Cruise sites like YouTube and Reddit long enough, and chances are you’ll find yourself down the van life rabbit hole. It sure looks cool, doesn’t it? One day, you’re on a remote beach, and the next, it’s stealth camping in an urban hotspot.
But don’t clean out your checking account for a Sprinter van just yet. Dreamy as it might seem, van life isn’t always selfies against a scenic backdrop. Relatively few van lifers actually make a living as content creators, but every van lifer will eventually need some source of income.
In other words, don’t count on the Gram to keep you fed!
You could go viral, sure, but you’d be much better served with a plan in place to hold you over until fame comes knocking. Let’s take a tour of some practical strategies for making money online while you’re living the van life.
Van life considerations for making money online
When it comes to the essentials, let’s assume you’ve already decided on basics like your bed, cooking setup, and storage for food and other stuff. We’ll touch upon a few areas of your rig that should be geared toward moneymaking.
Office space
If you’re working at a computer for any length of time, a comfortable office space will be key. Consider aspects like room, lighting and furniture.
It might be tempting to wing it, but imagine committing to a job that requires hours of screen time. It could easily become an ordeal if you lack, say, a decent chair or a place for your keyboard.
Computer setup
Similar to a good office space, make sure your computer setup can support the type of work you’ll be doing.
For example, solely having a mobile device is fine for easy stuff like posting on social media, but it might become tedious if you need it for more involved tasks like composing emails for a campaign or editing images.
Power supply
Most van lifers will need an external source of electricity beyond their vehicle battery. At a minimum, check out portable power stations such as Jackery or EcoFlow.
These won’t support a lavish lifestyle, but they’re easy to charge between stops, either plugged into your vehicle or a solar array.
Speaking of, the gold standard is solar panels that continuously charge batteries, which then power all your stuff. These systems, from companies like Renogy, are fast becoming less expensive and more modular for an easier setup.
Internet access
Using your phone as a hotspot miiiight work, but you’ll eventually face throttled speeds and spotty service. Many mobile providers, like T-Mobile or Verizon offer home internet on their 5G networks, with modems that are relatively small and easy to power.
However, if you’re uber-dependent on being online, check out satellite providers like Starlink for a potentially quicker and more reliable connection.
Tools and equipment
If you don’t mind a little offline labor, having the necessary tools handy is key. Say you drive by an overgrown lot and the homeowner is looking to drop a few twenties to make the problem go away.
Lugging around that string trimmer wasn’t such a bad idea, right? Speaking of, if you don’t mind pulling a small trailer full time, hauling services can be in high demand, especially in rural areas.
How to make money online from your van
Now that your rig is all dialed in, let’s explore some practical strategies for making money online to fuel your van-life adventures. It’s likely you can turn any work-from-home enterprise into a job you do from your van.
Taking your current career remote
The smoothest way to transition into van life is going remote in your current role (if you haven’t already). It’s important to be honest with your employer, however, and let them know you plan to hit the road.
It might help to explain to your boss some of the considerations we just went through, so they can have more confidence that you’ll remain productive. Have a conversation about what times you’ll be available for meetings and such, and when you’ll be traveling.
Start a career that’s remote-friendly
If your current employer shuts down your van-life pitch, it might be time to think about switching to a remote-friendly role — those jobs are definitely out there. Just check sites like Indeed or LinkedIn, making sure you enter “remote” as the job location.
And as we just discussed, make sure you’re honest with your new employer about your van lifestyle. It’d sure be a bummer to hang all your hopes on your new role, only to find out later that they aren’t cool with the idea.
Freelancing
If you’re confident enough to forgo guaranteed paychecks, freelancing is a good option that offers tons of flexibility and variety in the kind of work you do.
Whether it’s writing, photography, design or whatever, the first step to getting freelance clients is putting together a portfolio to showcase examples of your work.
With that in hand, create a profile on freelance websites like Upwork and Fiverr. You can also search traditional job sites for contract work or freelance gigs. And don’t overlook good ol’ Craigslist — it’s a great resource for freelance work in a specific location.
Word to the wise: Get some freelance work lined up before you head out on your adventures. It takes time to build relationships with clients, so the money won’t come pouring in right away.
Start an online store
If you’re crafty, creating and selling goods online can bring in some decent money. Solid internet is key here, as you’ll spend a lot of time working with your ecommerce platform. A good photography setup is another necessity, as well as space to shoot product photos.
As with freelance work, it’s a good idea to get things set up before starting your travels. Your website will need some time to start ranking and you’ll want to do some marketing in order to build awareness of your brand — don’t expect a big payday right away.
Other stuff you might need to make money online
Now that you’ve got your van set up for making money online and explored a few job ideas, let’s take a quick look at some other stuff that can help keep you flush.
- Website/blog — Advertising your venture online requires or just sharing your adventures will require a website or blog. A good choice is always WordPress, with its nearly endless functionality thanks to plugins. If ease of use is a higher priority, consider a platform like GoDaddy Website Builder.
- Online store — Selling stuff online means you’ll need an ecommerce platform. WordPress excels here, too, when paired with WooCommerce. Again, if you need something that’s a bit easier to use, applications like GoDaddy Online Store might be a better option.
- Marketing mojo — To build a buzz about your offerings, it’s important to have a strong presence on social media. Another important consideration is SEO, since online visibility is so important. These efforts can get tricky, so if you aren’t quite confident in your own ability, signing up for digital marketing services can bring you peace of mind.
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Questions to ask yourself before hitting the road
We’ve covered a lot up to this point, but it’s not quite time to get underway. Before you fully commit to van life-ing, you need to ask yourself a few important questions.
Will I be physically comfortable living in a van?
This might seem like a no-brainer, but think about what it’s going to be like spending days on end in a small space. Everyone reacts differently. It’s definitely worth it to make a few test runs — starting with an easy overnighter — to check your comfort level and identify any improvements you need to make to your physical space for maximum comfort.
Will I get lonely out on the road by myself?
Just ask a trucker (lol). It can get pretty lonesome out there on the open highway if you’re traveling solo. To help maintain a healthy mindset, identify a support network and get in the habit of reaching out on a regular basis. It might be something as simple as sharing a high point of the week, but that regular human contact can go a long way.
How will van life impact my career?
This is really a question of priorities. If your goal is tied to performance and advancement, well, a van might not be the best environment for getting that done. If you prize freedom and work-life balance in a career, van life could be the ticket.
Do I have a plan for unexpected issues?
Sometimes stuff just happens. It might be as simple as a flat tire. Can you change it or should you get a roadside assistance plan? Or imagine you have engine trouble. Do you have tools on hand and the skills for a fix, or would it be better to identify auto shops near your destination? Obviously, you can’t plan for everything, but it would be wise to think through some of the basics and know what you’ll need to do.
Ready to hit the road?
Living the van life can be all about freedom and adventure, but don’t forget about keeping your wallet full. It's essential to have a solid plan for making money online while on the road. From remote work to freelancing and starting an online store, there’s likely a good fit for you to sustain the lifestyle financially. Enjoy the ride.
Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice from GoDaddy on any subject matter.
