Making money on the road is typically one of the main things that holds people back from getting started with van life. How do you make money to afford to live on the road? It can be a huge concern for many people to keep a steady income, or make enough to get by. In the way the world is today, it's actually very possible to work a variety of different van life jobs.
Van life jobs break down into two main categories. You can either build an online business or work a job, in many cases that being a remote job to provide location independence. Some of these options you may want to combine in order to create a full time income.
We've listed a variety of ways to work and make money on the road including odd jobs, seasonal work, and freelance work. At the same time, living in a van does not mean you have to leave your 9 to 5 job. You can live by your office Monday through Friday, and travel on the weekends.
1. Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
Blogging and affiliate marketing is an online business model that you can get started with very little money. Some may think they're not as popular as they used to be, yet that cannot be further from the truth! When done the right way it can be very profitable and rewarding to share helpful content.
One of the best courses to learn blogging and affiliate marketing is The Authority Site System from Authority Hacker. You can learn how to build a profitable website by signing up for the free webinar here.
2. Create Videos On YouTube
Similar to blogging or any other business you start, this can take a bit of time to get going. If you have particular knowledge or interesting content to share about a certain topic, you can get views on YouTube. Many people getting into van life create content around getting started with the lifestyle. Of course, you can create YouTube videos on any subject you like.
Once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch time hours, you can monetize that content with advertisements. Not to mention, you can also provide additional value to your audience by offering additional products or services.
3. Freelance Work
A tried and true staple of ways to make money online is through freelance work. This type of van life job works well if you already have some skills such as building websites, graphic design, writing, or video editing. A popular freelancing site like Upwork allows you to make money while living in a van and get in contact with those looking to hire. This does not require you to work the traditional 9-5 since you work online with clients.
4. Seasonal Work
The most common seasonal work available is through the National Park Service. They are constantly looking for new people to work in the various restaurants, gift shops, information centers, campgrounds, park entrances, etc. The best part about one of these jobs is that you work there for about 3 to 4 months and then you can head off for your next adventure. You can check the National Park Website to view their current job openings and positions.
5. Rent Out Your Van
Did you know that you can rent out your van for a good amount of money with Outdoorsy? You can make $200 per night depending on the amenities that your van offers. Some may rent out their van for a couple months while staying with friends or family and make enough to travel for a year. This option also works great if you plan to do van life part-time. Outdoorsy is our favorite rental company for vans and RVs.
6. Odd Jobs
This work can expand to wide variety of different tasks, jobs, or gigs for people. You can use an app like Task Rabbit to help run errands, put IKEA furniture together, gift wrapping, driving, dog walking, and more. You can also check through your local Craigslist to find various odd jobs that people need done.
7. Create A Physical Product
If you have a skill to create custom jewelry, drawing, painting, or an idea for a product, you can sell them online. This can be a full time job on the road. You'll also have to get the word out through social media marketing. There's many people on the road that do this and make great money selling their own unique stuff. To set up an online store, our personal recommendation is to use Shopify. It's super easy to use, and fast to get your items ready for sale.
8. Ask Your Current Corporate Job
One method not too many people consider when looking into van life is that you could keep your current job and work remote with it. If you've got a good relationship at your employer and with your boss it may be possible for you. This heavily depends on your position and the type of company. It doesn't hurt to ask, and you could continue with a steady paycheck working for a company you're already familiar with.
9. Digital Products / Online Courses
Nowadays there's courses and eBooks for almost every subject imaginable. If you have a background or experience in a particular niche, you can create an information product and sell it. Digital products are fantastic because there's no manufacturing process or shipping. Once it's made, you only have to market it to people.
10. Photography / Videography
If you love taking photos or video, you could consider becoming a professional photographer or videographer. Doing wedding photos/videos or creating content for companies can make great money while traveling. Once you establish a meaningful portfolio, it'll become easier overtime to find new clients.
11. Find A Remote Job
If you're looking for work you can do online, then a remote job is perfect for you. For those interested in van life this is one of the best opportunities to get a steady paycheck while on the road. Our favorite remote job board is Dynamite Jobs. Here you can find a wide range of remote companies looking to hire remote professionals.
12. Social Media Management
For those great at social media, becoming a social media manager could be an excellent opportunity. Someone in this role typically schedules content and posts for a business. It's common for this type of role to be part-time, which can make it a perfect van life job.
13. Customer Service
Many businesses and brands need a large customer service department and admin support. This can include helping answer customer questions, or to assist them with any issues they may be having. In most cases you can work from home or anywhere as long as you've got an internet connection.
14. Work With Brands
If you have a following and audience, then chances are that brands want to work with you. Brands are always looking for partnership opportunities with people who have a social media following. A common rate may be $100 per every 10,000 followers you have. This can vary a lot with different companies and what kinds of deals you want to work out. It's a win-win, they get exposure and you get paid.
15. Dog Walking and Babysitting
One of the less glamorous jobs is dog walking or babysitting. With apps like UrbanSitter or Wag, you can make money doing these jobs for people. It's not bad money for $50 to $100 bucks with babysitting or around $10 to $20 per dog walk.
16. Workamping
A common van life job is to do workamping. This combines both working and camping to create what is known as "workamping". In this line of work, you'll typically be helping out a campground with tasks they need done. This can range from tidying up campsites, cleaning bathrooms, or general park maintenance. You get paid either at an hourly rate, with free camping, or a monthly stipend. It's not much pay usually, but it can be great job for those who want to get outdoors more.
17. Consulting / Service Business
Of all the businesses you can start online to make money on the road with van life, consulting or services is one of the most common. If you're an expert on something, people will pay for your advice and help. This could mean providing direct help on their project, or by offering your time to get something done for them. One popular service in the van life community is to offer van repair or van conversion.
To Conclude
Hopefully these 17 van life jobs help you come up with ideas for how you can support yourself while on the road. In most cases you'll either build an online business or work a remote job to achieve location independence.
In addition, there are more stationary jobs available like workamping, national park service, or staying with your current job and traveling on the weekends.