By Camille Marshall
A lot of people think of owning a business, making money, and being able to enjoy the perks like buying a nicer home or traveling wherever they want. However, what you might not know is that you can have a job where you can travel while you’re working.
There are several businesses that you can start that will allow you to do just that. When you own a traditional brick and mortar business, you might not be able to take a vacation. Being away from your business might mean paying too much to staff or having to close the business during that time. That will cut into your revenue and cause you to burn out. Here are some of the top businesses you can start that give you the freedom to travel while working.
Travel Writer
Do you have a way with words? Then being a travel writer might be just the thing for you. You don’t have to find an outlet to publish your work. You can create a blog and monetize it. Many travel writers make a living by describing their unique experiences on the road and selling advertising space on their pages. You can even post sponsored content as long as you identify it to your readers. Brands are exciting to work with real people who have authentic followings.
As you build an audience, publications will want to bring you on board for guest blogging spots that can pay very well. You can pitch your work to those publications whether they are online or in print.
It’s usually a good idea to find a niche that you can write about. Readers will be drawn to what they like. If you write too generally, then certain readers will tune out for the articles that do not interest them. For example, you can write about traveling as a family, or about an interesting lifestyle you might lead, such as living in a van or bicycling everywhere you go. If you are driving, just make sure that you check policies for commercial auto insurance online to ensure that you are properly covered for work usage of your vehicle.
Teaching English
There is a huge market in non english-speaking countries for native speakers to teach them the language. So much of the world’s pop culture is in English, and it is the language of international business. The best part of teaching English abroad is that since you will live in the places you teach, you will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the culture. You will have lots of time to see all the sights and even possibly learn the local language yourself.
There are qualifications that you might need, depending on the country you are going to. Some of them require a four-year degree, and others only require a certificate from a short training course. Asian countries tend to pay the best, as they are very committed to teaching their children English from a young age. You can work as a teacher in a school, or even build a client base on your own.
Web Designer
One of the most popular ways to live a traveling lifestyle is as a web designer. It is a job that is completely online, so there’s no need for anything but an internet connection and a laptop. You can work from cafes and restaurants and sip coffee while you create some amazing websites. You may need a computer science degree, but the truth is that you may be able to teach yourself the coding skills you need. It will take a lot of practice to do this, however. The best way to get clients is by sending out your completed websites to prospects so that they can see what you can do. Building a portfolio is the best way to get clients to sign on with you.
Interpreter
Another way you can live and work abroad is by being a translator or an interpreter. Regions all over the world are getting more diverse all the time. That means that languages are coming into contact all the time, and there is a need for people who are fluent in those languages to translate. You will need to be fluent in at least one language to be a translator. You can make even more if you translate for specialized professions such as law or medicine. In many cases you can get work with only a certification.
A freelance interpreter is a similar line of work, but you work with spoken words rather than in writing. Interpreters can work in any number of areas, such as conventions, conferences, and political meetings, just to name a few. For an interpreter, you will most likely need a degree in the language that you will interpret.
Travel Agent
A travel agent tends to work from a fixed office. However, it’s a career that offers plenty of chances to travel. Travel agents get many opportunities for special prices and even free trips for promotional purposes. Resorts and government tourism departments invite travel agents to visit so that they will get their clients to buy travel packages. Being a travel agent can be a lot of work, since you need to hustle to get sales, but the perks can be incredible when it comes to being a travel agent.
To keep relevant in this age of the internet, travel agents can offer extra services to attract clients. For example, you can offer special services while they are gone, such as house monitoring, dog walking, or watering plants. This is another business where it is often better to be an expert in a certain niche, such as surfing travel, than it is to be a general operator.
The internet has opened up the world to everyone in more ways than one. Not only can we communicate with people across the world at the click of a mouse, but we can travel and live anywhere in the world while still working. You can sit in a cafe in Paris while providing writing services for a client in Utah, or you can take photos and post them in real time from a safari to your followers based mostly in North America. If this sounds like a dream to you, then one of these businesses just might be the perfect fit.
About theAuthor
Camille is a business professional who always looks for new opportunities and likes to share her knowledge with others in the field. Her goal is to help people find success in their careers and businesses.