Have you ever considered moving abroad?
Do you dream of running a business in a more affordable location to improve your quality of life?
If so, you will enjoy my guest for this episode, Casey Kelly. We had a great conversation about how and why she moved from Texas to Portugal, and the unique challenges of establishing and operating her small business from there.
About Casey, in her own words:
“I help people navigate complex, dynamic, multi-stage processes to get the outcomes they want. How? Two ways.
First: I help AI-native and AI-enhanced SaaS companies plan and execute GTM, thought leadership, and customer success story content to drive sales, differentiate the brand, and generate investor interest.
Second: I help Americans who want to move to Europe plan and execute their research effectively, so they can find the right destination for their needs, without wasting money or time.”
Summary of what we discussed (scroll up and hit play to listen to the details)
Motivation to relocate – Casey’s research on elder‑care costs sparked a desire to leave the U.S. and explore a more sustainable lifestyle abroad.
Choosing Portugal over Spain – Portugal offered a clear, early‑adopter digital‑nomad visa, whereas Spain’s process was vague and slower.
Business restructuring – Casey wound down her U.S. S‑Corp and re‑established herself as an independent contractor in Portugal, relying on a local CPA to navigate tax and registration requirements.
Banking hurdles for Americans – U.S. reporting obligations deter many Portuguese banks from serving expats; success required persistent outreach and leveraging peer recommendations.
Cultural adjustments – Portuguese social etiquette, respect for hierarchy, slower pace of life, doing business, etc.
Language challenges – Portuguese is linguistically more complex than Spanish, with nuanced pronunciation, extensive formality levels, etc.
Work-style challenges – Maintaining U.S. client relationships requires flexible hours to accommodate time-zone differences, navigating time pressure, blocking vacation time, and clearly communicating availability.
Community building & information curation – Frustrated by noisy social media groups, Casey created the “We’re Moving to Europe” Skool community and Substack newsletter to centralize resources for Americans considering relocation.
Practical relocation checklist – Emphasizes defining non‑negotiables (e.g., healthcare, accessibility, friendliness, medication availability, income needs) before selecting a country or visa type.
Mindset shift – Moving abroad forced Casey to abandon the “always‑busy” U.S. work culture, adopt a slower rhythm, and prioritize personal well‑being over constant productivity, illustrating how our environment shapes our work habits.
Where to find Casey
Her online community, “We’re Moving to Europe.”
Her Substack publication, “We’re Moving to Europe.”
Would you like to review your business plans with me? You can always schedule a complimentary call.
Larry Cornett is a business coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become more invincible, and create better opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! Check out his new Invincible Solopreneurs Daily Journal!
Would you like to help support my newsletter and podcast, but don’t want to commit to a monthly fee? Check out my ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee. I’m a solopreneur, and coaching and writing are how I provide for my family. Thanks for your help!
