Wi-Fi goes out during a client call? Time zones can be tough (have you ever had to meet with a customer at 3 AM because they were in Australia?), and being alone all the time makes you feel even worse.
The answer? Routine and community. Join digital nomad hotspots (like Chiang Mai, Lisbon, or Medellín), find co-working spaces, and actually schedule breaks. Burnout doesn’t care whether you can see a palm tree from your office.
Are you ready to jump? Begin Here.
- Check Before You Go – First, run your business from home. It will work in Costa Rica if it works there.
- Pack Light: just a backpack, a laptop and the basics. You will be glad you did.
- Choose areas that are suitable for nomads. Start with places with good infrastructure, like Bali, Mexico City, and Budapest.
- Accept the mess Missed flights, dodgy Wi-Fi, language barriers—it’s all part of the journey.
Final Thought: Freedom Isn’t Free (But It’s Worth It)
It’s not about getting away from reality as a digital nomad entrepreneur; it’s about making your own. You need to be willing to work hard, be flexible, and embrace adventure. But if you can make it work? Your office is the whole world.
Want to live like a nomad? What are you most worried about? Leave it in the comments so we can work on it together.
