Mobility: Working Remotely from Another Country And Keeping Customers

Can I work remotely from another country and maintain  my business and customers?

IT contractors and self-employed professionals now have the exciting opportunity to live abroad while maintaining their client relationships.  

Whether you’re an established digital nomad or a self-employed IT consultant looking to relocate, there are some excellent options available to you in today’s interconnected world. 

In this article we will explore the different options and consider some of the benefits and drawbacks for freelancers. 

Let’s dig in. 

The digital nomad visa

In response to the rising trend of professionals leaving behind the 9-5 in favour of a more flexible freelance career, several countries have introduced the Digital Nomad Visa.

As an IT freelancer, the digital nomad visa allows you to live and work in a country longer than a conventional tourist visa would permit. This brings a new world of possibilities for self-employed workers with an appealing blend of work and travel.  

If you’re interested in how to become a digital nomad,  it’s important to note theeligibility criteria  you must meet, which can bring its challenges when applying for this visa.  

Partnering with a management company 

If a digital nomad visa isn’t for you, you have a few other options as an IT freelancer or contractor:

1. Setting up your own company
2. Declaring yourself self-employed
3. Or finally, working through a management company like Hightekers

Each of these legal statuses allows the flexibility to work from an idyllic location – be it by the beach, in the mountains, or somewhere else you fancy.

However, maintaining your own business or declaring yourself self-employed requires a significant time investment for administrative follow-up and various legal declarations.

On the flip side, a management company can take all the ‘red tape’ stressors away for freelancers working remotely from another country. We ensure compliance with local regulations, allowing freelance IT and tech pros to continue running your business seamlessly.

Partnering with a management company means you enjoy the benefits of employee status while maintaining the independence of self-employment, working under your own conditions and schedule, and all from an overseas location! 

Management companies: how do they work? 

A management company provides an innovative solution that combines the benefits of salaried employment with freelancing independence, maximising both your time and your income.

This means when you partner with a management company as an IT Contractor or freelancer, you maintain autonomy by finding clients and setting your own rates, while at the same time, enjoying the security and support of being an employee.

Moreover, if you decide to move to another country, the management company will declare you in your destination country and ensure seamless continuity of existing contracts, irrespective of where your clients are based.

For instance, you could move from the UK to Spain, keeping your UK clients while potentially landing new freelance IT projects with Spanish clients.

What are the advantages of working with an management company?

There are huge perks to partnering with a management company like Hightekers.

Let’s look at some key ones: 

• International compliance: No more time-consuming paperwork to work remotely from another country. We do it all for you.
• Health insurance: this is included in your employee benefits ensuring you have cover where you are based.
• Broadened Client Reach: Our management system enables you to collaborate with UK companies, extending your client base beyond your host country.
• Legal Compliance: Our contract with you ensures that all legal requirements for working abroad are fulfilled, giving you peace of mind.
• Simplified Taxation: You pay taxes only in your local country, eliminating the complexities around international tax obligations.

Work from home vs freelancing abroad

Working from home has become more than just a trend; it’s now a priority for many employees who are choosing remote work, whether from home or on the go, over traditional on-site office environments.

Terms like home office, work from home, flexible working, hybrid working, and mobility are often used interchangeably, but they represent slightly different situations.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns made remote work common; in 2020, around 40% of employees were working from home.

As reported byForbes: “between 22 May and 2 June 2024, working arrangements among UK workers were as follows: Only worked from home: 14% (compares to 38% in June 2020) Travelled to work and worked from home: 26%”

Some large companies, such as GitLab, Facebook (95% remote), and Square, have fully embraced remote work.

However, remote work or working from anywhere comes with prerequisites, with a reliable Wi-Fi connection being the most essential.

Let’s explore and clearly define the different terms associated with remote working.

Work from home

The terms home office or work from home indicate your work is done from the house or flat that you live in. You can work from home in both an employed and self-employed capacity, as long as your home workspace is set up with all the tools you need to do your job. 

Remote and hybrid work

Unlike work from home, remote work and hybrid work (also known as flexible or mobile work) do not involve a fixed workplace. Those who work remotely can do so from any location – whether it’s on the train, at  a hotel, while travelling, in a café, … or at home, of course! This is a popular scenario for freelancers. 

Hybrid work on the other hand is where you spend some of your time working remotely (either from home or as above) and some of your time in your employer’s workspace. 

Another option under the remote work umbrella is to work from abroad. This involves working for a client without necessarily being based in their country (e.g., living in Spain while working for clients in the United Kingdom). Depending on your chosen location, you can do this as a digital nomad or with the support of a management company like Hightekers.

For those interested in shaking up their living environment and discovering new cultures without needing to take a holiday, it is possible to move abroad while maintaining your client base and income.

Moreover, you can do it without having to navigate the complexities of administration, tax declarations, and social security coverage. 

Top 5 benefits and disadvantages of working remotely from another country  

What are the essential requirements for working remotely abroad?  The first thing to do is  ask yourself : is remote work for me? Can I motivate myself enough? Do I have a specific place to  work in my host country? Or can I create a productive workspace there? 

If you’re unsure, maybe try it for a short period of time first. 

On top of that, remember that you need to be available. This means your working hours should ideally align with your company’s or clients standard hours, though there may be some extra flexibility based on your needs or project strategy.

Determine with the company or your client what times you will be available for calls and questions. This ensures you balance your work commitments with personal responsibilities and maintain clear communication with all parties involved.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 benefits of working from home and from abroad:

• No Daily Commute

No more travel, long hours in the subway, bus or endless time lost in traffic jams! Your time is precious, and  working from home or remotely allows you more time to devote to family, your hobbies, or for digital nomads the opportunity to discover your new host country.

• Flexible Schedule

Working from home makes everyday life easier because it gives you the possibility to do your personal tasks and to-dos during times beyond evenings or weekends.  For example, you can receive a delivery or run the washing machine during your working day, giving you the autonomy to optimise your schedule and preferred work windows accordingly. 

• Enhanced Productivity

 Working from home can positively affect the quality of work produced because it promotes concentration and increases productivity.

For many, the flexibility and comfort of a home environment allows for a more focused and efficient workflow.

• Greater Job Satisfaction 

For freelancers who work abroad, they often report having a positive perception of their working conditions. They are even more satisfied than people who regularly work from home. The change in environment can provide a refreshing perspective, boosting  job satisfaction.

• Cost Savings 

You save the cost of daily trips to your business by working from home. Fuel costs, tolls, and other transport tickets can be scrapped, leading to significant financial savings.  

Top 5 (Fixable) Disadvantages of Working from Home

Aside from some of the trivial problems – cat walking on your keyboard, someone in your household gatecrashing your Zoom meeting – there are more considerable drawbacks to working from home that need some thought:

• Tools

It is crucial to have a productive workspace and an efficient set up.

Firstly, you need to ensure you have:

–   Good seating

–   A computer

–   Strong and secure Wi-Fi

–   Adequate desk space

If you are employed, most of the above should be the responsibility of your employer.

You also need to think about digital tools such as:

–   Videoconferencing

–   Instant messaging (or another platform for sending large files)

–   Subscriptions to any other digital aids that you need for your day-to-day work

It’s a good idea to block out some time to set up these tools correctly and give yourself the opportunity to master them.

• Isolation

Sometimes working away from colleagues and the buzz of a communal workspace can cause feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Coworking spaces are a possible solution to this. They offer a sense of communitywhere you can have social interactions with the potential for networking thrown in.

• Overworking

A heavy workload and a blurred boundary between professional and personal life can sometimes lead to overworking.

Working from home as a freelancer or from outside your company requires a great sense of organisation and discipline. It’s vital to avoid distractions and in turn avoid the risk of overextending yourself to complete your work.

• Human Relations

Like all remote relationships, when you don’t see the person at the other side of the email,

it can sometimes cause crossed wires, leading to bottlenecks within your work life. You can resolve this with a few exchanges by phone or video calls to maintain clear communication and good rapport with colleagues and clients.

• Autonomy

Managing your own time and workload isn’t for everyone and there are certain roles that don’t lend themselves to this level of autonomy. Experience goes a long way and if you are in more of a junior position right now, you may benefit more from an environment that offers guidance and regular constructive feedback.

Conclusion

While working from home, remotely, or from another country isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – it can be a liberating and productive revelation for others.

At Hightekers we specialise in supporting freelancers and IT consultants in the international mobility ambitions for their self-employed business.

What’s more, you can lean on us to handle tax management, invoice chasing, admin support, and contract negotiations – meaning you stay focused on growing your business.

Discover the benefits of a managing company for freelancers