Digital Nomad, Entrepreneurship, Mindset, Networking, Online Business

How To Build An Online Business Whilst Travelling The World As A Digital Nomad

January 30, 2026
By itssophiebiggerstaff.com

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How To Become A Digital Nomad And Work Remotely By Starting An Online Business

If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a digital nomad, so you can work remotely while travelling the world, this post is for you.

Building an online business that supports remote work, travel and long-term financial freedom is a great way to achieve your dream of becoming a digital nomad – but only if you design it intentionally around the digital nomad lifestyle you actually want to live.

I’ve been living the digital nomad life for many years now. I’ve been to 45+ countries, I’ve travelled fast, I’ve travelled slow, I’ve lived in places like hotspots for digital nomads, Bali and Thailand, and I’ve rebuilt my online business whilst moving countries.

From my experience living the digital nomad life, one thing I know for sure is this (which is contrary to some people’s beliefs) – becoming a digital nomad is not about escaping your life. It’s not about running away from anything. It’s about running towards a life that actually works for you.

How To Build Your Digital Nomad Lifestyle

The biggest mistake I see aspiring digital nomads make is starting a business they think will make them the most money to get them there the fastest, instead of considering the digital nomad lifestyle they actually want to live.

9 out of 10 times when I meet nomads building their business whilst travelling, the focus is always on money or travel plans first, without considering how they want their days, weeks and years to actually look as they live out their digital nomad life dream.

But the thing is, this is a recipe for building a business that doesn’t actually allow you to live your dream digital nomad lifestyle.

When I first started living the digital nomad life, my first stop was the Digital Nomad Hub Bali. I moved to Bali 18 months after starting my first online business. In London, I was working long hours, trading time for money. In Bali, I tried to replicate my way of working, and everything fell apart. Running a business from Bali on London time does not work.

Why would you want to work 10-12 hours a day when you’re living on an island with so many cool things to do and people to meet? My time zone was 7 hours ahead of all my clients in the UK, meaning I was taking calls at all sorts of random times. I began burning out very quickly trying to fit my new life with my old, and it got very challenging very quickly.

I hadn’t really built myself a business at all, I’d actually built myself a job.

I realised my OLD business model was not built for the digital nomad life, and to make it work, I was going to have to pivot quite drastically so I could fully experience all that being a digital nomad has to offer and make money online to find financial freedom through my online business.

Since then, I’ve pivoted my business many times, and now truly believe in building the vision for what you want your life to look like first and then working backwards to build your business to accommodate that. That’s how you create real financial freedom and can enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle without burning out like I did, or feeling trapped by the business you built.

If you want to make sure your online business lets you love your digital nomad dream, you need to factor in:

At what pace do you want to travel as a digital nomad
Whether you want to stay in one place or move around
How much responsibility do you want to show up for your online business
How many hours do you want to work on a day to day
What salary do you need to earn to maintain the digital nomad life

If you want help getting clarity on what your version of a freedom-first digital nomad lifestyle actually looks like, take the Freedom Seekers Quiz here. It’s designed to help you identify what kind of freedom you’re actually craving, and what business you could build in order to achieve it – not what social media tells you you should want.

Can You Use Your Existing Skills To Become A Digital Nomad?

One of the biggest blocks people have around becoming a digital nomad is believing they don’t have transferable skills. I hear this all the time – “I don’t have any online business skills”, “What I do won’t be able to be done remotely”.

And I get it! Not every job is supposed to be done online.

However, whatever career you have had up until now, most skills and experiences you’ve had in that career are probably transferable. So if there is a will, there is a way for you to create yourself a remote work opportunity and start an online business so you can live out your digital nomad life dreams.

I’ve seen people take their experience from completely in-person businesses or jobs and turn it into remote work online by:

Changing who they want to work with
Shifting how they deliver the work
Building sales and marketing strategies that work without them needing to show up 24/7

If you aren’t sure what skills and experience could be transferable to remote work, or support you in starting an online business, the key to figuring that out is looking back at your past roles and asking:

What problems did I solve?
What systems did I manage?
What skills did people rely on me for?
What parts of my job did I love doing?
What am I really good at?

This is where your building an online business starts, as you will have clarity on what kind of things you could pivot into that would help you live your new digital nomad life.

If you’re unsure how to turn your existing skills into remote work opportunities, the Freedom Seekers Quiz will point you toward online business models that actually fit your background and digital nomad lifestyle goals rather than forcing you into something that doesn’t align.

How To Make Sure Your Remote Work Supports Your Nomadic Life, Not Stresses You Out!

The most successful remote online business setups are designed to help you slow down during travel, not ramp up.

Remember the story I told you earlier about me trying to live in Bali on London time. Who wants that? Not me!

Aren’t you dreaming about living the digital nomad life so you can work from cool cities all over the world, live next to the beach, and meet cool new like-minded people. If your online business or remote work is taking up all your time – you’ll never be able to enjoy the digital nomad life in its truest form. And if you try to do both, you might burn out just like I did.

What I’ve learned over the past few years of being a digital nomad and running my own online businesses is that systems, repeatable processes, templates and automations are your friend! We did not become digital nomads to continue living in hustle mode.

To allow for this, you need to build your online business intentionally, by:

Systemizing repeatable task
Setting templates up, then scheduling things out
Automating anything you don’t need heavy involvement in
Outsourcing as much as you can
Streamlining and simplifying your online business

This is especially important if you want long-term financial freedom rather than short-term wins followed by burnout.

When people romanticise the digital nomad lifestyle, they often forget that stability is still important. Even in places like Bali, where life feels easy and inspiring, your business still needs structure.

Without this structure, I see way too many businesses fall apart, and the digital nomad life ending before it even begins.

I teach all of my clients how to build online businesses that are built on solid foundations using my Freedom Model Method approach. You can read more about that here!

Should You Start An Online Business Before or After Becoming A Digital Nomad?

This is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned – and one I always share honestly.

Yes, you can build a business while travelling as a digital nomad. But it is going to take a lot longer and be 10x more difficult.

I personally spent 18 months building and stabilising my online business before I took the leap to become a digital nomad in Bali. Building my online business whilst I was at home in London meant I could save up money and make sure I had a consistent income before leaving.

To start an online business and build it properly, I am going to always suggest you have some stability in your life while doing this. I’ve tried pivoting and building new businesses throughout my digital nomad journey, and I’m not going to lie – it was hard!

I’m not saying there is a right or wrong way to do this. But I do know that when you’re new to nomad life, everything takes more energy:

Figuring out new countries
Working around new systems & cultures
Creating new routines
Get used to new environments

Can all be pretty exhausting in isolation, add starting an online business on top of that, and I will almost guarantee that your stress levels are going to increase massively.

If you have loads of savings to keep you afloat during this process, maybe it can work, but if money is pressured – I personally wouldn’t suggest doing this. Build before you leave, create some financial stability, or have a remote job that supports you whilst you start your online business. If you want to quit your 9-5 and start an online business, you can check out my Freedom Founders playbook that will support you in making this transition!

If possible, the smoothest route to becoming a digital nomad AND starting your online business is:

Secure at least a bare minimum online income before you leave
Start building your online business properly with solid foundations to support your digital nomad life before you leave. Find out how to do this here!
Or have a minimum of 6-12 months of savings before you start travelling, so you have buffer room to build and travel at the same time
Base yourself in a digital nomad location that’s affordable whilst you build.

This helps create confidence, consistency and space to actually enjoy the lifestyle you’re building.

I’ve seen so many people struggle because they try to do everything at once. You don’t need to make it harder than it already is.

Still unsure which online business to start, the Freedom Seekers Quiz will help you decide your best option based on your digital nomad life goals and existing skills/experience.

How Long Can I Maintain A Digital Nomad Life?

I started nomading in 2021. I moved to become the classic Digital Nomad in Bali. I lived there for just under 18 months before I went on to nomad in Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Albania, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica. I would spend anything from 3 weeks to 3 months in these countries.

By 2025, I was more than ready to find a new home base, which is when I decided to come back to Thailand and set up my base here.

One thing I’ve noticed over time is that most long-term digital nomads eventually slow down and find a new base somewhere. Typically, around the 3-year mark. Fast travel is fun at first, but it’s not sustainable forever.

Staying in one place longer allows you to:

Build deeper relationships/community still with like-minded people
Create consistent routines and habits
Focus on business change or growth
Reduce mental fatigue of constantly starting over

This is where remote work really shines. When you’re not constantly adjusting, your business has room to grow, and your nervous system can actually relax.

On the other hand, I see many people try the digital nomad life and decide after one month in one location and feel it’s not for them. Whilst that’s a personal choice, I don’t think you can really judge digital nomad life based on this experience. To give digital nomad life its best shot and decide if it’s for you – pick places you know you will thrive.

Love the beach? Go to beach nomad hotspots!

More of a city person? Go to the city!

Mountains more your thing? Head there!

It sounds obvious, but this is a mistake I see being made all the time. Your digital nomad experience is going to be very different depending on where you base yourself. It might take some trial and error to figure this out, but don’t give up before you’ve even begun.

What To Look For In Digital Nomad Locations?

There are digital nomad hubs all over the world. The most famous is, of course, the Digital Nomad Bali haven. Personally, I think Bali attracts more beginner nomads because the infrastructure is so supportive to people who have never travelled before, they land and are set up with everything they need straight away.

Some of my favourite nomad locations include:

Thailand – Koh Phangan: Maybe I’m biased, as this is where I currently base myself, but this special little island offers the best of many worlds – relatively affordable living, wellness vibes, spiritual community, beaches, water sports, so many entrepreneurs, great food, and coffee shops.

Colombia – Palomino: AMAZING place to spend a chilled month working/living by the beach, but would only recommend this to digital nomads who are their own boss due to challenging internet connections, not remote workers who need a reliable, consistent connection.

Peru – Lima: The infrastructure here is PERFECT for digital nomads, so many cool coffee shops and co-works to hop between. Solid nomad community and events here as well.

Spain – Barcelona: Expensive accommodation, but super affordable living. Some of the best digital nomad events I’ve been to, and coffee shop working is normalised. Some of the best co-working spaces I’ve been to are here as well.

Mexico – Mexico City, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, San Miguel Allende: All have an excellent digital nomad scene, depending on what your priority is.

Ericiera – Portugal: If you want Bali vibes in Europe, this is your place.

Costa Rica – Santa Teresa: I love this place so much, but it’s only suitable for nomads who are earning $5k-$10k+ months, as it’s $$$$$.

Where I wouldn’t go back to as a Digital Nomad?

Peru – Cusco: Altitude sickness and work aren’t a great combination!

Albania: No nomad scene here, impossible to find wifi in coffee shops, very little infrastructure for working online.

New Zealand: Expensive, and they hate laptops in coffee shops!

Colombia: I felt pretty unsafe walking around with my laptop in my bag. Would probably be ok in Medellin & Bogota if you don’t mind working from home.

Danang – Vietnam: I personally don’t get the hype.

What to look for in digital nomad locations:

Reliable and stable internet
Strong nomadic communities (events/meet-ups/WhatsApp groups)
Affordable living solutions
Entrepreneur-friendly environments

How To Manage Time Zones, Boundaries And Remote Work Expectations

One of the most practical challenges of being a digital nomad is time zones. Especially when your clients are based in different countries.

The solution isn’t working all hours. It’s setting clear expectations and boundaries from the start.

Remote work works best when:

Your availability is clearly communicated
Calls are scheduled intentionally to work for you and the client
Boundaries are respected on both sides

Often, time zones actually benefit clients. Evening calls for them can be morning calls for you, which creates flexibility on both sides.

The key is designing your business around your lifestyle – not letting your lifestyle bend around everyone else’s demands.

Also, be mindful of your own energy. When I was in Latin America, I hated this time zone as it meant I had to wake up early to accommodate my clients and start work straight away. For me, Europe and Asia time zones work way better, so I can have slow mornings and work in the afternoon. Choose your locations wisely to make sure the time zone doesn’t become your enemy in your digital nomad life.

If this is something you struggle with, take the Freedom Seekers Quiz to identify what kind of business model will support your energy, time and travel goals.

Summary: How To Become A Digital Nomad By Starting An Online Business

Becoming a digital nomad happens intentionally. I LOVED my stint as a digital nomad, and I don’t think my travel bug will ever leave me. The way I travel now has changed, which I think is normal as you shift seasons in life, but if this post helps inspire anyone to take the leap to become a digital nomad – I promise you it is worth it and an experience you’ll never forget.

To summarise, here’s what you need to do to start living a digital nomad lifestyle:

Build your online business with the digital nomad life you want in mind.
Create some stability in your digital nomad life before you build an online business.
Set up your online business with solid foundations to support your digital nomad life.
Choose your digital nomad locations wisely based on how you want to live.

Whether you’re dreaming of digital nomad life, remote work whilst you slow travel, or simply more flexibility and financial freedom, the path starts with clarity and knowing which online business to set up that would support you.

If you’re ready to explore what kind of online business would support your dream digital nomad life, take the Freedom Seekers Quiz here. It will help you identify your next step, your best business model and the level of freedom you’re truly ready for right now.

meet the writer

I'm Sophie

Online business coach, podcast host, mental health advocate, speaker, founder of TINAH, community builder, full-time digital nomad, and general trailblazing, rule breaker…

I tried to live a “normal” life: I spent 11+ years working my way up in the fashion industry, working for brands like Ralph Lauren and Burberry. I had the apartment in the city, I lived for going out at the weekends, spent money on designer bags and holidays – until I realized this lifestyle DID NOT FULFIL ME – I was waking up with anxiety every day – surviving, but definitely not thriving.

So I quit. I left my 9-to-5 behind to start an online business that supported the lifestyle I actually wanted. Now that looks like slow mornings, daily beach walks, co-working with like-minded entrepreneurs, yoga, meditation, and lots of social connections.

Since 2020, I’ve built multiple online business offers – from online business coaching and consulting to online courses, digital products, and a mental health marketplace – all while travelling the world and living life, and earning money on my own terms.

Now… I’m on a mission to help more people break free from lives that don’t feel good for them and create more freedom through starting and growing an online business.