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#1
01-04-2007, 14:53
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What to do to settle down?
Hi out there.
I am right now on holiday in Patong (coming from Austria) and I am thinking of staying forever with me girlfriend. I want to buy a bar and start business here in Patong. What are the first steps I have to take to get started? What are the cost, to a rough idea? Visa, work permit, bar,..... By the way does anybody know any bar for sale around Bangla Road (Soi Eric, Soi Tiger,....? I know it's not so easy to answer, but I would appreciate any help, from the expats and pros out there!!!! Thank in advance! 
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#2
01-04-2007, 15:00
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I'll leave it to the ex-pats in Patong to answer your specific questions , but would like to let you know that you won't get a "work permit" to run a bar.
__________________
Member of Phuket Hash House Harriers
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#3
01-04-2007, 15:08
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First Thing I Would Do Is Have A Real Good Long Talk With Myself !!
How Long Are You With Your Gf? Does She Love You Or Your Money? Do You Love Her? Ive Seen Hundred Of Guys Go Home With Their Tails Between Their Legs Becoz 10 Out Of A 100 New Bars In Patong Only Make It....... Believe Me There Are Many Bars For Sale All Over Patong..for This Reason............. As Any Bar Owner About His Life.its A Hard One On Los......
__________________
ROLL ON OCTOBER........
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#4
01-04-2007, 15:18
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Dozens of bars for sale. Will be even more next month as low season really kicks in. Just walk around and you'll see lots of signs or look in the classifieds in the PhuketGazette.
Ask yourself, "Why are so many bars for sale?"
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#5
01-04-2007, 15:20
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Good idea! Are you right now here in Phuket? Did you live here, and have you owned a bar? Quote:
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Yes I love her, btw ;-)
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#6
01-04-2007, 15:28
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no,no and no...but ive known many guys who have owned bars and have had to sell up after 6 months as they were broke.........running a bar and making money from it is not as easy as abc...... best of luck to you...... ij
__________________
ROLL ON OCTOBER........
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#7
01-04-2007, 19:54
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I dont think many of the Patong pros come on here.....they're normally sleeping or working in a bar 5555
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#8
02-04-2007, 18:55
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I had the same idea a lot of years ago, but I was lucky that things turned against me (or so I thought).
I had a bit of a verbal agreement with a German guy to buy his bar in Soi Sea Dragon, but when I came back to Patong with the money, he wanted double the price!!!! Told him to shove it, and was drowning my sorrows in another bar in the same Soi, and got to talking to a Thai guy who was there. It seems that he was involved with the local Mafia and had a run-in with my then GF (who worked in the German guy's bar!!!). She had, apparently, tried to shove a broken bottle into the Thai guy's face during an argument!!!!( she was my Ex GF VERY shortly afterwards!!!). What I found out is that owning a bar in LOS is not all Booze and Good Times....... there are a lot of things going on that you don't find out about until after you have paid your money!!!! Good luck to you!!!
__________________
Here for a good time, not a long time!!!
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#9
02-04-2007, 19:46
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Come here, live here for 6 months to a year, hang out as a regular and get to really know the bar owners as mates etc..
If you still want to own one after 12 months then you will know the lie of the land, some of the pitfalls, and how the values work.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#10
02-04-2007, 19:53
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The lad who is starting (at least trying to start up) the new Irish pub in Jungceylon lives near me and is having a total nightmare. Met him in December when he told me he was in his mid 30's, to look at him now I would say he was nearer 50!
I won't even mention Geir! 555555555 
__________________
The idea is to die young.........as late as possible. 
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#11
02-04-2007, 20:01
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[i]there are a lot of things going on that you don't find out about until after you have paid your money!!!![/I]
Loads of ways barowners get burnt by their staff. Buying their own "stock" at a supermarket and selling it to customers when the owner isn't around is one!
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#13
03-04-2007, 18:16
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Difficult business
OK I am a bar owner and can give you a resonable answer.I agree with LOL - come out here for a holiday and do some research.There are about ten BMs who are in the bar trade.Take time to talk to them.
 There are many pit falls and snags.Not all bars make a pot of money all the time.As one of the others said there are always bars changing hands - you should be asking why?  The tourist scene is also changing here and now with more married couples there are less free spenders who party it up all night.People are now more careful with their money.
__________________
 If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined up!!! 
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#14
03-04-2007, 18:36
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When I was thinking about doing the same thing a couple of years back, what really hit me square in the face was the fact that alot of the people who are there year in and year out with the same bar(s). Generally don't , make all their money from just the bar. And if they do, they have pretty specific (return) customer bases.
There are the easy to see examples of this with other BM bars here. I wont mention any specifically as its not my place to say. But any real period of time in Patong and you can work out some of their specific 'regulars', to put a british pub term in, that keep certain bars ticking-over. Of course it is possible to have a bar that makes money, but when it comes down to it, its purely based on where the bar is, and the amount of foot traffic that regualr enter/pass that space. But of course, these bars that are more likely to make money, any gonna cost more from the start before rent even comes in to it. Then there is problems with changing tastes in soi's, low season's and as Crustasian points out, the fact that the whole tourist market is changing (rapidly, from my experience last trip!). So you may have to be lucky that you get a bar in the right place, or you can predict a new trend occuring. I, of course never went through with buying a bar for many reasons. And I know that there are many other BM's who know the bar scene, and how to give yourself the best chance at making money from it. Which certainly does not include me! Best of luck with what ever you decide.
__________________
"WILL WORK FOR BEER AND BG'S"
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#15
03-04-2007, 19:38
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Ditto LivinLOS and owning a bar doesn't equal settling down. Only invest what you can comfortable walk away from, statistically speaking, that is what is going to happen. Keep plan B handy. Prepare yourself for complications and problems you never imagined. But if you are still willing to go ahead , as landofsmiles said there will be lots of people willing to unload to someone that is green with low season coming up.
__________________
Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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#16
03-04-2007, 20:16
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ATM, Why low season. Is it that bad in May June July weather wise or is there some other reason for the lack of tourists. Surely the weather is similar all year round cause if its not I will be pissed off visiting May 23 to June 1 07
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#17
03-04-2007, 20:32
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The weather is not the same in their home country all year round. Chech weather in (let's say) Europe, school holidays...
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#18
03-04-2007, 21:07
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Before you rush out to Thailand believing we are talking toss, take your time. Have you tried living with this girl for any considerable period of time? I'm not sure about having a source of income outside of Thailand but have you got that just incase? What are you prepared to lose? House back home incase all goes pair-shaped? Perhaps trying to bring the girl to your own county for a while would be a better idea so you have the chance to spend a maybe 3 months together first in a proper living enviroment rather than 2 weeks to a month holiday. These are the sort of questions you need to ask yourself first. I thought about just jumping ship to run a bar in Thailand, but then i realised that I need something to fall back on. A job to return to at least or a decent amount of savings. In the ned i realised I would have made a mistake if I had just tried to rush out there. Also Location, Location, Location. You will really need to find the correct location to run a bar. How much real knowledge do you have about where a bar really is best situated? Not just from the eyes of a beer drinker but to actual profitability? At least take LivinLos's advice and get to know the bar owners and the location before handing over your hard earned money.
In reality this is a big decision and it's one you need to look long and hard from an objective point of view, not from loved up eyes. Sorry to sound harsh but it's true. Whatever you decide all the best anyway and if you do go through with it, I hope it all works out well.
__________________
Life is like a box of chocolates..... you go to Thailand and get greedy 
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#19
03-04-2007, 21:07
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I understand that Captain. But is it goood or bad at that time of year?
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#20
03-04-2007, 21:17
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LivinLOS, ATM and Crusty giving wise advice ... stay here long term ... 6 months to a year plus ... get to know people, bar owners, Thai officials and how things really work and if you still think that having a bar is a viable option then go ahead with capital (plus decent reserve) that you are fully prepaired to write off.
Bar owning is work... hard work (you can get a WP as a bar OWNER, but this does not entitle you do do a thing in your bar). Better if your g/f is older than the staff you intend to employ as Thai's are very age consious and dont like to be ordered around by the farangs younger TG - lots of bars fail due to this factor. Also location is key as is being comitted to being there every night - which frankly did not suit me. Every bar owner know well has income from sources other than the bar they own, the most relaxed and happy are those with an income stream from outside Thailand. Comming here on holiday and living here are very different after 6 months , and working here is a whole new experience most of which you will not enjoy. Good Luck.
__________________
Its My Life ..........!
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#21
03-04-2007, 21:37
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Good or bad considering what? Best months temperature wise are 15 december 15 february. It is always hot, some months more than other, it can rain, some months more than other... low season prices for hotels are April or may till end October. Flights may be more expensive during school holidays, even if that is in low (hotel) season.
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#22
04-04-2007, 04:03
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You're very likely to see rain with some days being completely rained out. I think May is second in rain only to September. When it rains in the evening and early night most people stay in. Slow night for the bars. If it is a heavy rain the roads can flood to where they are not easily passable. A few years ago in early October I was riding in a boat down Rat-U-Tit with a 20 knot current. Well it was more of a inflatable dingy...Fish were coming out of the sewers on Nanai. Some thai dude was picking them up for dinner, crafty, but I didn't follow his lead. Bottom line, the rain can suddenly be so thick you can hardly see across the street. When it isn't raining, it can be insanely hot. Low season brings a lot of Asian group tours that don't spend money at the bars. More tourists from Arab countries that also don't seem to spend a lot at the bars. There is a bit of a spike in August with European vacationers, but I'd say they seem to be mainly younger with no money to spend. Overall it is very slooooowwww compared with high season. Disco's can be half empty. Most of the girls head back to their village. You can look down the sois and they are virtually empty. That is when the good bar owners are separated from the wannabees. Those that have built up a regular cliental of tourists and locals make it through ok. Others make a desperate attempt to survive untill November. Personally I like the low season. I like the rain. You can feel it coming so you have time to take cover. I also think Patong is at it's best and has more of a community feeling. You're a lot more likely to bump into local friends and have a drink. I also like the waves. Good 1-2 meter waves for boarding. 3m if your lucky. But forget about swimming most places but patong. It also seems to be at that time the patong "seaweed" returns. So it is a lot different.
__________________
Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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#23
04-04-2007, 08:59
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ATM - spot on!
Altho my experience is some good arabs drink like fcuk and have loads of spare cash to spend, but they r well down the pecking order of TG's hit list G
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Milf luvin - MAV & Alfie, House luvin Wylos, Slipper lovin Livinlos........inthmode lovin..............
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