Preparing to be a Nomadic Freelancer

Now, the thought of going out of country for extended durations does worry some people, even the adventurous sort. Being prepared makes the difference between a successful nomadic freelance career and logistical disasters.

1. Prepping clients. Most clients that hire online freelancers will not care if you'll be on the move, provided you deliver work on time. However, you should still let them know, just in case there are times when you'll be slow to respond to communications.

2. Legalities, voting, administrative details, etc. For example, if there's an election coming up at home and you want to vote, make sure you have the necessary proxy voting forms. Take care of these things well before you leave. Have someone who'll watch your home. You might even be able to get a discount on some expenses such as car insurance, if you're not going to be driving for an extended duration. It's also worth letting your local police force know that you will be away - and for how long - and give them some contact information in case of any emergencies.

3. Travel and accomodations. Whether you travel regularly for short work stints or less frequently for longer stints, be prepared for international travelling.

For example, some countries do profile you based on your physical appearance. As a result, your gadgets and laptops might be subject to extended searches, even upon return to your home country. If you have company secrets, think twice before transporting them in digital form. Customs officials in some countries are suspected to copy files from travelers' laptops - especially those owned by executives working for high-profile companies.

You had also better have some form of accomodations selected beforehand, as you may have to fill out a document stating the address of where you'll be staying.

4. Communications. Don't assume that (tele)communications rules in another country will be the same as in yours.

1. Banking security. Don't use public/ open WiFi for banking or other personal transactions. Of course, this applies pretty much anywhere.
2. Respect local communications laws. Some countries do not allow certain types of software to be run - e.g., various chat/ IM clients or VoIP.
3. Encryption issues. Security laws in some countries restrict the use of certain types of encryption algorithms. The net result might mean that you cannot access your bank account online while outside of your home country. Try to verify with your bank before traveling. It's possible that you CAN access your account from your laptop, if you have the right web browser, but may not be able to from other computers in your host country.

5. Paying bills and getting paid. Since cash flow and having reliable Internet access is key towards being a successful digital nomad, be extra conservative about finances - especially if you stay in countries where Internet access is difficult to secure or otherwise unreliable or costly.

1. Internet bill payment. Set up either direct withdrawals from your bank account, or pay your bills each month via the Internet. Or have a trustworthy relative or friend back home do it for you.
2. A source of emergency funds. Freelance and business income can ebb and flow. Being stuck in another country with minimal funds is not a good position to be in. As you would if you worked at home, try to save 3-6 months of expenses/ operating capital, beforehand. If you'll be traveling extensively, try to save even more.
3. A means of getting at your funds. Note that PayPal does issue an credit card to its members in some countries. Since you can use it as a regular credit card (based on funds in your PayPal account), you may not even have to worry about limited paypal access from time to time.

Raj Dash
freelancesupermarket.com Blogger
January 2009

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Image: nomad by steve phillips