Do I need a work permit?

**chitown** · 11-12-2010, 11:17 PM

Do not form a company, do not get a work permit. It is a bureaucratic and worse than that a Thai bureaucratic nightmare.

Do it on all on the sly under the radar. Trust me, I have been down that route.

**khun Per** · 12-12-2010, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

The U.S-Thai Treaty of Amity...

Thanks, Nostradamus.

Originally Posted by scrapmetalband

Most wise I ever read about farang-business:
"The best way to make a small fortune on a business in Thailand is - to begin with a big fortune!"

Not looking to make a fortune.If I wanted to do that I would go back to the States and crank my business back up there.Dont want to do that.Just thought we would have some fun with this and maybe make something too.I'll check these books out.Thanks.

A joke - and at same time a bit serious, as I see so many farangs openening a restaurant or a bar or... And so many of them are up for sale or closed within a year or two.
I wish you Good Luck and hope you will have fun - and also get something out from it

)

**Smug Farang Bore** · 12-12-2010, 01:18 AM

I will look into this.Will talk to my lawyers

Why didn't you ask them about your work permit?

**scrapmetalband** · 12-12-2010, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

I will look into this.Will talk to my lawyers

Why didn't you ask them about your work permit?

Yes.This has all just happened.Have sent my lawyers e-mail about this.I'll see what all the ramifications there are to this.Thought I would talk to all the folks that have vast experience in Thailand.Then,after getting as much input and information as I can,maybe I can make some sound decisions.Might be best just to let my wife handle everything and not be a visable contributor.My problem is I like to be involved in things where I think I can help in a positive way.Hell,I am going to be living there full time at some point.Surely I can sit around and play my guitar and drink a cold beer without the police saying that I'm working.What do you think?

**Smug Farang Bore** · 12-12-2010, 05:15 PM

Might be best just to let my wife handle everything

DO NOT let her run the cash flow.

**Stinky** · 12-12-2010, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

Might be best just to let my wife handle everything

DO NOT let her run the cash flow.

Seconed, big mistake that one

**scrapmetalband** · 12-12-2010, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

Might be best just to let my wife handle everything

DO NOT let her run the cash flow.

I understand where your coming from on this one.She's very tight fisted with money.More so than I am.I have owned several businesses in the States,but not here.Priciples should the same.I'm going to keep control,and watch everything closely.It seems that the mark up formula is not the in same in Thailand.Seems like it is not as much with certain things as it is where I'm from.Going to have to go through a learning curve.She's not going to let me waste or lose money.Which implies that she wil have a certain amount of say so on the money.She wants to set this up on a shoe string.She doesn't seem to understand about the fact that you have to sink a certain amount into it to get the kind of place I want.She's Thai.There are not very many places here in Rayong where ex-pats can go and get the kind of food and drink that they would like.This is not going to be a big place and part of it will be a store with 7/11 kind of stuff.But the cafe/bar will be a place where ex-pats and Thai's will want to come.At least that's what I'm going to try to do.

**jandajoy** · 12-12-2010, 10:38 PM

Are there that many expats in Rayong?

**scrapmetalband** · 12-12-2010, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by jandajoy

Are there that many expats in Rayong?

I know a few.Have friend thats been in Rayong about 10 years.He knows more.Doesn't appear to be a great deal here.I know Jimmy that ownes Christy's in Ban Phe.That place is in a great spot.Right across the street from the ferry.A lot of expats go there.Good food and drink there.And Jimmy's a good guy.This friend I have here will help steer business to our place.Just have to maintain quality,nice comfortable setting at a fair price.

**khun Per** · 13-12-2010, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

Might be best just to let my wife handle everything

DO NOT let her run the cash flow.

It is sad we have to hear an advise like that. Unfortunately, we mainly hear the bad stories - and there must be loads of them - so that kind of advise may have to be said. We do, however, not hear many of the good stories - perhabs they are limited - even though, I do know of quite a few.

ScapMetalBand, excuse me, but I wish to cheer you up with yur project and mention a few of the good ones.

A friend of mine - retired British - owns a bar. He often (normally) sits at the end of the desk and enjoy life, having his drinks and chats with his friends. He never, ever walk around the corner of the desk, being on the "WorkPermit-side" - his wife takes care of that side. But don't be mistaken, he is Mr. Big Boss and his thai-wife, speaking the language, is the manager of the business and the 40+ staff - plus the money. And she is a good business lady, takes good care of both the staff and the customers; so even in low season, that bar is always loaded with guests. The overhead is invested in new houses, for rent out.

My first professionel advise, when I looked at the possibilities of settle in Thailand, was: "Always do the things right, from the beginning." The advise came from an elder retired Scandinavien, sitting reading his books everyday in front of the little guesthouse I stayed at. He showed up to be the owner of the guesthouse and said: "As you can see, I did it right. A bit further down the soi is another guesthouse, with the same name!" Yes, the overhead from his first business soon made him able to take over one more guesthouse. And using the same staff and mangement, that more than doubled his overhead. "Have you noticed the tallest building in the downtown center?" He continued. "That is a hotel with the same name as my guesthouses!" Yes, his more than doubled overhead turned into a big hotel. "Doing things the right way from the beginng is a must, if you want to be succesfull in Thailand," he repeated. A little outside the city is a huge 18-hole international golfcenter, which showed up to be financed with the overhead from 2 guesthouses and a big hotel.

Later I learned, that also the golfcenter must have been succesfull, as a fairly large project with villas for sale, had the same name - so did also tailor shops and real estate agent.

Even up at Isan, a little thai-lady can make a farang-business-investment grow - fx. in 4 years, all invested money back in cash plus an average 16% annual profit on top. As we talk 3+ mio. baht, quite a good annual supplement of more than 500k. And the business is still running.

I am sure, that with good advise from a farang - with some business experience and the right set-up from the beginning - a thai-lady/-wife may be a perfect partner.

**Smug Farang Bore** · 13-12-2010, 04:19 AM

khun per your quote..

It is sad we have to hear an advise like that.

This is because sadly its true.

I have spent many years dealing with the problems others have got in to .....

...and also learning from my own mistakes.

The OPs does not bode well.

**scrapmetalband** · 13-12-2010, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

khun per your quote..

It is sad we have to hear an advise like that.

This is because sadly its true.

I have spent many years dealing with the problems others have got in to .....

...and also learning from my own mistakes.

The OPs does not bode well.

Not sure I understand.I know men who have done well in business in the UK,US,CANADA,Mexico,and now Thailand.I myself have done well in the US.But,I have a lot to learn about this country.People succeed and fail all over the world.I try to learn as much as can about the pittfalls,and mistakes of others so hopefully I don't make them myself.Thats one of the reasons I'm on this forum,to learn from guys like you.I know it sounds crazy,but I love Thailand.I don't plan on sticking my neck out to far here.I think we can have fun with this little enterprise and meet some good people in the process.

**Smug Farang Bore** · 13-12-2010, 05:26 PM

If its just a hobby and money you can afford to loose. Go for it.

I think someone pointed out, your danger will be jealousy.

I know westerners that have been stuck in by the opposition.

Running a bar is a lot of effort for little return.

When you take over lay low if you don't have a work permit and try to stay under the radar.
Don't get big n flash or they will take off ya..

Good luck.

**aging one** · 13-12-2010, 05:30 PM

deleted.

**aging one** · 13-12-2010, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by khun Per

"Have you noticed the tallest building in the downtown center?" He continued. "That is a hotel with the same name as my guesthouses!" Yes, his more than doubled overhead turned into a big hotel. "Doing things the right way from the beginng is a must

I would think we are heading into the land of bullshit now.

**Smug Farang Bore** · 13-12-2010, 05:52 PM

"Doing things the right way from the beginng is a must

Not always in the bar trade it aint ..!

**khun Per** · 13-12-2010, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by aging one

Originally Posted by khun Per

"Have you noticed the tallest building in the downtown center?" He continued. "That is a hotel with the same name as my guesthouses!" Yes, his more than doubled overhead turned into a big hotel. "Doing things the right way from the beginng is a must

I would think we are heading into the land of bullshit now.

Not really.

**aging one** · 13-12-2010, 07:16 PM

where is the downtown center khun per?

**scrapmetalband** · 13-12-2010, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore

If its just a hobby and money you can afford to loose. Go for it.

I think someone pointed out, your danger will be jealousy.

I know westerners that have been stuck in by the opposition.

Running a bar is a lot of effort for little return.

When you take over lay low if you don't have a work permit and try to stay under the radar.
Don't get big n flash or they will take off ya..

Good luck.

Yes,I understand.I'm not a loud mouth flashy kind of guy.But as far as the business goes,this is going to be a three prong affair.(1)A 7/11 kind of store(2)A cafe(3)Bar.The Bar part of this is not going to be what you find in Pattaya or even on the walking street we have in Rayong.There will be an actual bar but it's not going to seat a lot of people.Maybe 6 or 7.There's not going to be any bar girls.I would like to have some backgrond music,but it will be nice and light not hard and loud.Maybe have some local talent come in and play some acoustic kind of material.I want this to a pleasant place to be.As far as competition goes,there's isn't any,at least not close.There's a little store down the street,but they have very little and sell mainly petrol.Besides my wife knows how to handle the locals and undersands you get more flies with sugar than you do with shit.As for me,I'm not going to be very visable at all for a while.Not done with Afghanistan yet.If I dont get killed I would like to give it up in about a year or year and a half,tops.This is going to be a Thai business with Western(U.S.& U.K.)overtones.

**khun Per** · 13-12-2010, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by aging one

where is the downtown center khun per?

You can begin with the Guesthose, from where are links to the other activities.
.:Thipurai Beach Hotel:.

**bart** · 14-12-2010, 02:46 AM

only there for 3 weeks , fkc the work and the permit .
sit back and relax .

BTTOPIC , there are hundreds of farangs in thailand ,with a bar .
just dont make it look , like you work in the bar .

**scrapmetalband** · 14-12-2010, 07:34 PM

Yes,lawyers told me same thing.Not here long enough now.Just don't do anything. Might have to do something about it when I quit this shit.On another topic,was wondering if there is real hickory to be had in Thailand.If there is I'll build a top notch bbq smoker and have some of the best hickory smoked bbq that anyones ever had.Maybe will post on Living in Thailand and see if anybody knows.

**Thetyim** · 14-12-2010, 09:04 PM

^
Yes you can get hickory chips here (well unless he imported them himself)

https://teakdoor.com/the-kitchen/56978-pastrami.html (Pastrami)

**Norton** · 14-12-2010, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Yes you can get hickory chips here

Home Pro has them at most locations.

**nigelandjan** · 15-12-2010, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by scrapmetalband

There's not going to be any bar girls

are you sure ?? wait for it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Originally Posted by scrapmetalband

Maybe have some local talent come in and play

oooooooooooooops 555

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