4 GUYS Oct 2016 issue October 2016 issue #2 for 4 Guys Magazine | Page 7

9 BUSINESSES YOU CAN RUN FOR UNDER $ 1,000

BUSINESS

Looking to start a business and refuse to be tied down to an office ?
Turns out you can start a company from the comfort of your own home -- or better yet , from an exotic far-flung beach -- for under $ 1,000 . How is that possible you might ask ? Technology . Maria Dykstra , co-founder of TreDigital , a digital growth agency based in Washington D . C ., has built her company around technology and allows her employees to work remotely .
“ A lot of how we work is online ,” she says . “ We use Google Docs , a lot . File sharing , video sharing , conferencing , emailing .” Being comfortable with technology is incredibly important to making a digital business successful , as well as letting customers know that you that you are traveling . Despite what most people think , travel can be relatively inexpensive . According to Nomad List , a website that ranks cities for digital nomad friendliness and cost , you can travel and live in some of the best cities for digital nomads at relatively low cost . For example , Bangkok for $ 1,079 a month , Prague for $ 899 and Budapest for $ 1,010 . Technology exists to make remote working convenient , so if you want the digital-nomad lifestyle and don ’ t have a lot of startup cash , here are 9 low-cost business ideas you can start from anywhere .
1 . WEBSITE DESIGNER To be a web designer , you just need a laptop , a hard drive and WiFi . It ’ s no secret that having a well-put together website is a crucial element for running a successful company , which means that being a web designer is a skill you can cash in on from anywhere .
“ Your website is your first impression ,” Michael White , president and owner of White Media , says .
Don ’ t freak out if you don ’ t have all the coding skills required . White says that creativity is more important . Coding and CEO knowledge
4GUYS . CA can be acquired through classes , self-taught study or mentorship , so if you have an eye for art and design , this business is possible for you .
“ This industry comes down to how creative someone can be ,” White says . A web design company has low startup costs , according to the founder of the web development business Lounge Lizard , Ken Braun , who founded his company with only $ 50 a month by buying a small text link ad to promote his services on other websites . “ That $ 50 a month investment netted clients around the world and turned Lounge Lizard into a seven-figure company within 10 months ,” Braun says .
Both Lounge Lizard and White Media focus on unique designs and customer service to differentiate them from other companies . The key to standing out in this competitive market is to find a style that shows personality and attention-to-detail for each customer . And stay away from cookie-cutter templates .“
2 . ACCOUNTANT Believe it or not , you aren ’ t the only one who doesn ’ t want to spend long hours in an office or at meetings . If you like numbers , but aren ’ t into putting a suit and tie on every morning , think about being an online accountant .
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