Meet 8 #Vanlife Entrepreneurs Taking Their Work on the Road

Though their rigs may be different, these nomadic entrepreneurs share a desire to chase their dreams, and strive for their version of a perfect work-life balance. Find out how these on-the-road innovators balance full-time travel and a job they love.

Erik Gordon

Carabiner Coffee

What kind of rig are you living in/working from?

1971 VW Transporter van

How long have you been on the road?

6 years

What is your business?

The week after I graduated college I loaded up my road bike in Waconia, Minnesota and started out on a 4,000 mile bike tour that took me across the western half of the US over the next 3 months. Along the way I stopped in a cold, rainy town in Oregon where the only warm thing to drink was a cup of coffee.

Fast forward a couple years...I started to build out my van to fit certain codes and regulations while still allowing it to be the mobile adventure I always dreamed of. Then I simply started selling coffee wherever I could, and meeting all kinds of incredible people. Over the years I started to take the coffee van concept more and more into the adventure community by showing up in very remote places that were hubs for the climbing, biking and surfing communities. Soon Carabiner Coffee became my life on the road; I became known as "the coffee guy" to all my outdoorsy counterparts, and from there started to share the stories of my coffee travels with the world via social media, and it took me to places I never imagined I'd go. From mountain biking in Iceland to making not one but two visits to Everest Basecamp, I realized that coffee was the most amazing connector around the world and something I never wanted to give up.

What challenges have you faced trying to operate while on the road?

Setting up in new places that may or may not be good for business. It’s also been a challenge to navigate all the laws and restrictions that differ from place to place. Also, just finding a cozy place to sleep every night. I started Carabiner Coffee right before the "Vanlife" movement really started to take off, so when I saw so many people getting into it I thought to myself, "It's an incredible way to experience life, but it’s a lot more work than people think it is!" I think social media glorifies it in many ways but I wouldn't give up a second of it.

What insights or advice do you have for aspiring nomadic business owners?

The motto of Carabiner Coffee is "Life Is Short, Live Your Dream, Find Your Line" and I think that pretty much sums it up on my end. There's no "right" way to live this life, so think of what you want your life to be and then build from there! Create your life like you've got nothing to lose.

Stephanie Gray

Instagram: @holdfastcarving & @andthe_gray

What kind of rig are you living in/working from?

2005 GMC Savanna 3500 converted Skoolie

How long have you been on the road?

Since the beginning of 2021

What is your business?

I am in the business of making heirlooms. I come from a long lineage of woodworkers and my mother certainly got the gene, but I did not discover it for myself until I was approaching my thirties. I've always been an artist, yet when she taught me how to carve my first spoon I knew I'd found that artistic niche I'd been looking for my whole life.

Life invited me to take the plunge into nomadic living and running my own business at the same time; as the pandemic was closing doors on my career and living situation, it was opening the doors to a new life. Living tiny and living as an artist really go hand in hand; by cutting my costs of living I was able to afford going into business for myself while not putting so much pressure on the business itself. I don't know if I would've been able to afford taking the plunge into my work without going tiny. The best part of living nomadically and working from the road (so far) has been how landscape influences my work. It's really hard to carve a spoon on the beach or in the forest and not have that scenery and energy translate into your work. It was the one aspect of taking my work on the road I was most eager to explore, and I can't wait to see what else comes out of my travels as I take my art around the country and let the country take my art.

What challenges have you faced trying to operate while on the road?

The biggest challenge is in how to present my unique business model to my customers. We have become so adapted to online shopping and prime shipping that we have become out of touch with what it takes to make things and the makers themselves are completely hidden from view. Everything I make is custom, and I invite my clients to collaborate with me as much or as little as they like on their order. This is an unfamiliar concept to a lot of people. Now add nomadic living into the mix and you've really confused people. It's a learning process for both myself and my clients, and I so appreciate how flexible and open people have been with me as I navigate it all.

What insights or advice do you have for aspiring nomadic business owners?

We have been conditioned to believe that you cannot have roots and wings, but I have found that to be completely untrue. You can be rooted, established, and stable while also being completely free, transient, and mobile. This world needs more people living out of the unique expertise of their experience and translating that story into the work they present to the world. We don't need more carbon copies, we need you being you doing what you do best. There's a way, you might just have to carve that path for yourself, but it'll be worth it in the end. So go find your way.

Annette McNamara

Beautiful Strength

What kind of rig are you living in/working from?

40’ Skoolie

How long have you been on the road?

Since March 2021

What is your business?

I have been a freelance photographer since 2014. In 2018 I wanted to do a photo series that didn’t require Photoshop, and let people just be their authentic selves. I always knew that I wanted to take this project mobile and the only way to really do it, and do it well, would be to have a space large enough to hold a studio and living space.

What challenges have you faced trying to operate while on the road?

Figuring out bathrooms, propane, electric, showers and overnight parking. When I hit the road, the bus was only about 90 percent finished, but I needed to get this project going! Also, being a woman, people automatically assume I can’t drive or park it myself. Right turns in city driving can be a little hairy, but I have to do it because this gem needs to get to where the people are!

What insights or advice do you have for aspiring nomadic business owners?

You can do it! I was worried at first that I wouldn’t be able to do it all… trying to run a business, be the driver, the logistics, the marketing, and all of the other things, but this has been the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever done, and it has been so worth every headache!

Talia and Andrew Kingston

Love Lights

What kind of rig are you living in/working from?

40’ Thomas Skoolie

How long have you been on the road?

Since the beginning of 2021

What is your business?

We currently own and operate an LED neon sign company. My husband Andy is an electrician, and we started...teaching ourselves this art. We are currently building all of our signs from our school bus, and have a Shapeoko XXL rigged up on slides under the bus so we are able to cut acrylic from the road and manufacture the signs "in-house."

What challenges have you faced trying to operate while on the road?

We have faced issues when it comes to having a return address, material and inventory storage, and managing dust.

What insights or advice do you have for aspiring nomadic business owners?

The best advice I would give nomadic business owners is truly to do what you love. It’s impossible to have everything perfect on the road, so please have realistic expectations, and be kind to yourself! Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Brad Booth

Brad Booth Media

What kind of rig are you living in/working from?

Kia Sportage + 35 foot sailboat

How long have you been on the road?

3 years

What is your business?

I run a freelance photography, videography and graphic design company. I specialize in outdoor and nature photography as my main focus. Three years ago I started traveling because my dream is to travel the world and take photographs. So, with my photography I have to travel and be nomadic to create the art and photos for my clients.

What challenges have you faced trying to operate while on the road?

The main one is lack of funds. There have been times where I had no money, but knew a good job would come around soon. Freelancing can be feast or famine sometimes, and when my car or boat breaks down, those can be pretty challenging days. I still love it, these little challenges make things interesting and just add to the experience.

What insights or advice do you have for aspiring nomadic business owners?

To just go out there and do it. Never let the fear of failure hold you back from living your dreams. The worst thing that could happen is that you have to go back home and try something different.

Josie Wanner

The Happiness Coach

What kind of rig are you living in/working from?

1999 Ford E150 Econoline

How long have you been on the road?

I've been on the road full-time since early 2021

What is your business?

I run a business called, "The Happiness Coach" where I help overachievers learn how to balance their life and start to love it again. Society pressures us to be workaholics these days, and I think it's important to reflect often and remind yourself what life is all about. I started this because I've been a health coach for a couple years, and noticed that everyone who wanted to lose weight was really looking for something else. I felt like I could help people more if I didn't have to fit my coaching into the box that old company designed, so I started my own! I'm passionate about helping others find their inner peace while still striving for success.

What challenges have you faced trying to operate while on the road?

There have been times where things will go wrong with the van and I'll have to focus my time on that instead of towards work, which can be frustrating. Sometimes the internet isn’t great where I am at, and that leads to a decent bit of stress. Overall though, I have found way more positives from living in the van with my business!

What insights or advice do you have for aspiring nomadic business owners?

If you're worried about going broke while you're on the road...don't. I believe humans are extremely resourceful creatures when it comes down to it. You'll find a way to make it work.

Storme Hannan

Airbnb Superhost

Instagram: @takenbystorme

What kind of rig are you living in/working from?

2003 e350 Econoline cargo van

How long have you been on the road?

Backpacked from 2015-2019, then #VanLife since.

What is your business?

I first learned about Airbnb in 2015 while traveling and began renting my bedroom. I now have three properties, all of which can be managed remotely. Airbnb experiences is an even easier market to break into because it doesn’t require owning property.

What challenges have you faced trying to operate while on the road?

Wi-Fi can sometimes be an issue, especially internationally, but I have a strong team backing me up.

What insights or advice do you have for aspiring nomadic business owners?

Always ask yourself: “Self, do we need this additional money? Is it really worth losing the time for this additional money? Am I still in alignment with my purpose?”