Do you want to explore the world and be your own boss? Starting your own business doesn't mean you have to stay in one place. Many businesses in the digital age don't require a brick-and-mortar shop, and some businesses will even take you to your dream destinations.
Traveling and owning a business isn't for the faint of heart, however. If you're determined to see the world while owning a business, check out these 11 business ideas for people who love to travel.
1. Traveling personal assistant
Some people, such as politicians and celebrities, require a personal assistant. Personal assistants usually travel with their employer whether they are going on tour, have speaking events across the country or have business in other countries. Virtual assistants are in high demand due to their ability to work remotely and many businesses' desire to cut unnecessary payroll costs.
If organization, time management, and problem-solving are your top skills, create your own agency. Personal assistants typically arrange travel and accommodations, manage schedules, run errands, and coordinate with other staff members.
2. Travel blogger
If you love writing and photography, a travel blog could be your ticket to several dream destinations. Bloggers often create helpful guides, explore new cities, take interesting photos, and provide recommendations and tips on their websites. Before you take the plunge, understand that blogging can be tough and time-consuming. It often takes a couple of years before you make money blogging, but when you do, you're essentially getting paid to travel the world and write about it.
If writing isn't your expertise and you're better with a camera, try being a travel vlogger. With YouTube, vlogging is a lucrative business. Take your business on the road and create videos about traveling the world and visiting the best tourist spots.
3. Social media influencer
The days of only posting cat videos and family updates on Facebook are long over. If you have a large following online, you can make a steady income through sponsored posts and pictures. Many brands use influencers to advertise their products and encourage followers to buy goods and services.
Some brands will even foot the bill and pay for social media influencers to attend their events or stay at their resort in exchange for documenting their experience on their social media accounts.
4. Travel agency
People want honest and helpful advice. Travel agents help people plan vacations and trips across the globe. They often have specialties for different countries or niches. If there is a country or city you love to visit, you can make recommendations to others wanting to see more of the world.
You can start your own home-based travel agency through either a franchise or nonfranchise agency depending on your budget and accreditation. You may need to look into obtaining certification, and you may need to pay monthly fees if you partner with a host agency. [See: Travel Agency Startup Costs and Earnings: What to Expect]
5. Photographer
Photography is a great skill to have if you want to travel. If you start a photography business, you could travel the world and capture its beauty with your camera. You can sell these photos to publications or as art. You could also become skilled at a specific type of photography, such as candid portraits, family photography or wedding photography. People need a skilled photographer at their destination wedding, and you could be just the person for the job.
6. Public speaker
Do you have expertise in your field, solve problems or do people want to hear what you say? If so, you could become a public speaker. Speakers often travel across the country or even the world to spread their message and inspire millions. These individuals also have other streams of income, such as being a social media influencer, selling books or creating a blog about their expertise.
7. Traveling event planner
Event planners plan corporate and professional meetings and events. They typically arrange everything from catering to selecting the location to travel accommodations. If you have the networking, organizational and time-management skills, you could travel the world as an event planner. Event planning worldwide could open up even more travel opportunities and larger-scale events in the long term.
8. Translator
If you're fluent in multiple languages, creating a translation business could be a great way to see the world. Translators are needed in almost every industry. They assist international businesses, globe-trotting executives and high-profile individuals by translating documents, books, emails, conversations and more. If you're not sure where to start, offer to restaurants in your area to translate their menus or translate promotional materials for small businesses.
9. Wedding planner
The job of a wedding planner is to create a stress-free wedding day. Wedding planners must be the calm in the middle of the storm and have a unique ability to soothe nerves when everything doesn't go as planned.
While a lot of wedding planners have expertise and a network in a specific town or location, many couples opt for a destination wedding. These weddings can typically be even more stressful, because you must figure out how to get guests from point A to point B. You also must make accommodations over the phone rather than in person. However, this is a great opportunity to travel to beautiful places across the globe.
10. Graphic designer
As our world becomes more digital, the demand for website developers and graphic designers is growing. With online tutorials and programs, including Photoshop, WordPress and Illustrator, it's easier than ever to create your own graphic design business.
Market yourself as a freelance graphic designer, and assist others in creating their own branding, landing pages and promotions. A knowledge of coding (HTML, PHP and CSS) further adds to your expertise so you can help businesses develop websites as well as design them.
11. House sitter
Many people feel better about leaving for vacation with someone staying at their house to take care of their home and pets. In exchange for your services as a house sitter (feeding and walking pets, gathering mail and tending to housework), some people may pay you to stay at their homes while they travel abroad or stay at one of their multiple homes. There are websites and services to get your name out there. You could also create your own house sitter agency, marketing yourself as trustworthy and reputable.
Looking for even more ways you can start a business? Check out these ideas from our partners at CO– by U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Or dig into these other great business ideas.