Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 37
  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
    jimbobs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    29-07-2017 @ 04:31 AM
    Location
    Phon Thong (Roi et)
    Posts
    1,937

    Motorcycle and car hire in Isaan a business idea

    I am only thinking of this for now but I thought I would throw it out there

    I have 5 big bikes an old truck and a 3 year old car.

    I was thinking about selling the car as its not practical for my needs at the moment

    Someone on here said why don't I rent the car out and it got me.thinking.

    I am in Roi et and there is not any big bike hire nor is there many car rental places around this part of isaan.I am sure there are other people in isaan with vehicles that they are not using .I am in the UK alot at the moment because I have just built a house and the vehicles are just sitting there.

    If a few guys from all over isaan put their resources together and developed a web page you could have coverage all over isaan for vehicle hire.

    This way you would always have a vehicle available for a customer and if someone wanted a vehicle in a different part of isaan for a long hire you could deliver it and work out a commission between yourselves.

    This way you are not stuck to one area and you would not need a shop so the overheads can be kept to a minimum.I seen the big bike shop in khon Kaen never lasted long but their demographic was stiffled to just that area.

    I know this is not a viable buisness plan at the moment I am just seeing if it has legs

    Start up costs could be kept to a minimum and I am not.sure how the insurance etc would be managed.

    I would not like my ZX6R being hired out but the other bikes I could probably live with

    Tell me what you think and where the major pitfalls are.

  2. #2
    Member
    shaggersback's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Last Online
    31-01-2021 @ 09:25 PM
    Location
    Surin
    Posts
    922
    Been at It 6 years now Jim with the blaringly obvious pitfalls .
    Be prepared for ..

    Theft ... Parts or the total vehicle.

    Part swapping...... ( wheels , tires , u name it they will swap it out )

    Accidents on motosai happen regularly .. Be prepped to care for your customers.

    The more mechanical knowledge u have the better.

    Be prepared to chase the money and have a strongman or two.

    Our business is very successfull but has been very , very hard work
    If your thinking small time dont bother.
    Its a headache.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    jimbobs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    29-07-2017 @ 04:31 AM
    Location
    Phon Thong (Roi et)
    Posts
    1,937
    Thanks for the input SB
    I didn't know there was big bike hire in Surin
    All valid points and I never thought about them changing bike parts to their own
    I actually never thought about renting to a Thai I was thinking about felangs wanting to tour isaan
    When you say chasing the money wouldn't you get the hirer to pay a deposit to cover the excess of the insurance.
    What I'm proposing is people who have spare vehicles pool their resources so it could in essence be a big buisness spread out over all of isaan
    Pattaya and Chiang Mai have the people /tourists to hire
    What one thinking is just extra cash for existing vehicles
    Thanks for your input

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat
    jamescollister's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Last Online
    29-06-2020 @ 09:33 PM
    Location
    Bunthrik Ubon
    Posts
    4,764
    Nice ideal in principle, but tax, VAT and work permits would come into play, if you made any money.
    No one cares while you lose money, make some and the taxman, local, district and national will come a knocking.
    Not saying its not viable, just that these a lot to it.

  5. #5
    Member
    shaggersback's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Last Online
    31-01-2021 @ 09:25 PM
    Location
    Surin
    Posts
    922
    Yeah . The business is in Phuket not surin .
    I havnt lived in Surin for years mate .

    We have had trouble with other companies and not necessarily Thai who resort to thievery , customers who have accidents and dump the car or repair the vehicle with inferior parts and return it as if nothings happened.
    A whole host of unbelievable incidents..

    Theres no deposit that covers all these incidents which is where the hard work comes in.
    We have a contract ...a passport copy and must have top insuance cover on all the vehicles other than the small bike rentals.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    07-12-2022 @ 03:12 PM
    Posts
    26,746
    What sort of money you looking at for a weeks rental. ?

    I'll be up there early next year.

  7. #7
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 07:05 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,895
    Big Bike Rental Khon Kaen And Issan! | North East: Isaan & Region | Motorcycles & Scooters for Rent | Bahtsold.com | Baht&Sold
    Talk to these guys. They may be interested in working out some sort of deal with you to use your bikes as part of their rental biz. Starting and running a biz as you suggest has pitfalls as mentioned above.

  8. #8
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 07:05 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,895
    Quote Originally Posted by terry57
    What sort of money you looking at for a weeks rental. ?
    You can rent mine. Special price just for you.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    jimbobs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    29-07-2017 @ 04:31 AM
    Location
    Phon Thong (Roi et)
    Posts
    1,937
    Not even sure yet Terry as I say I'm just looking into it for now
    I am looking at a few things to try and earn a few Bob in Thailand
    I'm spending far too much time in the UK lately working
    IM trying to look outside the box at a few buisness

  10. #10
    Banned

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    09-05-2021 @ 03:25 AM
    Posts
    33,644
    Quote Originally Posted by jimbobs
    Tell me what you think and where the major pitfalls are.
    Quote Originally Posted by jimbobs
    I am in Roi et
    That's the poorest part of Thailand, so I read somewhere.
    Most Bangkok taxi drivers are from Roi Et.
    Roi Et people call it L.A.

    Just 3 worthless facts I know of Roi Et.


    Quote Originally Posted by jimbobs
    If a few guys from all over isaan put their resources together
    Thailand 101
    Never trust a farang in Thailand,

    Especially it's arse end, you may find the odd good one but most would sell their own granny for a Kapow moo and singha. Every farang I know in Isaan seems to know the local police chief and head village guy.
    Once they hear of your enterprise, there will be palms to grease.

    Sell what you dont need that is sitting there depreciating.

    Good luck with whatever you decide, just my 2 cents

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat
    jimbobs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    29-07-2017 @ 04:31 AM
    Location
    Phon Thong (Roi et)
    Posts
    1,937
    Looked that up Norton
    They went bust them or sold up I seen it on gt rider.
    That's what I'm saying we havnt got the tourists to concentrate your buisness in one area of isaan
    Plus the initial outlay for operating a shop with full time staff,buying bikes etc is a big start up cost
    Last edited by jimbobs; 26-11-2015 at 09:13 PM.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat
    jimbobs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    29-07-2017 @ 04:31 AM
    Location
    Phon Thong (Roi et)
    Posts
    1,937
    Your right Dillinger that's why I have put this on to hear what people have to say

    I will never sell my bikes and will probably buy more I'm like that. I like to have my toys and when my family and friends come to visit we go out on the bikes.

    Your right about isaan I have been up here for 3 years now and don't really bother with anyone up here, but I spent 3 years in pattaya whoring and getting pissed everyday it wasn't fair on the wife and kids so I moved to the sticks.I like it but it's hard to make a living

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    07-12-2022 @ 03:12 PM
    Posts
    26,746
    ^^^

    I do not think that's strictly true Dill but until one knows the farang well it's a fuking good idea to take that on board.

    Hence why it's not a bad idea to stay with Independent companies where the rules
    are cut and clear , especially insurance wise.

    I rent lots of cars, mostly for 10 days at a time and rarely pay over 800 per day all up with Insurance.

    Book well in advance of course and outside peak period.

    Never had a problem so far.

    Off on the Mae Hong Song loop next week.

    You fooking little beauty.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    2,332
    You're heading into nothing but grief fella.

    Sell all the bikes and cars apart from your favourite one, sit down, have a cold beer, take your time and then come up with a totally different plan.

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    07-12-2022 @ 03:12 PM
    Posts
    26,746
    ^

    Very fair advice this one.

    Back in 89 I was involved in a bike rental company on Koh Phan-Gan.

    We sold all our bikes after 1 year.

    I remember one time, I had a bint on the back of my brand new MTX and went tits up into a shallow river.

    Bike was totally submerged and filled with water. Because I was isolated it was around 15 hours before we got it Somchai the retard mechanic.

    We sold that fuker the next week.

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    38,456
    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger
    That's the poorest part of Thailand, so I read somewhere.
    Not any more- but it used to be. Massive drainage works made rice paddies out of once were swamps.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
    jimbobs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    29-07-2017 @ 04:31 AM
    Location
    Phon Thong (Roi et)
    Posts
    1,937
    To be honest with you Dapper it'lookin that way because no one has said they have vehicles they would be interested in pooling

    As for selling the bikes I will keep them for the kids. it can be fuckin boring up here in Roi et it's good to get on the bikes and get out and about ,then come home and chill

    Terry I've just bought an old 1984 MTX what a fun bike they are a little 2 stroke smoker

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    2,332
    I know it sounds boring, but just open a shop.
    Sell stuff from BKK that they don't have in the sticks yet.
    Open 9-5 Monday to Saturday and have one member of staff who simply rings the till and a cheap cctv system to check you're not being done over.

    Decent monthly profit, keep you busy and no grief whatsoever.

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    07-12-2022 @ 03:12 PM
    Posts
    26,746
    Quote Originally Posted by jimbobs View Post

    Terry I've just bought an old 1984 MTX what a fun bike they are a little 2 stroke smoker

    We had 8 Brand spanking new 125 cc 1988 MTX's.

    Fookin fantastic tough as fuk mountain machines. Could not kill them.

    They don't like going swimming though.

  20. #20
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 07:05 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,895
    Quote Originally Posted by Dapper
    Sell stuff from BKK that they don't have in the sticks yet.
    Demand for polluted air too low to sustain profitable business.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    59,983
    Quote Originally Posted by jimbobs
    but I spent 3 years in pattaya whoring and getting pissed everyday it wasn't fair on the wife and kids
    Wow. No self control ?

  22. #22
    Member
    shaggersback's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Last Online
    31-01-2021 @ 09:25 PM
    Location
    Surin
    Posts
    922
    Heres an idea Jim .
    Check out the local school or Uni that employs farang and put some flyers out or find the teachers in the local watering holes.
    You can have business for life if u get renting motosai at schools , that whole demographic keeps business rolling over indefinately.

  23. #23
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 07:05 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,895
    Quote Originally Posted by shaggersback
    Heres an idea Jim .
    Not a bad idea. 2 schools in Roiet have half dozen farang teachers. More in Maha Sarakham. Some sort of long term rental agreement.

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    59,983
    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by shaggersback
    Heres an idea Jim .
    Not a bad idea. 2 schools in Roiet have half dozen farang teachers. More in Maha Sarakham. Some sort of long term rental agreement.
    Headache for sure.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat
    Happy As Larry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:52 PM
    Posts
    1,256
    To do it legally with yourself being a big part of the business would be too much bureaucracy/cost imo for a small time business.
    Remember even if you are an owner of the business for which you will not have the majority stake you will still require a work permit to carry out any work connected with that business paid or unpaid.

    Personally I wouldn't consider it for a few bikes and a car.

    Also if you are targeting the expat market I think it would be too small to make any real income.

    The Farang Connection bar/restaurant in Surin does or at least used to rent out bikes (not big ones) and cars but this was just one part of their business. The main business being bar/restaurant. You could talk to them

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •