Have you ever dreamed of living and traveling in an RV full time? One way to make that dream come true is to run an online business while you go down the road. We do it and so do lots of folks; you can too!

If you are considering hitting the road here are some things to keep in mind:

Small Is Better

It goes without saying that you may not want to sell horse saddles from an RV, but even small items can pile up quickly. And if you are living in your rig full time, you'll need some of your storage space for regular living items. (I've tried to tell husband he doesn't need that tool box space, but he's stubborn!) But selling electronically downloaded material might work for you. And dropshipping is another option, if you've been very careful to pick a reputable company to work with. Or maybe you design web sites. There are lots of ways around the inventory/space problem.

Work Space

Are you a tidy sort that likes a clean desk? You'd better be because that's how you have to live in an RV, especially if it's going to be an office too. You will want to consider work space when you choose your rig. Most aren't set up for a desk, but you might be able to add one. That's what we did with our current set up. We had shelves and a desk built in an otherwise empty space. It takes some creative thinking, but we run two business out of a 40' space. There may be a dining table which gives you a desk surface, but you are not going to want bench seats after a few hours. So look for a way to get a real office chair in there and some flat space with elbow room. You might need to add lighting, too. Don't scrimp on those things; you need your work space to work for you.

Equiptment

Get a laptop. I traveled with a desktop computer for quite awhile and it was just silly. Get a nice laptop and consider a larger screen. You'll be looking at this for hours every day. Then think through the rest of your machines carefully. Multi-function printers that copy and scan are best. And next time I buy one I'm going to look at the wireless ones. Try to get a smaller scaled machine, but they can be tucked in lots of places, on the floor, inside a cabinet, under a couch. Mine sits in a deep window sill with special adhesive straps that hold it in place when we are rolling down the road. Been across country several times and they've held tight. I have a small digital scale and computer speakers also held down with those straps (sold in RV stores). You want to have things set up so that moving the RV is easy and doesn't disrupt your whole set-up every time.

Internet

When we started doing this we relied on wireless connections. And while they have gotten more available it's a hard way to run a business. Some RV parks have wireless, but they are often broke, or weak. Sometimes you have to be in exactly the right spot (ie: the laundry room!) or you can only get online at certain times of the day. If you are waiting on orders this can make you nuts. We finally got Data Cards and life is good. These come from the cell phone companies and plug into your computer. The connection is fine almost everywhere. You should look carefully at the coverage areas the various companies offer. They really vary and we are much happier with our current plan than a previous one. Also some areas can be helped with an antenna. These are available at truck stops for about $40.00 and plug right into your Data card. I can be online getting work done while we drive down the road. Gotta love the internet!

Travel

If you are looking for items to sell traveling can be a huge advantage. I get stock that nobody else even sees. I get supplies when we go to that town and never pay shipping. I can go to events and gatherings that relate to my business. And that can make everything a write off. I'm not a tax expert, but as you consider this lifestyle you should definitely talk to your tax person and take advantage of the perks it offers.

Mail

This is a problem area. Getting your mail can be a pain. We do as much as we can online and then other mail gets sent to a relative who forwards it when we have an address. There are also services that you can use to have mail forwarded, but look into their rules carefully, sometimes you have to be a resident of that state. Sending out mail is easier. I use online postage to minimize the trips to the post office, but you will have to find a PO in every town. And you'll find that some are more user friendly than others, so be sure you are following all the rules. Don't under weigh your packages, use the right custom forms and be really nice. It will help.

This is a fun and exciting lifestyle. And running an online business can really make it work. You can do this too!

[Tina Sutherland, owner of What-I-Found, a store on Main Street Mall Online, lives and works in her 40 ft. Monaco Knight RV and is considering a trailer to hold more stuff!]

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