Manage internet business from overseas?

[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

I am in quite a dilemma these days.

I am about to arrange and start my future studies. I have tons of website business ideas that I wanna give a go in the UK and I also feel very attracted to study for some time in London. I am really keen on doing a one year International Foundation Course at the London Metropolitan University next year (starting september 2009 - till summer 2010) which will provide me with the necessary study and language skills needed to succeed onto an English taught business undergraduate course (3-4 years).. if I succeed of course.

However, I am also thinking about perhaps studying in the US after doing my International Foundation Course instead of the UK - so my question here is:

- if I set up a website business in the UK and decide to carry on with my studies in the US, will it be unrealistic to think that I will be able to manage an online business from overseas?

After all; that is one of the major advantages by having an online business - that you can manage it from pretty much anywhere in the world.
Of course the size and the entire complexity of the website says a lot, and the ideas I have covers small-size online businesses which does not need employees and can pretty much be controlled single handed by one person.

[forex master]

Yes, you can do it, one of my friend is also doing the same thing. I'll give you more information like what he is doing. First I need to consult him.

[Encrypted]

If it is online, I don't see an issue with running it from somewhere else. I plan on doing the same thing next year.

[kimbeckers]

Hi Daniel,

As you have suggested, the beauty of an online business is just that, its online. You should be able to manage it from where ever you are so long as you have an internet connection and computer.

I say go for it.

Good luck,
Kim

[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

Yes, you can do it, one of my friend is also doing the same thing. I'll give you more information like what he is doing. First I need to consult him.

That sounds absolutely fantastic, would love to get some more info on that one. Let me know, if you do not mind. Does he have an account here on YE?

[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

If it is online, I don't see an issue with running it from somewhere else. I plan on doing the same thing next year.

There is one thing that irritates me the most about the whole thing of managing a website from overseas - the contact information that will be provided on the website.
How will users react? I keep asking myself this question.

If I was a user from the UK and was using a website with its target group located and focused around London, UK and the contact information would show that the website's contact information is settled in the US, then the website might kind of lose some "trust" you might say. Personal/professional value to the costumer/user is perhaps the right term to use here.

If you know what I mean. Would users become skeptic? Or would it have any other bad influences to the users impression and behavior on the site?

[Mital]

There is one thing that irritates me the most about the whole thing of managing a website from overseas - the contact information that will be provided on the website.
How will users react? I keep asking myself this question.

If I was a user from the UK and was using a website with its target group located and focused around London, UK and the contact information would show that the website's contact information is settled in the US, then the website might kind of lose some "trust" you might say. Personal/professional value to the costumer/user is perhaps the right term to use here.

If you know what I mean. Would users become skeptic? Or would it have any other bad influences to the users impression and behavior on the site?

Hey Daniel,

For the most part, I don't think many users will be skeptic. It may depend on the product or service your providing and the pricing. For the most part, people understand the internet is used to do business internationally, that's the beauty of it. You can always use a service like Skype or Vonage to set up a local number, which you can use anywhere in the world.

[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

Hey Daniel,

For the most part, I don't think many users will be skeptic. It may depend on the product or service your providing and the pricing. For the most part, people understand the internet is used to do business internationally, that's the beauty of it. You can always use a service like Skype or Vonage to set up a local number, which you can use anywhere in the world.

I was more thinking of a physical postal address and phone number (physical contact information) to the website. If the physical contact information is not set to be in the same country as where the website's target group is then users might take it into their calculations when they take a look at the website before purchasing whatever online service it provides - and worst case scenario would be, that it would affect the website's conversion rate in a negative direction?

- Or is it just me being too careful?

[Adrian Bejarano]

Hey Daniel, I am actually looking for a Partner in a website business idea I have. The thing is that I have the idea and management and business knowledge, but no website design background, so I need someone.

Would you be interested?

[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

Hey Daniel, I am actually looking for a Partner in a website business idea I have. The thing is that I have the idea and management and business knowledge, but no website design background, so I need someone.

Would you be interested?

Hi Adrian,

Sounds interesting! However, I only know very basic stuff in actually constructing the website and the whole programming process, I have people to do it for me instead and make it look the way I want it to, so I actually do not think I'm your man for the job unfortunately.

But keep me noticed, always great to keep in touch with other web-entrepreneurs out there.

Just for curiosity - where in the world is your business idea planned to take place?

Daniel,

[Adrian Bejarano]

I live in Costa Rica, so I plan to manage the business from here, but the website is global.

Just as a curiosity, you outsource all the graphic design and the set up of the website or you hire someone as your employee?

[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

I live in Costa Rica, so I plan to manage the business from here, but the website is global.

Just as a curiosity, you outsource all the graphic design and the set up of the website or you hire someone as your employee?

I make a lot of the visual design and ideas on my own, and then outsource the actual programming of the website to a webdesign company in Vietnam.

[visua]

Daniel,

One of our Ideas was to develop software for the mobile CEO that ties into feeds from other software you might be working with. It's not developed, but the idea even without the tools is simple.

I believe in a truly removed experience for management. Thus the reason we even have management. Someone who is not directly hands-on, but knows how to make decisions based on fact and data.

Imagine running a company, that automatically tells you when your stock is low? When your employees are checked in, or checked out. When a sale is made? Etc. This is how the internet works, and its unfortunate that more people don't take full advantage of it. If you have a phone that can get email, and or browse the web. There is no need for you to be *anywhere* really. Provided you have set up the proper communication and action tools.

You could run an entire team from a small island sipping cabo if you wanted to. It's about solid communication and not having fear of being 'removed'. Traditional business would suggest to get in your suit and tie and make your way to the office by 8am everyday. But there is a reason you don't, and thats because you are already a creative entrepreneur.

Get a virtual office if it makes you feel more comfortable. With an office address in your local websites market. Have the numbers / emails forwarded to your current living arrangement.

Go for it man! You'll never regret being able to make money from anywhere you can get a signal

[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

Daniel,

One of our Ideas was to develop software for the mobile CEO that ties into feeds from other software you might be working with. It's not developed, but the idea even without the tools is simple.

I believe in a truly removed experience for management. Thus the reason we even have management. Someone who is not directly hands-on, but knows how to make decisions based on fact and data.

Imagine running a company, that automatically tells you when your stock is low? When your employees are checked in, or checked out. When a sale is made? Etc. This is how the internet works, and its unfortunate that more people don't take full advantage of it. If you have a phone that can get email, and or browse the web. There is no need for you to be *anywhere* really. Provided you have set up the proper communication and action tools.

You could run an entire team from a small island sipping cabo if you wanted to. It's about solid communication and not having fear of being 'removed'. Traditional business would suggest to get in your suit and tie and make your way to the office by 8am everyday. But there is a reason you don't, and thats because you are already a creative entrepreneur.

Get a virtual office if it makes you feel more comfortable. With an office address in your local websites market. Have the numbers / emails forwarded to your current living arrangement.

Go for it man! You'll never regret being able to make money from anywhere you can get a signal

I agree in every single word you are saying - however keep in mind the difference between theory and practice and take all realistic scenarios and possibilities into one's calculations.

It sounds relatively simple to make it all work through a virtual office though, does anybody have any experience in doing this?

[andymayhem]

i have a friend who is a copywritter and webdesigner. he has travelled the world for the last 6 years designing sites for clients in the UK as well as ones he meets in his travels.