How To Start Over In Paradise With $15,000 (All Expenses Paid)
A complete guide to starting a new life in Thailand where $15,000 covers everything you need.
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After building businesses across multiple countries, one thing became clear. Success is not tied to one system, one location, or one way of thinking.
In today’s world, you can design life on your terms. Globally, intelligently, and with intention.
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Before We Start With This
Taking the leap to move to a new country and start a business is hard.
I do not want to romanticise that. But success often depends on taking smart risks. Choosing a place that won’t drain your savings, and building something without burning through capital, gives you time, clarity, and a real chance to make it work. It’s not easy, but it can be life changing.
What This Post Will Show You
This post is a practical guide for anyone looking to start something of their own without going broke in the process.
It walks you through how to live in Thailand for a full year on a $15,000 budget while building a business from the ground up.
That number includes everything. Rent, food, healthcare, transportation, business tools, and even visa costs. You’ll learn what life actually costs, how to stretch your runway, which types of businesses you can realistically start with limited capital, and what visa paths are available to stay legally.
What it does NOT include, is the travel to the destination, and the preparation work that has to be done at home (since people come from different countries, it does not make sense to include that in the budget, but depending on where you are from, those costs have to be calculated as well).
There is no “fast success” or “secret strategy” formula in here.
This is about making a smart, calculated move that gives you time, space, and clarity to build something real. If you’re looking for an honest roadmap to starting lean and living well, this can work for you.
Also, this includes work.
And by work, I do not mean, getting up at 9am, and working for 2h in a café while chatting about your travels, and clocking out at 2pm and going to the beach. By work I mean weeks of focused work sessions, which propel you forward in building your own thing. It also doesn’t mean “monk mode” and not enjoying yourself. But I feel like it’s important to emphasise that something valuable comes from putting in the work, and not dabbling around “hoping for the best”. That being said, let’s get started with what you need to do.
This is a long read. Save it if you’re serious about building something of your own.
Why You Can Trust This Advice
I’m not writing this as a theory. I have lived it.
I started my first business at 22 while still working full-time. Since then, I’ve built and launched ventures across multiple countries, including one in Cyprus, one in Estonia, one before the pandemic, a consultancy that crossed seven figures in revenue, and most recently, a new venture in Thailand. I’ve lived in Germany, the UAE, Thailand, Denmark, and Australia, constantly learning what works, what doesn’t, and how to adapt.
I’ve failed. I’ve succeeded. And I’ve kept going. Refining, rebuilding, and growing each time. This guide is the result of everything I’ve learned about starting lean, staying focused, and building momentum in the real world.
Here’s the Flow of This Guide
First, we’ll look at why Thailand stands out as a base for bootstrapped founders
After that, we are going to look at where in Thailand you should base yourself (comparing very different vibes of places)
Then we’ll break down the monthly budget and show how $15,000 can cover everything, including rent, food, healthcare, and business tools
After that, we will explore business ideas that are realistic to launch on limited capital (realistic ones, which or actually viable, incl. the ingredients you need for each one)
We will follow with an overview of the visa options available for staying legally while building (from low-cost to premium options)
Finally, we’ll close with a look at what you actually gain from this path, beyond just saving money