3 Ways to Make Managing a Business from an RV Sustainable

For small business owners or freelancers – especially digital nomads – wanting a location-independent lifestyle, running a company while traveling and living in an RV is a genuine option.

The number of people living in RVs full-time, of course, is increasing, with approximately one million Americans now living in recreational vehicles to cut down on living costs and offer more freedom for travel. As well as this, a recent study revealed that 11% of the US workforce – or 18.1 million workers, are now classified as digital nomads.

With both numbers growing exponentially, over the next decade, there will be more and more people living and working from an RV, taking advantage of the freedom, flexibility, and cost-efficiency that RV-living provides. If this sounds like something you're interested in, however, it’s important to remember the risks.

When you’re managing a business, it’s not just about creating a company that works now, but can last long into the future. Without the right planning and infrastructure, the cracks can show quickly, especially without a strong, reliable base point from which your business can operate. With this in mind, you have to put in the work to make the RV your base point, ensuring you have done everything to make the business sustainable in a completely mobile environment.

Insurance is the Best Way to Start

If you’re running a business from an RV, the likelihood is you have remote employees or contractors. As a result of this, many remote business owners think that they can get away with skipping certain types of business insurance – with EPLI being the main victim – under the assumption that remote work means fewer risks. But that’s a misconception that can cost you big time down the road.

With a remote setup, you’re still responsible for providing safe, fair, and nondiscriminatory work environments, and if someone claims you didn’t provide equal opportunities or that they were wrongfully terminated, your physical location won’t matter – those claims will still come knocking. Getting EPLI insurance, specifically, can help protect your business from exactly those types of claims, giving you a legal and financial cushion you can always fall back on.

Create a Sustainable Tech Infrastructure

If you’re managing a business from an RV, you’re relying solely on tech to keep everything running – from client meetings and team communication, to data storage and transactions. With this in mind, your tech stack isn’t just a support system, it is your business. To make this lifestyle sustainable, you need to build a tech infrastructure that’s resilient and scalable, starting with reliable internet and a strong data plan.

Satellite internet can be particularly useful in this instance, as it can keep you connected even in the most remote locations, while a signal booster like weBoost or SureCall can enhance your connection by amplifying weak signals. On the software side, it’s also essential to use cloud-based systems for everything, from accounting to file storage. Tools like Google Drive, Zoom, and HubSpot are going to be critical to maintaining professional, streamlined operations when you’re on the move, so make sure you don’t skimp on these platforms when building the foundations of your business.

Stick to a Strong Routine

Outside of insurance precautions and tech investment, it’s important to note that working from an RV poses several unique challenges – the biggest one being that you’re often on the move. When your life and schedule are so flexible, your business can take the brunt of it. You’re probably well aware, of course, that a strong business is a stable business, with a structured schedule and regular, uninterrupted performance.

To make running your business from an RV sustainable, then, it’s crucial to stick to a strong routine. Designate specific hours for work and personal time, and make sure you’re disciplined about setting boundaries. Consistency in your routine will also help you to maintain a good work-life balance. While the freedom of living on the road is one of the biggest perks of the RV lifestyle, it can quickly blur the lines between personal time and work time, so it’s your job to formulate a solid routine that doesn’t change no matter where you are. If you do this, you’ll have the ability to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of life on the road while ensuring your business stays on the road too!