If you are really interested in building a business that supports your lifestyle and practically runs itself, there are essential factors that you will need to consider. When you make the decision to build a business that gives you time freedom and supports your lifestyle you are embracing a mindset that is vastly different from the way most people are taught to run a business as just another job to work at for more than 8 hours a day.

Myself, and many others, have proved that you really can build a business around your life that provides enough income to do the things that are important to you. If you want to travel, you can build a flexible business that allows you to travel. If you want to focus on raising your children, you can also do that while also creating a company that supports that choice. You could even build a 40 hour a week job if that’s what you really want. For me, I built a business that allows me to golf in the summer and be outside as much as possible!

Here are 6 tips to consider when building a business that supports your lifestyle:

1. Determine your ideal lifestyle

Take some time to explore what you really want out of life. Try to get out of your comfort zone so that you can truly imagine all the possibilities. There is no right or wrong answer, you get to create the lifestyle you want for yourself and your family.

2. Get clear on what you care about

One way to craft a life that you love living is to focus on the things you are passionate about. What is something you really love? Who are the people you would like to help or serve? What skills do you already know to support that, and what skills are you willing to learn to support that idea? Building a business that supports your lifestyle means that you are clear on what you want, who you want around you on the journey, and how supporting your loved ones fits into the overall plan.

3. Brainstorm ideas for your business

Combining your dream lifestyle with your passions will help you find the ideal business idea for you. If you already have a business idea, that’s okay, start with that and see where it leads.

4. Do a little research

If you did the brainstorming, you may have come up with a few ideas for building a business. Now it’s time to do a little research and see how feasible  your ideas are. You will need to know the basics of what is required to create your products and services. Talk to people who do the type of business you are considering building, and get an idea of what is involved and how that might work for you.

5. Create your business plan

Once you have your business idea, it will help you to create a business plan. Even a one-page plan can help you get organized. A business plan just needs to cover your plan for your business in every aspect of it. Include your value proposition, your solution, the competition, your target market, your sales and marketing plans, your budget and sales goals, milestones you plan to experience, team and resource summary, stakeholders, and any funding needs should all be covered in your plan. Even if no one else ever sees it, your plan will help you design each of your workdays.

Resource: Use a planner like this Comprehensive Start-up Planner* to help you build your business plan and keep your ideas organized.

6. Automate, Systemize, and Outsource

Once you know what has to be done to create the product or perform the service your business is marketing, you will need to set about automating, designing systems, and outsourcing as much as you can so that you are the manager of your business instead of the worker in your business.

Final Thoughts

The key to success when you’re building a business that supports your lifestyle is to be realistic about what you like doing, what you really can do, and what needs to be done to make your dream come true.

Sure, you might have to devote extra hours every week to doing all the work yourself, but eventually, if you plan, automate, systemize, and outsource strategically, you will succeed in building a business that allows you to live the lifestyle that you choose.

Related Article: 5 Essential Time Management Skills