If you could earn in dollars while living on pesos, how quickly would your runway grow? That’s the power of remote income strategies, and in this post we’ll cover proven approaches that entrepreneur expats use in Mexico and around the world to create sustainable, location-independent lives. You’ll also learn the essential tax moves that keep more of your money in your pocket.
Why Remote Income Strategies Matter for Expats
For Americans, Canadians, and others moving abroad, money is often the biggest obstacle. Traditional jobs are tied to one location, but remote income strategies give you flexibility to live in a lower-cost country while earning in stronger currencies. This not only stretches your budget but also builds long-term financial freedom.
Six Remote Income Strategies That Work
There are countless ways to make money online, but the following six remote income strategies are consistently working for our clients and community. Each option depends on your skills, capital, and risk tolerance.
1. High-Value Services
Consulting, design, coding, and fractional executive roles fall into this category. The key is to niche down, solve one painful problem, and charge premium rates. Retainer agreements are better than one-off projects because they provide consistent cash flow.
2. Productized Services
Think fixed-scope, fixed-price packages—like “Podcast + 10 Clips in 72 Hours.” These can be delivered with the help of a team, giving you scalability and predictable revenue.
3. Digital Products
Courses, templates, communities, and masterminds can generate semi-passive income. Once built, these products can sell around the clock. Use your client work to build frameworks you later turn into scalable products.
4. Affiliate Marketing & Content
Create niche content—blogs, YouTube, or short-form funnels—and recommend other people’s products. With the right affiliate partnerships, checks keep arriving even while you sleep.
5. Micro SaaS & Automation
Solve one expensive workflow problem for a specific niche. This could be a small tool or no-code automation with a monthly subscription fee. Even simple SaaS or hosting setups can bring in thousands monthly.
6. E-Commerce & Print on Demand
If you have an audience, physical products or print-on-demand merchandise can add an extra revenue stream. Amazon FBA, drop-shipping, or branded products all fit into this strategy.
Managing Money Flows Abroad
Running a global business requires smart tools. Stripe, PayPal, and Wise Business are popular for receiving and sending payments. Always keep backup merchant accounts—“two is one and one is none.” And remember: keep personal and business funds separate to avoid compliance headaches.
Tax Numbers That Matter in 2025
Remote income strategies only work if you stay compliant with tax laws. Key numbers for U.S. expats include:
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Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): ~$130,000 of active income in 2025.
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Foreign Housing Credit: Base $20,800, with caps up to ~$39,000.
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Reporting thresholds: Form 1099-K is $20,000/200 transactions in 2025, dropping to $600 in 2026.
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FBAR (FinCEN 114): Must file if foreign accounts exceed $10,000 at any point.
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FATCA (Form 8938): Higher thresholds ($200k+ for singles abroad, $400k+ for married).
Residency and tax treaties (like those between the U.S. and Mexico) help avoid double taxation, but you must always file in the U.S.
Simple Setups for Remote Professionals
Depending on your business model, consider these proven structures:
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U.S. LLC for foreign clients: Keep contracts simple, use FEIE and tax credits to avoid double taxation.
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Mexico simplified tax regime: Ideal if most clients are Mexican; pay ~1–2.5% tax on receipts under 3.5M pesos.
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Content/Affiliate operators: Keep lightweight back-office, often with a U.S. entity for ease of payments.
Offer Design and Pricing
Remote income strategies succeed when paired with clear offers. Start with one irresistible promise (one avatar, one metric, one timeframe). Lead with outcomes, not hours. For example: “Get three qualified demos per week in 30 days without cold calls.”
Use one main channel for client acquisition: YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, or email depending on your model. Build systems over time to scale your delivery without burning out.
Risk Control: What Not to Do
Avoid these common mistakes:
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Don’t mix personal and business funds across borders.
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Don’t promise guaranteed outcomes online.
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Don’t ignore tax residency rules (track days, receipts, and exit stamps).
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Don’t assume you’re safe just because platforms don’t issue tax forms—income must still be reported.
Taking the Next Step
Remote income strategies are the foundation of a truly location-independent life. If you want help mapping out your business, relocation, or tax setup, schedule a consult at entrepreneurexpat.com/consult.
We also offer a brand-new program—the Expat Income Accelerator—which dives deeper into the exact strategies working for entrepreneur expats right now. It’s currently available for just $97.
Final Thought: If you could earn in dollars while living on pesos, how quickly would your runway grow? With the right remote income strategies, you can live abroad, grow your savings, and actually enjoy the life you set out to create.