How to make business in Thailand ?

[domifletch]

Hi,

With a friend, we would like to plan to make some business in Thailand (bar, travel agency, ... nothing defined yet)

Maybe some of you can help us. We would like to know what we need to do it, what about visa needed, work permit, renting a bar in Patong.

Nicke, Geespot and some other BM, you heve a good experience in LOS, so all your advices and information will be welcome.

Thanks!

[LivinLOS]

I would not listen to too much bar advice as 95% of the people here are not doing things 100% legit (This Is Thailand)... Work permits now come at the cost of minimum wage taxes and its far easier and cheaper to own the bar and have a thai 'manager' on a thai minimum wage.

If your over 50 you could get a non imm-0 visa (providing you have 800k baht in the bank) and you can oversea your investment without working and paying the tax.

I suggest you contact one of the larger reliable firms like sunbelt asia etc for specific advice.

[Nicke]

1. Setup a company
2. Write a letter of employment
3. Go to Penang or any Thai embassy/consulate of your choice and apply for NON-B (Business visa)
3. Apply for work permit

For legal advice or help you can contact Phuket International Law who can help you with setup, they also give advices for free. They have their main office in Phuket Town (Big yellow house) but they also have a branch in Patong.

Setup a company or apply for work permit is not difficult if you get help from an educated thai friend but the lawyer will help you protect your own interest from inactive shareholders you must have on the company setup. Most likely is to make transfer of shares from your "passive" partners so they can not claim anything from you. The reason is that you can only own 49% of a Thai company.

Many people live here on tourist visas but many people believe there will be a crackdown soon on this so it is better if you can do things right from beginning.

[geespot]

[quote=LivinLOS]I would not listen to too much bar advice as 95% of the people here are not doing things 100% legit (This Is Thailand)... Work permits now come at the cost of minimum wage taxes and its far easier and cheaper to own the bar and have a thai 'manager' on a thai minimum wage.

Hi LivinLos

where do you come from?? What do you do in Patong?
Are you into sale of businesses? Just wondering, Champs Bar (also advertised in sunbelt asia), Sunbelt Asia, Stony Monday Hotel??
Bar owners being pimps etc?

Hope you dont mind me asking

G

[LivinLOS]

Hi G,

I did not want that comment 95% of people not doing things 100% right to sound like an accusation... Personally doing things 100% right in Thailand is often counter productive to profits or an easy life.. The tea money / Jonny Walker passport is often the easist and sometimes only way to get what you need done here.

Also as someone involved in bars yourself I am sure you would agree that there are a lot of bar room barristers and chang wielding expats that are plain miss informed and wrong on the accurate details. If you want real accurate legal advice Phuket Int Law, Indo-Siam, Sunbelt etc are all well known reputable places for sober advice. Bar owners and local businesmen often can show you some of the shortcuts but I take a huge pinch of salt with every 'fact' I am told in a bar, especially if it comes from this side of it.

Dont know if I publically said about bar owners being pimps (but I am sure I may have said it somewhere) but I usually would preface it with a 'no judgement' or similar caveat.. Anyway personally I dont give a hoot what other people do and dont judge anyone, my comments if I made them relate to me. I would not make be happy to derive my money from a business that collects money in exchange for sex (barfines however its classified) its just the way I am wired. I am no prude and am enough of a realist to know that these little bouncing bunnies from Buri Ram and not going to go home and pick rice etc but its a simple fact of my yardstick. Just for reference I have made my money in lots of illicit ways where the risk of incarceration or worse was constant, so it has nothing to do with legality or common practice just my position.

As to what I do I consider myself retired but as you have noticed, I always know of a biz or 3 that needs selling.. Houses on the market that are priced to move.. Development land that has scope to make money.. Hotels that need filling.. Bars that could do with a group being toured through.. Stuff like that I do more for the fun of the hustle than the money but a 5% commission on a 13m baht villa provides some beer tokens for while.

I will drop into the Love bar some day and we will get to have a handshake..

[geespot]

[quote=LivinLOS]Hi G,

I did not want that comment 95% of people not doing things 100% right to sound like an accusation... Personally doing things 100% right in Thailand is often counter productive to profits or an easy life.. The tea money / Jonny Walker passport is often the easist and sometimes only way to get what you need done here.

Thanks LivinLos. Im sure you will be able to provide advice for many BM's

Look forward to seeing you sometime

G

[domifletch]

Thanks a lot mates,

Your advices and info are really helpful. I have a lot of homework to do now, hoping to find a good opportunity in Phuket.

Geespot, I think you stay in Scotland now. When do you go back to LOS and how long ? I met Nicke on my last trip, it was great and I hope to meet you too next time.

Thanks again. I hope and I know I can count on you if needed. This forum is fantastic!

Cheers

[geespot]

[quote=domifletch]Thanks a lot mates,

Your advices and info are really helpful. I have a lot of homework to do now, hoping to find a good opportunity in Phuket.

Domi

Will be back in LOS within the next 2-3 weeks. Will be in Patong after 2-3 days of arriving in LOS. Will stay for about 3-4 weeks
Tend to be in los every 7-8 weeks for about 3-4 weeks, come high season I plan to do th opposite and do a cycle 7-8 weeks in LOS and 4 weeks back in Scotland.

Look forward to meeting you next time you're back

G