Ryan Garrido, 37, runs a dropshipping business called Dropshipping High Ticket while traveling the world, and he credits living abroad with giving him the financial flexibility to grow. He argues that the cost of living in the US leaves little room for entrepreneurial risk-taking because essentials consume most of one's income. "In America, you might be thinking, 'OK, I have enough to break even. I can pay my rent, I can pay my bills, I can pay for groceries, my gas, and I'll have $20 left over,'" he said.
The core of Garrido's argument is that excess funds are necessary to take risks, and that such funds are scarce for many Americans. "When you have excess funds, you can take risks, and I think that's the common issue with people living in America. There's no room to take risks because there are no additional funds," he added. His perspective highlights a broader debate about how geography affects entrepreneurial capacity.
Garrido started his company while already overseas, and his savings on daily expenses directly helped fund the business's initial phase. He did not provide specific dollar amounts for his savings or business costs, but emphasized that the financial buffer from lower living costs was critical. He acknowledges this path comes with tradeoffs, though he finds it worthwhile.
Garrido believes the definition of an entrepreneur is someone who takes risks, and that living abroad removed a key barrier to taking those risks. For business owners in high-cost countries, moving to a cheaper location may offer a similar advantage. However, this approach requires accepting lifestyle tradeoffs, such as distance from family or navigating visa requirements.
Critics might argue that the cost of living is only one of many factors in business success, and that access to networks, infrastructure, and markets in the US could outweigh the financial advantages of living abroad. Garrido does not address whether his business would have been viable if he had started it in the US with a different model or funding source.