How to Sell Your Services to Expats in Colombia

In Medellín, Bogotá and several mid-sized cities, there are tens of thousands of foreigners living — some passing through, many for years. They arrive without a network of contacts, without knowing who to call when the power goes out, when they want to learn Spanish or when they need legal advice. That's your opportunity.

Selling services to expat clients is different from selling to Colombians. It's not harder — in many cases it's easier — but it does require understanding how they think, what they value and where to find them. A plumber who knows three phrases in English and has good photos of his work can charge double what one who doesn't stand out charges. If you want to see real options right now, you can see available jobs in Colombia Move — posting is completely free.

This guide is written for Colombian professionals who want to add foreign clients to their portfolio: Spanish teachers, drivers, lawyers, accountants, technicians, decorators, veterinarians, private doctors or any service a newcomer might need.

What services do expats seek in Colombia?

Foreigners living in Colombia have very specific needs. They're not week-long tourists — they're people building a life here and need exactly the same services as any resident, with a twist: many don't speak fluent Spanish and depend on recommendations in English or platforms where they can see clear information.

The services with highest demand in this community:

• Personalized Spanish classes — Hundreds of expats in Medellín and Bogotá look for private teachers each month.
• Trusted drivers — Airport transfers, medical errands, city tours. Stable demand.
• Home cleaning — Cleaning services for long-term apartments and Airbnb.
• Legal and accounting advice — Visas, residency, business setup, tax returns. High willingness to pay.
• Private doctors and dentists — Many prefer consultations where they can communicate fluently.
• Technicians and maintenance — Plumbing, electricity, repairs. Expats have no one to ask for referrals.
• Personal trainers — Yoga, swimming, functional training, crossfit. High willingness to pay.
• Decoration and remodeling — Many expats rent unfurnished apartments and need help setting them up.

If your service falls into any of these categories — or another where you have proven experience — you already have the right profile. Now you just need to be found.

What makes an expat client different

Before adjusting your strategy, it's worth understanding how foreign clients think.

They trust what they can verify

A Colombian might hire you based on a neighbor's recommendation and that's it. An expat, especially if they just arrived, needs to see: photos of your work, written reviews, a clear description of what you offer. It's not personal distrust — it's that they don't have the social context that Colombians use to validate someone.

They value punctuality and communication

It's not a stereotype: expats come from cultures where saying "I'll arrive in 20 minutes" means arriving in 20 minutes. If you confirm and arrive, you become an automatic referral. If you cancel without notice, you lose the client and their fifty friends in the expat WhatsApp group. The community is small and very connected.

They pay in pesos — and do the math in dollars

Many expats receive income in foreign currency and mentally convert everything to USD. Offering clear prices in COP with the approximate equivalent in dollars reduces friction. And don't inflate the price "because they're gringos" — in such a small community, reputation travels fast in both directions.

Language isn't a total barrier, but it is an advantage

You don't need to be bilingual. But if you can write a description of your services with keywords in English, or if you clarify on your profile "English spoken / se habla inglés básico", that greatly increases your chances of being contacted. Many expats filter providers by that detail.

How to position yourself to attract expat clients

Here's the concrete work. It's not about expensive advertising — it's about appearing where they search.

When you write your ad on Colombia Move:

• Give it a title in Spanish and add the keyword in English in parentheses. Example: "Spanish classes (Spanish classes for expats Medellín)"
• Describe your experience with concrete examples: not "10 years of experience" but "I've taught over 60 foreign students, from A1 to B2, using a conversational method"
• Include photos of you working — not selfies, but context photos: your classroom, your tools, a finished job
• Enable WhatsApp contact — it's the preferred channel for most expats in Colombia
• Create your store on colombiamove.com/tienda/ — a public page with all your services that appears on Google

For community work: expat Facebook groups — "Expats in Medellín", "Bogotá Expats", "Foreigners in Colombia" — have between 5,000 and 30,000 members. Don't spam. Participate, answer questions, and when relevant mention your service. A helpful answer in a thread where someone asks "does anyone know a reliable immigration lawyer?" is worth more than ten paid ads.

Ask your first expat client for a review. A single comment in English on your profile makes the difference. Send a short message: "Were you happy with the service? If you could leave a short review it would help me a lot with new clients." Most will do it gladly if they were satisfied.

How much to charge an expat?

There are myths at both extremes. The first: "charge the foreigner more because they have money". The second: "charge the same as everyone so you don't seem abusive". The truth is simpler. Charge according to the value you deliver, not the client's nationality.

What you can do is handle rates with more transparency. If your Spanish class rate is $80,000 COP per hour, state it that way — and mention it's approximately $18 USD. If you offer packages (4 classes, 10 sessions, monthly contract), have them ready. Expats usually prefer recurring agreements so they don't have to search for a provider each time.

An accountant who charges $150,000 COP for a tax return seems dirt cheap to someone who paid $300 USD in Miami. A PC technician who charges $80,000 COP per hour is a bargain for someone who was paying $120 USD. Your job is to make them see it that way — explaining the value well, not adjusting the price down without reason.

The channels where expats are in Colombia

Summarizing where you can position yourself:

• Colombia Move — to publish your permanent service profile, visible on Google
• Facebook Groups — "Expats in Medellín", "Bogotá Expats", "Foreigners in Colombia" (between 5,000 and 30,000 members each)
• Reddit — r/medellin and r/Colombia have a lot of expat activity looking for recommendations
• Internations — social network for expats with presence in Bogotá and Medellín; there are monthly in-person events
• Building WhatsApp groups — if you work in complexes with foreign residents, that group is direct contact
• Airbnb — if you offer services to short-term tenants, many hosts actively look for them

Building long-term reputation

The Colombian expat market is small and very connected. If you deliver — arrive on time, do good work, charge fairly — the recommendation multiplies on its own. A single satisfied expat can bring you five new clients from their same community. If you fail, people find out too.

Some concrete practices that make a difference:

• Always confirm. If you have an appointment, send a confirmation message the day before. It seems obvious. Few do it.
• Let them know if there's a problem. Did your day get complicated and you're going to be late? Let them know. That's enough for the client not to cancel and not to speak badly of you.
• Charge what was agreed. Don't change the price at the last moment. If something extra came up, let them know before you do it, not after.
• Use WhatsApp professionally. Respond within 2-3 hours during business hours. An unanswered message is a lost client.

One last thing: if you want expats to find you passively (without having to actively search for them all the time), your profile on Colombia Move with well-chosen keywords does that work for you. It's your online salesman 24 hours a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Do I need to speak English to have expat clients?

Not necessarily. Many expats in Colombia learn Spanish quickly or use translation apps. What does help is having your service description with some keywords in English. But good service with positive reviews speaks for itself.

❓ How do I charge if the client has an account abroad?

Most expats living in Colombia have a local bank account or use applications like Nequi or Daviplata. You can also receive cash. For large amounts or recurring contracts, agree on bank transfer in pesos — it's the simplest way.

❓ Where do I publish first to get my first expat clients?

Start with Colombia Move — create your profile in the corresponding service category with keywords in English. Then join 2-3 Facebook groups of expats in your city and participate actively before making any sales posts. The first recommendations come from there.

❓ How long does it take to get the first client?

It depends on the service and how optimized your profile is. With a complete profile, good photos and bilingual description, many service providers get their first expat client in 1-3 weeks. The first one is the hardest — then the referrals come.

❓ Can I offer services to expats if I'm from a small city?

Yes, although the volume is smaller. In Manizales, Pereira, Barranquilla or Santa Marta there are also active expat communities, especially since the digital nomad boom. The market is smaller but there's also less competition — and whoever provides good service becomes a reference quickly.

Do you have experience selling services to foreigners in Colombia or a specific question? Stop by the community at colombiamove.com/comunidad and ask there — there are expats and Colombians connected answering questions every day.