If you want to know how to make money while traveling, you’re in the right place. At Earn and Explore, we are passionate about having the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. Whether you want to take frequent vacations, live in a van or RV, or simply have the freedom to work whenever and wherever you want, keep reading for 10 remote business ideas to keep you location independent for as long as you’d like.
How to Make Money While Traveling
To make money while traveling, you either need a location independent job or a location independent business. Although I’m a business owner, I know there are pros and cons to both remote jobs and remote businesses. As someone who has had both, here are the most significant advantages and setbacks I experienced.
Location Independent Jobs Pros & Cons
The “Pros” of Location Independent Jobs:
- You can work from anywhere (as long as your company is ok with it, and it’s not in your employment agreement otherwise)
- You typically have fewer responsibilities and a well-defined role
- You have set hours (you’ll see this one in the “cons” column, too)–you can view this as an advantage because it means you won’t work 24/7, giving you set hours to explore
- You get PTO, sick time, and a healthcare plan
- You have opportunities for advancement within the company
The “Cons” of Location Independent Jobs:
- You have a boss telling you what to do
- You might not feel fully fulfilled in your job, even though it’s remote
- You have set hours–you can view this as a disadvantage because it limits when and where you can travel during traditional work hours
- You need to be connected to Wi-Fi at all times during work hours (this means less “off the grid” exploring until the weekend)
- You may be required to attend in-person meetings and events occasionally (which could interfere with your travel plans)
Location Independent Businesses Pros & Cons
The “Pros” of Location Independent Businesses:
- You are your own boss–nobody tells you what to do
- You get to schedule work for the days and times that work best for you
- You can start a remote business that you’re passionate and excited about
- You have the potential to earn substantial income (likely more than you make at a 9-5 remote job)
- You have more freedom and flexibility to travel when and where you want and work when and where you want
The “Cons” of Location Independent Businesses:
- You will likely work harder and more than you ever have before (at least at the beginning–I know that was the case for me)
- You don’t get paid holidays, sick days, PTO, or health insurance
- You will wear many hats in your business (at least at first), and it can get overwhelming at times
- You are solely responsible for your success and the income you make (which can fluctuate)
- You will have to take a risk (but it could be totally worth it!)
For me, the “pros” of owning a location independent business outweighed the “cons,” but it might be different for you. And that’s okay! But if you are interested in remote businesses to start, keep reading!
10 Remote Business Ideas to Make Money While Traveling
It is possible to make money on the road. It takes hard work, diligence, time, effort, intentionality, and even some sacrifices to build a successful location independent business. But if you really want it, you can make it happen. The first thing is to decide how you want to make money while traveling. Here are some remote business ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
1. Start a Blog
A blog is one of the best remote businesses to start because it’s so versatile. You can create a blog about anything and share your passion with the world. From fashion to food to travel to fitness to arts and crafts to cooking, there’s no limit to what you can talk about online. All you need to get started is a laptop, Wi-Fi, and a website. I recommend Bluehost’s hosting services which integrate seamlessly with the WordPress website builder.
2. Create an Online Course
Have you ever wanted to teach others what you know? Create an online course and share your knowledge with students from all over the world while you travel all over the world. The great thing about a course is that you only have to create it once. After that, it’s a pretty passive income source.
The first step is to choose a platform to host your course. There are several popular choices, such as Udemy and Skillshare. Once you create an account, you can start uploading your lectures and other course materials. You’ll also need to set a price for your course. To help promote your course, you can create a landing page and use social media platforms to drive traffic to it.
3. Become a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants provide administrative support remotely, often for small businesses or busy entrepreneurs. VAs help with tasks like customer service, bookkeeping, email management, and social media marketing. You can choose a “niche” or offer nearly any service a business owner might need.
4. Sell Digital Products
While selling physical products can be challenging while traveling, digital products are a great way to start a location independent business. Depending on the product type, you can sell them on your own website or via an online marketplace like Etsy. Some of the most popular digital products include:
- E-books
- Photography
- Digital Art
- Sewing Patterns
- Printable Calendars or Planners
- Printable Journals
- Social Media Post Templates
- Photo Editing Presets
- Custom Fonts
- Cookbooks
- Travel Guides
- Meal Prep Plans
- Self Care Guides
- Digital Wallpapers
5. Provide Consulting or Coaching Services
If you have expertise in a particular field, offer your services as a consultant. You can work with clients via phone or video call from anywhere in the world. The average business coach makes around $86,000 per year, with some earning upwards of six figures. But business isn’t the only coaching niche. You can become a fitness coach, a relationship coach, a writing coach, an executive or leadership coach. You can essentially become a consultant for any industry where you have expertise and guidance to share.
6. Build and Design Websites
If you’re web-savvy with an eye for design, start a web design or development business and build custom websites for clients. You can specialize in a specific platform and become an expert on WordPress or Squarespace–two of the most popular website builders for businesses. For a more passive income, create Squarespace templates like this, this, and this to sell as digital products to clients.
7. Do Social Media Marketing
If you love being on Instagram or keeping up with the latest TikTok trends, doing social media marketing is one of the best remote business ideas for you. Social media marketers typically help small businesses or brands create a content strategy, develop graphics, create video content, write captions, research hashtags, and publish posts on platforms at the optimal time. As a social media marketer, you can specialize in a specific platform like Instagram or offer social marketing services on any and all platforms–Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, etc.
8. Offer Writing Services
Companies need content for their websites, blogs, and social media accounts—and that’s where you come in! As a freelance writer, you can create content that engages and informs readers while you work from anywhere with Wi-Fi. Curious about other location independent business ideas for writers? Here are 20 remote business ideas for how to make money while traveling as a writer.
9. Create and Edit Videos
Have a knack for putting together killer video montages? Consider offering your video editing services to businesses and individuals who need help creating high-quality videos. This is an excellent remote business to start because video content is trending online now more than ever. Whether you want to create short-form videos for social media sites or long-form videos for YouTube, advertising campaigns, and website content, you can make money with your editing skills.
10. Become a Virtual Event Planner
From weddings to corporate conferences, events require a lot of planning and coordination—which is where event planners come in! As an event planner, you can work with clients remotely to help them bring their vision to life. Whether you offer event planning consultations, train corporate event planners, or create a wedding planning course for couples, there are many ways to work in the hospitality industry remotely. Or, if you’re up for a hybrid business, be a traveling wedding planner and travel wherever your clients are getting married!
Best Ways to Make Money While Traveling
If you enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people, traveling while making money might be a dream come true. To be successful at this, you need to be organized and resourceful, as well as good at networking and selling your services. You should also be comfortable with a certain amount of risk, as starting a location independent business can be unpredictable (but worth it).
If you’re up for the challenge, there are many ways to make money on the road. And the “best ways” depend on what you love to do, what you’re good at doing, and how you want to spend your time. There are opportunities for everyone, from freelance writing and photography to running a small business or teaching English. If you’re ready to take your career on the road or in the sky, consider how you’ll travel and set yourself up for success to see the world and see money in your bank account.
How to Make Money While Traveling in a Van
Does the term “van life” conjure up images of freedom and adventure? Does converting a sprinter van sound like your idea of a good time? No matter how long someone chooses to live in a van, the experience can be incredibly rewarding. Van lifers often find themselves forming tight-knit communities with other like-minded travelers. They also get to experience the world in a way that most people never will. If you’re considering trying van life, you’re probably also wondering how to make money while traveling in a van.
You can do any of the remote business ideas (or something that’s not on the list) to make money while traveling in a van. But here are a few other things you’ll need to make it work:
- Zero expectations–everyone shows the “picturesque” version of living in a van and making money on the road, but that’s not always the reality. Since you might not know what realistic expectations are yet, go into it with zero expectations.
- A comfortable work area–the great news is that you don’t have to sit in the same cubicle under fluorescent lights day after day. Still, you’ll want a comfortable designated workspace in your van. This can be somewhat tricky depending on how much space you have, but it’s worth it to be able to give your business the focus it deserves.
- A work routine–while one of the perks of owning a location independent business is getting to work on your own schedule, you’ll benefit from having a somewhat structured routine. By designating time each day to work on your business, you’ll be able to stay on track with clients or projects.
How to Make Money While Traveling in an RV or Bus
Maybe you want to experience life on the road, but an RV or converted bus is more your style. RV life is a great way to see the country and visit different places, whether you stay in one spot for a while or move around every few days. While “van life” is more trendy, RVs and converted buses offer some unique advantages. Not only are they typically less expensive, but there are multiple types and sizes of RVs and buses, so you can choose one that fits your needs and budget. If you’re thinking about getting yourself a set of wheels, you’re probably also wondering how to make money while traveling in an RV or skoolie.
The great thing about choosing a bus or RV over a van is the space. You’ll have more room to set up a nice workstation. Here are a few other things you’ll need to make money while traveling in a recreational vehicle.
- An organized work area–whether you have enough space to create a designated “office” or your workspace doubles as the kitchen table, keep it organized. An organized work area makes it much easier to be productive while making money on the road.
- An internet connection–most (if not all) remote businesses require you to have internet access. If you’re planning on camping at RV parks, call ahead and ensure they have free Wi-Fi you can use to work while you’re there. You may also consider investing in a mobile hotspot for your RV.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills–if you want to make decent money while living in an RV or bus while exploring new places, you need to be organized and manage your time well. Don’t let work take over your experiences and vice versa.
How to Make Money While Traveling in Hotels or Airbnbs
If living in an RV or van isn’t your style, or if you’ll be taking more overseas trips, you’re likely flying to your destinations and staying in hotels or Airbnbs. Running a remote business while plane and hotel hopping is definitely doable. Here’s what you need to make it happen.
- Airline program with Wi-Fi included–if you spend hours upon hours in a plane, you’ll need to purchase inflight Wi-Fi. This can get pricey, depending on how many flights you take each month. However, one way to save is to become a member of an airline (or a few) you use regularly. That way, you always have Wi-Fi and can work on your way to your next destination.
- Hotels or Airbnbs with Wi-Fi–unless you plan to stay in a remote location and get your work done ahead of time, you’ll need your accommodations to have Wi-Fi. If you’re staying in hotels, ask if free Wi-Fi is included in your booking. If you’re staying in Airbnbs, sort listings to find one that offers internet.
- Hotels or Airbnbs with workspaces–working on a bed might be fun for a while, but sooner or later, your back will want you to sit in a chair at a desk. And working in coffee shops can be fun too, but there will be times you need silence and privacy. So, when booking hotels and Airbnb homes, make sure they have a space for you to get some work done, whether it’s a kitchen table or a desk.
Ready to Work from Anywhere and Make Money While Traveling?
Whether you want to start looking for location independent jobs or browse more remote businesses to start, you’re in the right place. At Earn and Explore, we offer one-on-one business coaching to help you launch a location independent business and quit your 9-5 in six months (or less).
We help with everything from choosing the best location independent business ideas relevant to your skill set and interests to developing an offer suite to securing your first sale and scaling to earn more while you travel more. Learn more about Earn and Explore business coaching to start an online business you love!
