Sohrab Vazir
Consultant | Founder | Global Citizen | Writer
Tag Archives: Self-Employment
How to Become a Digital Nomad: Your Guide to Living and Working Anywhere
The digital nomad lifestyle is more popular than ever, allowing people to explore new places while maintaining a steady income. Becoming a digital nomad may sound like a dream, but it requires planning, discipline, and a clear understanding of your goals. This guide walks you through the steps to transition from a traditional job to a location-independent lifestyle. 1. Understand What It Means to Be a Digital Nomad Before diving into remote work, it’s essential to understand the reality of being a digital nomad. A digital nomad is someone who leverages technology to work remotely, allowing them to travel or live in various locations around the world. This lifestyle isn’t just about having freedom; it also requires managing your time effectively, staying productive, and adapting to different environments. 2. Assess Your Skills and Job Opportunities To support yourself as a digital nomad, you’ll need a career that can be done online. Here are some steps to evaluate your remote work potential: Common roles for digital nomads include: If your current job cannot be done remotely, consider taking courses or gaining certifications to build digital skills that are in high demand. 3. Start With a Trial Run Living as a digital nomad is exciting but can also be challenging. Before committing fully, try a “mini-nomad” experience by working remotely for a month from a new location. This short-term trial will help you understand if you’re comfortable working outside of your home base. 4. Prepare Your Finances One of the biggest challenges for digital nomads is financial stability. Here’s how to set up a solid foundation: 5. Decide Where to Go Your destination as a digital nomad depends on various factors, including budget, lifestyle preferences, and time zones. Popular digital nomad hubs include: Research local costs, visa requirements, and internet reliability before choosing a destination. 6. Apply for a Digital Nomad Visa (If Needed) Some countries offer visas specifically designed for digital nomads. These visas typically allow longer stays than a regular tourist visa, making it easier for digital nomads to stay legally. Popular digital nomad visas are offered by countries like Estonia, Portugal, Barbados, and Croatia. 7. Get the Right Tools and Equipment To succeed as a digital nomad, invest in tools that support your work and enable connectivity: 8. Develop Strong Time-Management Skills Without a structured office environment, time management becomes essential. Here are some tips to stay productive: 9. Join Digital Nomad Communities Being a digital nomad can be lonely, especially if you’re constantly moving. Connect with other digital nomads for support, networking, and companionship: 10. Keep an Eye on Work-Life Balance The digital nomad lifestyle can blur the lines between work and leisure. Set boundaries to prevent burnout and make the most of your travels. Take time to explore, rest, and recharge. A balanced lifestyle ensures you enjoy the journey and stay productive long-term. 11. Stay Flexible and Embrace Adaptability The digital nomad lifestyle is constantly evolving. From changing visa regulations to shifts in remote work trends, flexibility is key. Stay open to adjusting your plans, adapting to new environments, and learning from each experience. Becoming a digital nomad can be incredibly rewarding, offering freedom, flexibility, and endless travel opportunities. With careful planning and the right mindset, you can successfully transition to this lifestyle and build a sustainable career on the move. Need help with your digital nomad journey? Work with me to maximise your chances of living the best life as a digital nomad. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Currently, I work and travel as a digital nomad.
What Do I Need to Start a Business? A Comprehensive Guide
Starting a business is an exciting journey, but it can also feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin. From brainstorming ideas to understanding legal requirements, there are several steps to take before you can launch your business successfully. If you’ve been asking, “What do I need to start a business?”, this guide is here to provide clear and actionable answers. Let’s break down everything you need to know to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Need help with starting a business? I started my first tech business at the age of 22 and scaled it to 30+ UK cities. My advisory program below is designed for aspiring business owners. 1. A Clear Business Idea Every successful business begins with an idea. Your idea should address a problem or fulfill a need in the market. To refine your business idea: Tip: Use tools like Google Trends and surveys to assess market interest. 2. A Business Plan A business plan is your roadmap to success. It outlines your goals, strategies, and how you’ll achieve them. Key components of a business plan include: A solid business plan is essential, especially if you’re seeking funding or partnerships. 3. Legal Structure and Registration To operate legally, you’ll need to choose a legal structure for your business. Common structures include: Once you’ve chosen a structure, register your business with the appropriate government authority. In the UK, for example, you would register with Companies House. 4. Funding and Financial Management One of the most common barriers to starting a business is financing. Here’s what you’ll need: Pro Tip: Research grants and incentives available for startups in your region. 5. Licenses, Permits, and Insurance Depending on your industry and location, you may need specific licenses or permits to operate legally. Examples include: Additionally, invest in insurance to protect your business. Common types include: 6. A Strong Online Presence In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial for any business. Start by: 7. Marketing and Branding Your marketing strategy and branding efforts will determine how well you connect with your audience. Focus on: 8. A Support Network Starting a business can be challenging, so surround yourself with a strong support system. This includes: 9. The Right Mindset Finally, starting a business requires determination, resilience, and adaptability. Be prepared for challenges and stay committed to your vision. Celebrate small wins along the way to keep yourself motivated. Conclusion: what do I need to start a business? So, to answer what do I need to start a business? In summary: a strong idea, a solid plan, legal compliance, financial resources, a strong online presence, and a supportive network. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can position yourself for success and navigate the entrepreneurial journey with confidence. Starting a business may seem daunting, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Are you ready to take the leap? Let us know in the comments about your entrepreneurial journey! Don’t do it alone, get my expertise on your business journey I provide a tailored, fixed-cost and simple advisory program for aspiring business owners. Use my 8+ years of entrepreneurship experience and learn life-long skills while you build your venture. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international graduate, I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
The unemployable entrepreneur: why founders become unemployable?
The tail of the unemployable entrepreneur is less often discussed. Many business owners believe that they have the option of employment if their business fails or they simply decide to shift their careers. If you are considering starting a business or are already an entrepreneur, you should be aware that you may be or become an unemployable entrepreneur. There are multiple reasons behind why entrepreneurs become unemployable and I will highlight some of them in this article. Many entrepreneurs believe that starting and growing a business equips them with skills that will assist them in employment, should they choose to pursue it at a later stage. And this is true in principle, however, the reality is that as an entrepreneur you are likely to become unemployable. Let’s look at some of the reasons why. Your skills are not the only factor As an entrepreneur, you will develop a multi-dimensional set of skills. These may help you excel in employment. However, employers often consider other factors and do not exclusively focus on your abilities alone. Long-term commitment Being a former or current entrepreneur undermines the prospects of your long-term commitment to a company. Many employers will assume that you are seeking a role for the short-term and will not commit to the company on a long-term basis. This translates to further costs incurred to the employer to re-hire and replace you as an employee. Obedience Yes, I used the word “obedience”. And please do not get me wrong: there are many employers who are great and do not expect “obedient” people in the strict definition of the term. However, being an entrepreneur undermines your ability to take orders and not be the “one in charge”. In an employer’s view, this raises the possibility of workplace conflict and ultimately having to let you go. The latter also comes with financial and legal liabilities for the employer. Conflict of interest And lastly, an employer may believe that you are seeking to work for them for the sole purpose of accessing their trade secrets, client base and internal protocols to start a competing business at a later stage. I do not need to explain this any further as there is no single company that would willingly assist a potential future competitor. If you are considering entrepreneurship, you must understand and accept the reality that you may become an unemployable entrepreneur if you consider a career shift in the future. Therefore, you must balance all probabilities and accept that this path may be permanent. I have also made a YouTube video on this topic with reference to my own example, make sure to check it out. If you need help with either entrepreneurship or employment. Feel free to reach out to me to discover how I can help. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international graduate, I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
Business Ideas: Do you have to solve a problem?
Business ideas have become synonymous with solving a problem. However, do you always have to solve a problem when coming up with a business idea? I will highlight the supporting and opposing arguments concerning a problem-solution-based approach to business ideas. Business ideas, and finding the right one, are not easy tasks in this day and age. There is stiff competition and there is a chance that any good idea that you come up with has already been implemented. This has led to many professionals, consultants and even academics advocating for a problem/solution approach to validating business ideas. Business ideas should solve a problem? Okay, let’s look at the solution-based approach to business ideas. I do support this principle and my ventures so far have implemented it. The benefits of a solution-based approach is that: The issue with this approach is that: However, not all successful ventures are based on solving a problem. Consider the following business models/companies: -Coca Cola -Dating apps such as Tinder -OnlyFans None of these companies solve a problem per se. Yet, they are billion-dollar ventures. With dating apps, one may argue that they solve the problem of loneliness. However, one does not necessarily need a dating app to meet their partner. The reason why these companies are successful is one factor: demand. And demand is not always necessarily based on solving a problem but rather on people’s willingness to pay for what you offer. To summarise: solving problems is a useful approach to coming up with business ideas. However, the aforementioned should not be the exclusive principle and founders must prioritise demand as the core factor. Struggling to come up with a business idea? As a business consultant and former tech founder, this is my specialty. Contact me to see whether I can help you with finding the right business idea or check out my advisory program specifically designed for new/prospective business owners. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
How to start a business with no money
If you wish to start a business with no money, you have a difficult journey ahead. However, it is certainly not impossible. I will give you some realistic tips and steps that can help you start a business with little or no money. I personally comprehend the difficulty of starting a business with no money. Back in 2016, I was a 22-year-old graduate and embarked on the path of business ownership whilst I had less than £500 to my name. To make things worse, I was on a business visa in the UK and had to meet certain milestones, making it even harder. Read more about my story here. However, I eventually grew the business to over 30 UK cities and a team of four. Yes, I did have additional capital available to me, but the business’ foundation and traction was achieved with less than £500. Here are some options that may be worth considering if you want to start a business with no money. 1. Business grants Depending on where you are and your proposed business, there may be business grants available to you. Some grants provide a lump-sum payment, and some others cover a portion of your business expenses. 2. Credit cards & loans In the UK, you can search for grants via the UK government website here. This is a tricky one. I am personally against racking up debt, and certainly in the case where that debt is spent towards a non-certain outcome. However, starting a business is about taking risks. Therefore, this is an option worth considering. 3. Barter This is an option that is less often referred to. However, it is worth considering if you possess in-demand skills. Barter is essentially exchanging a good/service in exchange for the same. For instance, you may have solid writing skills. You meet a developer who needs a copywriter for a project. At the same time, you require an app. By exchanging skills, you can achieve certain outcomes towards starting a business with no money. These options are worth considering if you wish to start a business with no money. Although they may not be applicable to everybody, it’s important to not allow the lack of capital to deter you from pursuing your vision. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners with starting and scaling the ventures.
Why I hate LinkedIn?
Over the years, I’ve come to hate LinkedIn with a passion. Sadly, a platform meant to foster connections, learning and employment opportunities has become the total opposite of its original purpose. I didn’t always hate LinkedIn. I used it for over 10 years and was active on the platform. However, starting my consultancy business shed some light on how useless (and irritating) it’s become. Plus, as my audience may be aware, I am an authentic individual and have adopted the same approach towards my work. Authenticity somehow conflicts with the way people use LinkedIn in the present day. And this is not the only reason that I hate LinkedIn. Allow me to list my reasons for growing to hate LinkedIn with a passion. 1. Mostly useless for business I’m a business person. Therefore, how I feel about a certain platform, individual or issue is not the sole determinant of my decision-making. However, what bugs me with LinkedIn is that it proved to be extremely useless for my business growth. I rarely, if ever, got a client from LinkedIn. I did have people expressing interest in my services, yet they all turned out to be dead-end prospects. The issue is that LinkedIn is filled with people/businesses trying to sell their services, and this makes you just another “salesperson”. There is hardly anything unique about you or your business seeking to gain prospects. For reference, I’m partially talking about those sales DMs that most of us receive in our inboxes. 2. Fakeness Fakeness and inauthenticity are essentially the core of most social media and networking platforms. Not only is LinkedIn not an exception, but it has become a champion of BS content and posts. And the worst part is that most people on LinkedIn believe they are unique, yet they are mimicking what everybody else is doing. 3. Virtue signalling Building on the last point, the virtue signalling on LinkedIn is beyond the scale. Let’s look at the immigration industry, one which I am familiar with. Most “professionals” in this sector are quick to post content on migrants’ rights and cultural sensitivities. I saw a post from an individual stressing the importance of getting foreign names right. Yet, this very same person ironically misspelt my name in a direct message to me. This made me think: “I’ll make a post about this just to demonstrate the fakeness of these people” and perhaps to emphasise the importance of getting other people’s names right as basic courtesy. And oh boy, I had these leaches jumping under the post condemning me. Not to mention that one of these people worked in the immigration sector too. 4. Constant sales messages Not a single day went by without me receiving some form of sales message on LinkedIn. And the worst part is that these messages are so generic and not personalised. 5. LinkedIn “influencers” Lastly, let’s talk about these “Top Voices” on LinkedIn who for the most part provide little to no value. I’m talking about those who share generic posts such as “pay your people more”, and “be kind” and having 10,000 people reacting to such posts as if they have paved the way for living on Mars. LinkedIn may be beneficial for some, but I grew to hate it more and more in the last few years. Perhaps it’s time for a new platform? One that is not centred around BS and vanity. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners with starting and scaling the ventures.
Start a business, but not for the wrong reasons
If you are planning to start a business, it is important to understand “why” you are doing so. Each venture has its own “why” and mission. However, some reasons are the wrong ones to begin with, and I will talk about 3 of them in this piece The motivation to start a business vary for each founder or founding team. You may be seeking to offer an innovation, improve an existing process, or fill an existing market gap. However, as a consultant, I have noticed a new wave of “aspiring” business owners who are seeking to become entrepreneurs. Yet, their reasons for doing so are shallow and lack a valid commercial basis. Some of the common themes among these wrong reasons are: 1. Not wanting to have a boss The mindset of starting a business so you can not have a boss to answer to is a dangerous one. You are indeed in charge of everything and there is not a superior that you have to be accountable to. Nevertheless, I learnt that even as a business owner, your customers and other stakeholders are your boss. These are parties that you must keep happy and be accountable to. Thus, the idea that by being a business owner you will forfeit accountability is incorrect. 2. Getting rich quickly I am not denying that businesses are commercial entities. Hence, making money is the primary motive. However, entrepreneurship should not be viewed as the gateway to getting rich quickly. This is unlikely to happen rapidly in the case of most businesses and it will take time, risk, resources and patience. If you are unwilling to invest the abovementioned into starting a business and are looking to make a quick buck, you may be in for disappointment. 3. Ego and vanity Lastly, if starting a business is a tool to stroke your ego and “show off”, you are in for the wrong reason. My philosophy is that the first step towards starting a business is to drop your ego and adopt the mindset that you know nothing. These are 3 common wrong reasons for starting a business. Before doing so, make sure that you have a clear “why” and emphasise the commercial context of starting a business. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. I now help other entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.
How I started a tech startup with ÂŁ500 & scaled it to 30+ UK cities
Following the completion of my master’s degree, I founded a tech startup called StudyFlats. Within 3 years, I scaled this PropTech company to over 30 UK cities, with a client base in over 50 countries. As a solo non-technical founder, the idea for StudyFlats seemed far-fetched at first. My business idea was first put to the test when I spoke to Newcastle University. I was an international student in the UK on a visa and therefore had to obtain the correct visa. I pitched the idea to Newcastle University and managed to receive an endorsement for the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa scheme. This was the former equivalent of the former Startup Visa in the UK. The first year The first year was one of the most difficult years of my life. I was a 22-year-old graduate, with a laptop and £500 in my bank account. Not to mention that I had no coding knowledge/background and thus could not create the website myself. I was getting quotes upwards of £10,000 from agencies to create StudyFlats’ website. Needless to say, these were not an option and I was stuck. At the same time, a very dear friend of mine from University, introduced me to a developer who agreed to complete the backend functionalities, whilst I learnt the other parts, especially SEO as I knew I’d heavily rely on it. In the meantime, I was proofreading students’s assignments and dissertations to fund the business and my daily expenses (living in a single room with shared toilets that year was no fun at all). The lesson that I learnt was: where there’s a will there’s a way. I had no option but to grow this company despite all the hurdles. The second & third years year In the second and third years, things began to improve. By the second year, StudyFlats operated in 10 cities. However, this is also when a major competitor began scaling with £70m of funding! It is also worth noting that StudyFlats worked with contractors/freelancers during the second year. Hence, there was no “team” at this point and I essentially did everything that was needed. However, I adopted 2 strategies that gained a unique competitive advantage for StudyFlats, which was integral to its growth. These were: By the end of 2019, we were a team of five, operated across 30+ UK cities, consulted 1000+ students from 50+ countries, and had investors approaching us themselves. March 2020: goodbye And this is where the brutal reality hits: you can do everything right and things can still go south. With the events of 2020, I was reluctant to maintain the company’s operations for that period as it seemed extremely unpredictable and possibly a recipe for liability. Additionally, we needed cash to maintain the company’s operations, yet this was simply not possible as we paused our operations. By 2021, I considered relaunching the company’s operations. However, after considering several factors including the desire to do what I do now as a consultant, I made the very difficult decision that every founder resents. However, I see StudyFlats as a learning experience, the driver of my settlement in the UK and an opportunity that was missed due to factors outside my control. We live and learn, it is what it is. Starting and scaling a (tech) startup is not for the faint-hearted. It involves pain, uncertainty, disappointment, rejection and loneliness. But in the end, it can all be worth it, as it was in my case. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.
Are online courses useful for people starting their own business?
If you are thinking of starting your own business, then you may have considered completing online courses. In recent years, there has been an unprecedented surge in the provision of online courses, especially around starting your own business. However, are they useful? Or simply useless? The answer to the above is: it depends. Online courses can be useful for people who want to start their own business. However, you must use them in the right way and with the right intention. Let me answer this question differently. Generally, with business, you are preoccupied with three key questions: The question is whether an online course would be appropriate for and beneficial in answering those three questions. Online courses are useless for the “Why” There are a myriad of courses on “business mindset”, “growth hacks”, “growth mindset”, “billionaire mindset” and so on. These promise to give you the right mindset to make your billions (and yes, it is most definitely utter BS). I believe that any entrepreneur should start a business out of their instinct. They should not need any person or entity telling them why they should start a business or get into the right mindset of setting one. Entrepreneurship is a journey of evolution Understanding the context of this article demands an understanding of the philosophy of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is inherently defined by risk and uncertainty. It is unconventional. There is a reason why the majority do not pursue this path, despite not necessarily loving their daily jobs. It is about understanding and accepting that you are taking a massive risk. You can do everything right, and it can still fail. Therefore, beginning this journey under a guided course is the wrong way to approach this path. Online courses are good for the “What” and the “How” Now that we have clarified where online courses for starting a business are not helpful, let’s consider the other side. I elaborated on a few points concerning entrepreneurship. Here are an additional 2 that are relevant: skills and knowledge. Implementing, managing and executing a business venture demands certain skills, and it may be specific to each founder and business. This is where online courses “may” be helpful for people starting their businesses. So long as you identify the following: Let’s look at an example below (me): Sohrab wants to start an online consultancy business. His main way of getting clients is online through his website and Google search. Therefore, Sohrab needs to understand Google Analytics to analyse his website’s performance. In this case, an online course on Google Analytics could be helpful for Sohrab. Starting your own business can be daunting. Need help? About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four prior to 2020. Currently, I help other entrepreneurs start their businesses.
Choosing a business bank account: what to consider?
One of the questions that most business owners will ask themselves is how to choose a business bank account. Choosing a bank account should always be thought through, especially for business purposes. There are plenty of business bank account options available these days. And like scarcity, abundance can also make things complicated. This is particularly the case with the emergence of digital “challenger” banks such as Starling & Monzo. As a business owner for almost a decade, I have learnt a thing or two about business bank accounts, and I want to share them with you today. Your business structure This is mainly a case of being self-employed or running a company/partnership. If you’re self-employed, a simple personal account may suffice, so long as your expenses/income is clear, so perhaps a separate personal account would be most suitable. However, when it comes to companies /partnerships (regardless of the type), you must get a business bank account. Business transactions Your business transactions are important when choosing a bank account. Specifically, consider the following concerning your (anticipated) transactions: -Average value -Frequency -Location(s) involved in your transactions -Charges by the bank Depending on your answers to the first two aforementioned points, certain banks may appeal to different customers. Therefore, it’s important to get an overview of your forecasted transactions and compare them against the offers available. Your rights upon possible account restrictions Every bank will have its own policies regarding account restrictions. This is a common occurrence and can happen for a variety of reasons, including compliance and investigations. For example, this has been a common issue among digital nomads because many do not have a fixed address. Hence, it’s important to understand the account’s terms and conditions regarding such scenarios. Business support Check to see if the business bank account offers additional support. You may not necessarily need it, but it can be helpful for some. Tide is an example of such an account, offering services such as company incorporation, support in accessing funding and so on. These are 4 things to consider when choosing a business bank account. Make sure you research your options carefully to avoid any regrets down the line. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size across several domains. For my credentials, please see here.