When I was in high school, it blew me away to realize that some of my friends had never left the region. Some had never left our home city.

Traveling was part of my development. I wouldn’t be the same person if I’d never left my home city.

If you’re wanting to experience another culture, starting a business would be like jumping into a cold lake. It will be thrilling and possibly painful all at once.

You’re likely the kind of person who loves a challenge. If you are, then read on to find out what countries are the best places to start a business.

1. The UK

All we hear about the UK is Brexit all the time. But we’re going to be hearing about how Britain is trying to leave the EU until warp drive is invented. Business is still booming in the United Kingdom and it’s the best place to start a business right now outside the U.S.

Their GDP is $2.6 trillion dollars. It’s a difficult number to imagine, but think about how many stars are in the sky and multiply by like a ton.

The UK topped Forbes 2018 list of best countries for business. And this is because their economy is growing.

On top of less uncertainty, you have a government willing to give you money if you’re opening a startup. If not just money, at least you could get a tax break or two. (And in Europe, you need tax breaks.)

2. Singapore

Before you head to Singapore permanently, take a trip to find out if it’s somewhere you’d want to live. Traveling to Asia can be expensive and companies like worldroamer.com can get you some pretty sweet deals and make a trip affordable.

Singapore is one of the healthiest business environments on the planet. Unless China decides to invade, it’s also one of the most politically stable places in the world.

They’ve negotiated awesome free trade agreements with the region so you’ll be dealing with fewer tariffs and taxes than most countries.

3. Norway

Norway does all its governmental communication online. This is rare for countries outside the United States. It’s incredibly easy to register a company there.

As you may have guessed, Norway is advanced technologically. They’ll pay for new tech and they’ll pay handsomely for it.

4. New Zealand

You’re looking at a place where hobbits and dwarves and wizards live. Where mountains kiss the sea and you can find the best weed.

Or, in reality, New Zealand is just a great place to start a business. There are no payroll or capital gains taxes or even social security. And it’s incredibly easy to register a business. You could land one day and have your business up and running the next. This would take some skill, but it’s entirely possible.

5. Hong Kong

Despite recent unrest, Hong Kong remains in the top five. Its economy is growing rapidly and unlike China, Hong Kong runs on a free market.

Their workforce is well-educated. And they are essentially the stock market of the Asian world.