Digital nomadism is becoming increasingly popular, as people recognize the benefits of working remotely while exploring the world. If you’re a digital nomad entrepreneur who lives in an RV, the world is truly at your fingertips. However, some cities are more friendly to digital nomads and RV-dwellers than others.
Courtesy of CEO Medium, here’s a roundup of great cities to check out, plus some best practices for living in an RV while running a business.
Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, is renowned for its trendy music scene and buzzing young population that’s three years younger than the national average. However, the city also has a fantastic startup community, making it a great spot for entrepreneurs. Built-In Austin has a guide to area startups and business support systems.
If you’re looking for a place to park your home in Austin, do your research first. Downtown is the heart of the action, with loads of live music venues, while North Austin is more family-friendly. Familiarizing yourself with the different neighbourhoods while you’re in an RV will allow you to determine where you’d like to live if you want to rent or buy a house.
Santa Monica, California
If you like spending time outdoors, consider taking your RV to Santa Monica, California. The weather is great and you can enjoy nature in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Santa Monica is also great for entrepreneurs, with an active startup scene and lots of great coworking spaces.
Santa Monica also has no shortage of places to park your RV. Popular nearby spots include Crystal Lake Campground and Circle X Ranch Group. If you’re done with the RV life and decide to settle down here, you can find more affordable housing in the Mar Vista part of town, close to the college.
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is another startup hotspot well worth a look if you’re a digital nomad entrepreneur. According to Boulder Startups, the city has some of the country’s top tech startups and thriving local innovation industry. You’ll find plenty of opportunities for networking, collaborating, and building a business.
One drawback of Boulder is that it has a fairly high cost of living. However, if you’re living in an RV, you don’t have to worry about paying rent or a mortgage. If you later decide you want to call Boulder your permanent home, you might consider moving to a more affordable nearby town like Longmont or Lyons.
Detroit, Michigan
In contrast to Boulder, Detroit has a super low cost of living, well below the national average. This can make it a great pick if you’re a fresh entrepreneur worried about funding. Detroit also offers other perks for digital nomads, including a boom of coworking spaces and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
If you’re thinking of calling Detroit home, scope out neighbourhoods carefully. The city can be dangerous, so security is a top concern. Possible districts worth looking at include Downtown Detroit, the University District, and Midtown. Sherwood Forest and Rosedale Park are also popular if you like some greenery.
Best practices for RV-living digital nomad entrepreneurs
Whatever city you choose, you want to make sure you’re running your entrepreneurial venture in line with best practices. As a digital nomad, it’s important to make sure you have a consistent source of electricity and internet access when needed. Scoping out coworking spaces is critical.
Further, help protect your business wherever you are by registering it as an LLC with your home state. This can protect your liability, streamline your tax reporting, and reduce administrative burden. A business formation service can help you with the process, sparing you the expense of a pricey lawyer.
Even though you may be on the move, it’s important that your vendors can always find you. Use a free online invoice maker to create professional branded invoices that you can print out or send digitally from anywhere in the world. Be sure to include contact information so contractors and suppliers can reach you even when you’re not in a physical office space.
The digital nomad life is incredibly exciting, especially in an RV. However, it also requires careful planning. The above guide provides some pointers.
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