Could you (really) be a nomadic accountant?

Stage 1: Strategic planning

Like any significant business transformation, becoming location independent requires intentional planning:

• Align with your business goals: Creating a location-independent practice is definitely a lifestyle choice. But it doesn’t need to be exclusively about lifestyle—it can enhance your overall business strategy. How will mobility help you serve clients better, attract talent, or increase profitability?
  
• Define your vision: What does ‘location independence’ mean specifically for you? Is it seasonal travel? International living? Or simply the freedom to work from anywhere when you choose? Getting clear on your vision will shape every decision that follows.
  
• Set measurable milestones: Break down your transition into concrete, measurable goals with timelines. “I’ll work remotely for one week per month by Q3” is more actionable than “I want to travel someday.”
• Anticipate challenges: What aspects of your current business model might resist mobility? Identify these friction points now so you can address them methodically.
  

Your accounting business isn’t separate from your life, it’s an integral part of it. Take time to write down your thoughts about these questions:

• What would my ideal week look like if location wasn’t a constraint?
• Which parts of my current practice energize me, and which drain me?
• What services would I like to focus on if I could redesign my practice?
• Which clients would I want to keep in my location-independent practice?
• What would success look like one year into this transition?
• What unique advantages might location independence bring to my practice?
• How does location independence connect with my other personal and financial goals?

Getting these reflections on paper (not just keeping them in your head) is a powerful way to turn vague desires into actionable plans. Whether you prefer journaling, mind mapping, or creating a vision board, the act of externalizing your vision makes it more tangible and achievable.

Stage 2: Lay your digital foundation

Before you even think about booking flights, you need systems that won’t fall apart the moment you cross a time zone:

• Audit your current tech stack: Evaluate every tool you use. Can it be accessed from anywhere? Is it cloud-based? If not, start researching alternatives. Pay special attention to any legacy software that might only work on specific devices or requires VPN access.
• Implement a practice management solution: Platforms like Karbon or Ignition keep everything from workflows to client messages organized while you track down the best coffee in Lisbon. Focus on solutions with robust mobile apps, not just responsive websites.
• Establish secure document exchange: Set up encrypted portals like SmartVault or Liscio where clients can upload sensitive financial documents directly. Consider creating a standardized “new client setup” process that educates clients on secure document sharing from day one.
• Of course… set up payment automation: Implement a payment platform that lets you handle money moves from literally anywhere (oh hi 👋). With Melio, you can send invoices from a hammock, pay vendors from a ski lodge, and keep cash flowing whether you’re in Tokyo or Topeka.
• Stress test your systems: Deliberately change your work environment to identify weak points. If you normally work from a home office, try working from your kitchen table or backyard. If you’re already remote, work from a local café with spotty WiFi or a coworking space. Simulate the constraints you might face when truly mobile and solve those problems now.
• Create redundancy plans: Even the best digital systems fail occasionally. Have backup plans for internet outages (mobile hotspot, pre-mapped coworking spaces), power issues (extra battery packs), and technical glitches (local IT contacts in your destination).
• Design document access protocols: Create a clear system for how you’ll access critical documents when connectivity is limited. Consider an offline syncing solution that lets you access key files without internet access.
• Strengthen security beyond passwords: Implement security measures designed for location independence—VPNs for public WiFi, device encryption, biometric authentication, and remote device wiping capabilities in case of theft.
• Can you rehearse real-world scenarios? What would happen if you had to handle an urgent client request using only your phone? Could you process a month-end close with deliberately slow internet? Try simulating these challenges before and see how you adapt. Bonus points if you can successfully onboard a new client entirely remotely!

Stage 3: The local test drive

Before going international, test your systems closer to home:

• Work from local coworking spaces: Spend days working from different locations in your city. How do your systems hold up? What unexpected challenges arise?
• Take a workation: Book a week at an Airbnb a few hours from home. Handle all your regular responsibilities remotely while addressing any issues that come up.
• Practice time management: Use this stage to develop routines that work when you’re outside your normal environment.

Stage 4: Rethink your client relationships

Location independence requires client buy-in:

• Establish clear communication protocols: Set expectations about how and when you’ll communicate. A client who knows they’ll hear from you every Tuesday is less likely to panic when you don’t answer immediately.
• Create a communication hierarchy: Define what’s a text-worthy emergency versus an email-when-you-can situation.
• Master asynchronous updates: Record Loom videos or detailed email summaries that clients can digest on their schedule. 
• Have the conversation: Be transparent with clients about your plans. Frame it as an upgrade to your service: “I’m implementing new systems that will allow me to serve you more efficiently, regardless of location.”

Stage 5: Breaking the tax season chains (critical planning phase)

For many accountants, tax season remains the biggest obstacle to mobility. It’s the elephant in the room of any discussion about location independence.

For all the advances in technology, tax season remains a stubborn anchor for many accountants—a time when everything else seems to stop. Despite cloud platforms and automation, the cycle of compliance work, burnout, and missed opportunities persists year after year.

Why, in a world so digitally connected, does tax season still have such a hold?

The answer lies less in the tools themselves and more in how we structure our work. The traditional compliance model forces firms into a reactive, deadline-driven rhythm that limits both mobility and growth. We’ve upgraded our software but haven’t reimagined our processes. We’ve digitized forms but haven’t transformed our business models.

To truly break free, you need to rethink not just where you work, but what you do:

• Take a good look at your practice structure: Are you still taking on every tax client who comes through the door? Consider specializing in specific industries or client types to create more predictable workflows. 
• Shift toward advisory services: Advisory work is less tied to the calendar and can be delivered from anywhere. According to 2024 survey findings from Accounting Today, 80% of accountancy firms are seeing increased client demand for advisory services—from financial planning to business strategy. 
• Create year-round value: Implement quarterly planning sessions with key clients rather than putting all your value in the annual tax filing. This distributes your workload and strengthens client relationships. 
• Plan your calendar strategically: Perhaps you’re office-based during peak seasons and location-independent the rest of the year. That’s still a massive lifestyle upgrade from being desk-bound year-round. 
• Build a reliable team: Document everything into clear SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) so your team can execute flawlessly whether you’re in the next room or on another continent. Want to learn more about building remote accounting teams? Check out our guide to anaging remote accounting teams effectively.

Yes, it’s entirely possible to manage tax deadlines and client demands from anywhere. There are accountants who hit every April 15th milestone entirely away from the office. But it requires a change of mindset along with location. By questioning the routines that no longer serve your vision, you can begin to create a more sustainable, flexible practice.

Stage 6: Taking flight (metaphorically and maybe literally)

Start with a controlled experiment:

• Choose a starter destination: Pick somewhere with reliable internet, minimal time zone challenges, and perhaps even a community of digital nomads.
• Create connectivity backup plans: Map coworking spaces before you arrive, invest in a portable hotspot, and research local SIM options.
• Set up time zone management: Create a client map with time zones clearly marked and block your calendar accordingly. Tools like Calendly or World Time Buddy can handle the mental gymnastics of time zone calculations.
• Establish check-in rhythms: Plan regular calls with your team and key clients to ensure everything runs smoothly in your absence.