3. SOME CLIENTS MAY BE HARD TO WORK WITH

Another big risk is your client not fulfilling your contract agreement. I was scammed multiple times during my first year of client work. I remember spending weeks working on a project, only have the client refuse payment or even in one case, send me inappropriate photos after the job was done. Just because someone hires you, it doesn’t mean that they will be professional with your project.

To avoid scams, ask for your client to pay upfront or work through a verified third-party employer like Upwork. Don’t immediately assume someone you meet on Linkedin is trustworthy. Do background checks and ask for a reference. Luckily, by using a freelance marketplace, if any issues arise, you have a third party to help resolve the situation.

4. IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

There are several reasons why remote work is not suited for everyone.

You like a social work environment

As a self-proclaimed introvert, starting independent freelance work was not a significant adjustment for me. I like being alone so not being able to socialize during my workday was never a problem. But for some, this would drive them nuts.

I tried to convince one of my closest friends to find a remote job so that we could travel and work together. Her response was, “I can’t stand working alone on a computer all day like you.” This is totally understandable. Not everyone feels comfortable working independently and organizing their own schedule. And while there are jobs that don’t require long hours of online work, becoming a digital nomad typically means not having “in-person” co-workers. Although, for me, this can be a good thing since I typically find that having office co-workers can be a major distraction.

Ironically, unless you lock yourself alone in a room, you will also meet many other distracting people as a digital nomad. Every time I try to work at a cafe, hostel lobby, or other public area, at least several people try to start conversations with me while I’m in the middle of a project. In other words, figure out the best environment for you to get work done and make sure you can shut out unnecessary distractions. And if you crave social interaction throughout the day, work in an area where you can still find interesting people to meet.

You Are High Maintenance

Being a digital nomad requires leaving your comfort zone frequently, which includes the literal comfort you get by working at a modern office or home. If you want to save money while traveling, hostels are the best option for accommodations, but some people don’t like the idea of sharing a room with complete strangers. Also, many hostels have slow wifi and poorly setup common areas, which can be a major issue if you are trying to get work done there. So, unless you have the money to pay for more expensive lodging, you'll have to sacrifice some comfort and privacy. Luckily, cafes and co-working spaces can be great options to make sure that you can still have a productive workspace when needed.

For a directory of Co-Working Spaces around the world, check out:

- ShareDesk

- Desk Surfing

- Copass

- Global Coworking Map

- PickSpace

- And this Coworking Wiki page

In other words, learn to be flexible. Since you may move from one place to another, there will be a lot of adjustments. Be open-minded and prepared to sacrifice small comforts depending on where you travel.

You Don’t Have the Right Skills (Yet)

I believe that any job that can be done online has at least some components that can be done remotely. Unfortunately, some people are too afraid to take the plunge into remote work because they feel they don’t have the skills needed to work independently. My solution: either learn that skill you need or start small and build your knowledge base as you continue to grow.

Are you a Lawyer? Become an online legal advisor. Or a Doctor? Write about your specialties and sell them as eBook. Or maybe a Construction Worker? Create how-to youtube videos.

All of us have skills we can use online. We just have to figure out how to deliver that knowledge to the right audience. Write down what you are good at, brainstorm about how others can benefit from your expertise, and figure out how to market that information to right people online.

5. IT DOESN’T OFFER TOTAL FREEDOM