4 Unexpected Types of Business That Can Now be Operated Remotely

Remote work is when your business is operated from a location other than a central office. The work-from-home (WFH) movement was gaining traction even before the pandemic, but the lockdowns and social distancing have boosted employees’ interest in remote work.

And, now that the back-to-office movement is getting some wind, there are people who would rather continue in a WFH fashion. Plus, those who have a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, figured out they can run an entire business without having to see an office ever again. As a result, in 2022, around 16% of companies in the world are 100% remote.

So if you are interested in jumping on the bandwagon, here are some businesses you could run entirely from home (or your favourite coffee shop).

#1: Bookkeeping

As an accountant, you don’t have to live most of your life in a dark office, in the basement of the building, surrounded by papers and computers. Nowadays, documents can be signed online, and you can use safe cloud connections to work on your favourite bookkeeping platform.

Plus, as a CPA (if you have the license), you can offer business consultation sessions online. This means you can be anywhere in the world – at home or on a sunny beach – and do your job. Not to mention that there’s always the chance to niche your work and target businesses that also work remotely or ex-pats who want to keep track of their finances.

Overall, as a remote bookkeeper or accountant, you are as good as the online tools you know to use. So invest a bit of time and money to learn how to use the most popular platforms before you make the jump to a fully remote position.

#2: Virtual Real Estate Brokerages

Nowadays you no longer have to meet with clients to sign contracts or discuss transaction issues. It’s enough to use a specialised system like DocuSign for documents and you can always chat on Zoom (or other platforms that support video calls).

Plus, virtual real estate brokerages can now organise remote teams, with agents from various markets. This gives you a huge advantage in terms of territory covered since your business isn’t as limited by geographical location as it used to be.

#3: Tutoring and Teaching

No, teaching needs to happen face-to-face, in a standard classroom, following the already established curriculum!

Or this is what people who haven’t tried remote learning will try to convince you to think. However, studies show that the traditional way of teaching is ineffective and doesn’t help students develop skills that may work best with their talents.

So no, a good teacher doesn’t need a formal setting to be able to teach. In reality, online learning is more goal-oriented and teachers have the freedom to be creative about their favourite topics.

And, the sheer amount and size of platforms that host online classes from almost any domain you can imagine is proof that people are interested in online learning. Plus, you can also be a tutor online, due to apps like Zoom or Skype.

#4: Consulting

Did you know the average business consultant makes over $75,000 per year? Now imagine earning this much and working from home – isn’t it a great combination?

If you have deep experience in a specific field and good communication skills, you may try your chance at becoming a consultant. The job can be done entirely remotely, with in-person meetings if the client is keen to get to know you. However, most meetings will take place online, which aside from saving you travel time, also means you can use a real-time AI assistant for meetings to really impress the client. Though in some cases, the client will likely ask to meet face-to-face.

Luckily, you don’t have to meet at your house or a nearby café for business meetings. Nowadays, most big cities have conference rooms for renting where you can take your client and have a discussion in a professional environment.

Remote Work Won’t Go Away

While some businesses (mostly large companies) are reluctant in accepting the remote work trend, there are a series of benefits no one can deny. From the fact that you can attract top talent from all over the world to the possibility of expanding your reach at a global level, remote work is not a trend that will fade out as time goes by.