Key facts
- Thomas Phillips moved from the UK to Austin, Texas, to grow his SEO agency.
- He is operating his business in the US on an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa.
- Phillips prefers the US tax system over the UK's, citing significant savings at scale.
- He finds the US entrepreneurial culture more celebrated and conducive to networking than in the UK.
- Phillips acknowledges the fast pace of US work culture can be tiring but sees it as desirable for his goals.
Thomas Phillips, a 33-year-old SEO agency owner from Southampton, UK, relocated to Austin, Texas, in 2024 to capitalize on the American entrepreneurial culture and business environment. He operates his business, DTC SEO Agency, on an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, which requires creating a company, hiring US nationals, and generating profit. Phillips expressed a strong preference for the US tax system, noting that the UK's Value Added Tax (VAT) structure is less favorable for businesses compared to the US system where sales tax is added post-purchase. He estimates significant tax savings by moving from the UK to California and even greater savings by relocating to Texas. Phillips finds the US business culture more celebratory and conducive to networking than in the UK, where he perceives a slower pace and more reserved attitudes. While he enjoys the ambition and drive of American entrepreneurs, he also acknowledges that the fast-paced work culture can be mentally taxing, though he currently views this as a positive trade-off for his business goals. He previously considered Huntington Beach, California, but ultimately chose Austin based on a mentor's recommendation regarding its car scene and entrepreneurial opportunities. Phillips and his wife had previously visited Texas for a honeymoon and enjoyed the Southern hospitality.