{"id":11675,"date":"2018-08-27T09:05:20","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T13:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/?p=11675"},"modified":"2024-06-18T07:35:39","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T11:35:39","slug":"location-independent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/location-independent\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Digital Nomad and Go Location Independent: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve got that long-term travel bug, you may already know you want to be a digital nomad and pursue a location independent lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you\u2019ve never done it before, it\u2019s hard to know where to start and what pitfalls to watch out for. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of business can you build? What are the overhead costs? How do you send an invoice? What about internet speed?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, I\u2019m going to walk you through all the basics of building a location independent career and how to take it on the road with you so that you can shorten the learning curve and live your travel dream.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also: How 8 Digital Nomads Have Survived the Pandemic<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Chapter 1: How to Choose a Location Independent Career<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 2: 6 Location Independent Career Myths<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 3: Before You Quit Your Day Job\u2026<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 4: How to Turn Career Exploration into Professional Skills<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 5: How to Get Paid Online (Because It\u2019s Not a Business if You\u2019re Not Getting Paid)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 6: Overhead Costs for Location Independent Businesses<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 7: The Importance of Internet Speed to Location Independence<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 8: Managing an Online Business While Couchsurfing<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 9: Managing an Online Business and Volunteering<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 10: Managing an Online Business while Living on Boats<\/span><\/a>

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Chapter 1: How to Choose a Location Independent Career<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re still not 100% clear on what being location independent means and how to build a career out of it, this chapter covers all the basics, as well as the three different types of location independent careers you could pursue. <\/span>
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What Does \u201cLocation Independent\u201d Mean?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLocation Independent\u201d simply refers to a career or job that is independent of any requirement to be in a specific physical location. My own <\/span>freelance writing career<\/span><\/a> is a perfect example of location independent living; I can make a living anywhere in the world with little more than my laptop and an internet connection.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can imagine, it\u2019s an incredibly freeing lifestyle!<\/span>

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Three Types of Location Independent Careers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While there are countless different jobs or ways that a person can be location independent, they usually fall within one of three categories:<\/span>
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Freelancers<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A freelancer performs service-based work for various clients, rather than working for an employer. They are self-employed, and are often trading dollars for hours or deliverables. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I do run this website as its own business (which makes me an entrepreneur), I also write for various other publications about finance and travel, which parks me in the freelancer category.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most freelancers would be considered entrepreneurs, but not all entrepreneurs are freelancers. See below. <\/span>
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Entrepreneurs<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

An entrepreneur starts a business or creates a product to fill a need or gap in a particular market. As an entrepreneur, you\u2019re your own boss and have complete freedom to call all the shots. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be location independent, entrepreneurs tend to be inventors of items or technology, import\/exporters, or pioneers of business ideas that can be marketed <\/span>virtually<\/span><\/i>. <\/span>
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Telecommuters<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Telecommuters are people who work for a boss, but do it from their computers with the flexibility to work from home (or the road). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One common thing that sets telecommuting apart from the other categories is the need to be available during certain hours so that you can communicate with the office. This isn\u2019t universal for all telecommute positions, but is still fairly common.<\/span>

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Pros and Cons of the Location Independent Lifestyle<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As dreamy as the Location Independent life sounds, there are of course disadvantages as well as advantages (as with all things). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n