Being your own boss of a business of your passion in the country of your dreams. It´s probably the highest form of freedom, the crème de la crème of self-actualization. I can´t say I run my own company here but I have firsthand information on starting and running a business abroad through Jan´s e-commerce company, the main reason we moved to Mexico.

Today Cyberpuerta.mx is a well-established e-shop shipping all over the Mexican republic. With both entrepreneurship and internationality running through his blood most things seemed to come natural to him, but there were definitely difficulties along the way. A couple of observations Jan pointed out to be useful for those considering starting a business abroad and pursuing to live two dreams in one:

1# The Invisible Multiplier

When starting the company directly after the move, you´ll simultaneously go through two intense beginning phases: 1) The start of your business and 2) the work of settling in the new culture. During this time, the difficulties of setting up a business abroad challenge your coping skills to an exceptional extent on multiple levels. Being far away from a familiar environment with people you can trust your issues with, a what we like to call “invisible multiplier” makes these days multiple times as rough. In other words: When it rains, it pours.

Fortunately, the “invisible multiplier” has a positive counterpart. When the company starts to stabilize and later flourish, you enjoy both the advantages of life abroad and the self-fulfillment of having your own business to a similar multiple extent. So on the one hand you may have to face harder times in the beginning, but on the other hand positive results eventually bring out stronger feelings of joy, satisfaction and pride than if you had chosen to start your business at home.

2# Juggling with Priorities

Migrants usually divide their time and energy over tons of to-do´s in order to settle in. Migrants with a company have one main priority: their business. Having less time for socializing and other acts favorable to personal integration inevitably slows down the integration process. Although having the business set as priority number one is no doubt what it takes to succeed, it´s also risky to get caught up in your daily business tasks and forget about the other dream you had, living a happy life abroad.

Trying not to get absorbed by your business is not so easy when you invest all your available energy and money. However, it could become problematic for your future outlook abroad when your business is the only thing you really care about and you lack on your well-being on a personal level. Enjoying life abroad, traveling the country and getting to know the culture, it’s all part of the pursuit of having two dreams in one. It´s essential to realize that you don´t exclusively move for your business, it´s about finding the right work-life balance.

3# Intense Culture Immersion

With your own business abroad, you don´t have much flexibility in determining the speed of cultural involvement, nor is there much freedom to distance yourself from unknown or disliked situations. The chance of becoming culturally shocked or affected is significantly bigger due to this unavoidable intense culture immersion. You will have to deal with intercultural situations and emotions of confusion, stress and frustration, no matter what.

Despite the fact that you´re subject to cultural immersion, you cannot allow yourself being affected too much by it. Even the smallest misunderstandings or disputes cost time and money and could jeopardize the chance of success of your business. Depending on the distance between your own culture and the new one, postponement of founding the company is recommendable. If you have doubts choose to familiarize yourself first with the new cultural environment before diving into the complete new way of doing business.

4# Minimizing the New

As owner of a company you must face many new situations at once. Besides learning a new language, dealing with new costumes and the loss of your comfort zone, you can add a list of novelties unique to entrepreneurs abroad such as new rules and regulations, tax paying, and other bureaucracy and industry-specific issues. To protect yourself from overwhelming feelings you should minimize the overload of novelties as much as possible.

By way of preparation, you want to spend a significant amount of time gaining know-how and experience in different areas: Learning the language, reading the right books, gaining work-related experience, leading a team, whatever is necessary. Planning the departure date according to your knowledge and experience will eventually significantly contribute to the success of the company. You minimize the new and even accelerate the start of your business.

5# Long-Term Commitment

Once the step is taken the way back is harder than expected. We hadn´t really thought about this and saw it as a “relatively” low-risk adventure with all options open: we could stay if we liked it, we could return if we didn´t. However, after a while we realized that giving everything up, especially giving up the company, is much harder than expected. Not only psychologically but also regarding business selling opportunities that you simply don´t control.

Therefore you need to be willing to live abroad for a considerable period of time. For the e-commerce industry in Mexico that is at least three to five years. Take this into account if you plan it to be a short-term project with a maximum amount of years.

6# Combination Passion/Potential

Work is work. Also in the most beautiful country you can imagine. Living in the country you love is only great when you feel content with the work you do day in day out. Therefore contemplate well if a business abroad is what you really want and if so, investigate through thorough market research whether it´s a realistic option for the region. Passion and potential should coincide perfectly.

Succeeding abroad isn´t easy, but it isn’t impossible either. Prepare yourself well, work hard, and be in it for the long-haul. I hope you found our insights useful. Good luck!!

I´m curious how other people deal with these challenges.
Do you have a business abroad? Share your tips!