How's business with you

[danblack]

Of all the 1,000s of guys that sell everything they own, buy a one way ticket to the L of S, sink it all into a business, and expect to live out their days in paradise. What percentage do you think fail, including me

[MeMock]

About 85%

[mrsquirrel]

Where do you get inflatable life like babies from MeMock?

It looks very realistic.

[Lek Lek]

Of all the 1,000s of guys that sell everything they own, buy a one way ticket to the L of S, sink it all into a business, and expect to live out their days in paradise. What percentage do you think fail, including me

Are you the dan black of Ball in Hand by any chance?

[Marmite the Dog]

Well, if you're dumb enough to buy a bar, I'd say about 99%.

[Spin]

sink it all into a business

In Thailand or overseas?

Depends on previous business accumen and experience!

A good few farangs here think that having the ability to drink like a fish gives them the credentials to open a bar here!

[ChiangMai noon]

In ChiangMai, I'd say the failure percentage is very high indeed.
It's rare to see a bar not change hands at least once a year.
I don't think they leave with nothing because there is always a new idiot getting off the plane wiling to buy at inflated prices assuming they can do it better.

[seth106]

Gotta be high. But I have come across some, mainly low key success stories

[Butterfly]

99.99% I reckon

[peterpan]

I have come across plenty, but not low end bars, they have almost no chance of sucess, although I know one guy who hs set up a few and just makes regular money out of selling them to "fresh off the boaters".
Most business here, Farang and Thai owned will find that the biggest problem is staff embezzlement, it seem that Thai's just regards the companies cash and goods as theirs for the taking.

[slimboyfat]

it seem that Thai's just regards the companies cash and goods as theirs for the taking.

i hate to admit it, but i havent bought a single toilet roll in the past month. once a week i go into the office toilets on my way home and grab a couple of rolls of bog paper and stuff them in my bag to bring back to my miserable flat.

[friscofrankie]

The percentage is high. They come thinking they can take it easy open a business and earn the small amount needed to live here, can't be that difficult can it? On occasion, they will find out that competition for every satang is fierce and running a business here here takes all the diligence and sweat they would have expended back home, and then some. These are the smart ones. They then can sell out before losing that nest-egg or knuckle down and make a go of it. Most continue to pour good money after bad without ever waking up to the fact that there are people here that a fighting to survive and succeed. These people are the competition.

Running a business here is not a vacation, it is not retirement. There is little time to play, but; it can be done. It takes determination, 24/7 diligence and street smarts; at least in the first couple of years. I've watched bars change hands so many times the employees have more time in than any two past employers.

Seen so many guys show up with a few thousand bucks invest in some tiny beer-bar and wonder, "how do they do it?" They are Thai. They can live on one fourth (or less) the income you can. They will live and breathe that little bar and they will cut your throat without even trying.

You, on the other hand, are here to drink beer, chase (OK, catch) pussy and just get by. You do not have that jungle survival mentality, and definitely don't want it to be a fuckin JOB.

With the attitude most dudes come here with they ain't got a fuckin chance.

[peterpan]

Dead right Frankie. many guys come here saying, "I can do better because Thai's don't do it very well" that may be right, BUT they will do it waaay cheaper than you will be able to.

[Butterfly]

street smarts

that's the core of the problem, and like you said, the satang mentality that expats don't have here, unless they want to become khi nok

[barbaro]

Of all the 1,000s of guys that sell everything they own, buy a one way ticket to the L of S, sink it all into a business, and expect to live out their days in paradise. What percentage do you think fail.... me

These folks failed before they got to Thailand.

That's why they "sell everything they own and by a one way ticket" here.

These types don't have common sense.


And again, FriscoFrankie hits the nail right on the head.

[Mr Earl]

I have come across plenty, but not low end bars, they have almost no chance of sucess, although I know one guy who hs set up a few and just makes regular money out of selling them to "fresh off the boaters".
Most business here, Farang and Thai owned will find that the biggest problem is staff embezzlement, it seem that Thai's just regards the companies cash and goods as theirs for the taking.

That's pretty much the nature of the bar biz everywhere. If you own it you have to be there every night and collect the money. It's also advisable not to drink much either.
I only know of one Australian who does well here. And he brings in his own staff of management from OZ. His clients tend to be rowdy groups of young ozzies both male and female.

[danblack]

I am The DAN BLACK, but never heard of ball in hand

[Agent_Smith]

If you own it you have to be there every night and collect the money.

Got a friend who has owned a bar for 5 years. Got a website and keeps a loyal following of clientele. THE SECRET is to watch the money. He's there every night (usually drinking--killing his liver) and the wifey runs the till. He handles the money and books after hours at home. Other than the health consequences, he's doing very well.

[DrAndy]

I am The DAN BLACK, but never heard of ball in hand

in that case, your nik is not very imaginative!

as for ball in hand, look down, undo those acrylic trousers and cup your solitary testicle in your palm

there you are, and welcome to TeakDoor

[AntRobertson]

“Business” here seems to be synomonous with bar/pub/restaurant in a lot of respects.

The only successes that I can think of now off the top of my head are all involved in areas other than that.

[danblack]

Of all the 1,000s of guys that sell everything they own, buy a one way ticket to the L of S, sink it all into a business, and expect to live out their days in paradise. What percentage do you think fail.... me

These folks failed before they got to Thailand.

That's why they "sell everything they own and by a one way ticket" here.

These types don't have common sense.


And again, FriscoFrankie hits the nail right on the head.

Talk about self abuse, I wish I had not said including me. But if it is a 90% failure rate, anybody else want to confess

[sabang]

I know a few farang that have actually done quite well in Thailand. Most stay quiet and low key, and they know what they are doing.

Whilst I daresay there are some falang beer bar operators doing OK, it is surely a minority. There are just too many beer bars chasing too few seasonal tourists, at least in Phuket and Pattaya, and when it comes to having a cost advantage, the Thai have it stitched up.

[peterpan]

I know a few farang that have actually done quite well in Thailand. Most stay quiet and low key, and they know what they are doing.

Whilst I daresay there are some falang beer bar operators doing OK, it is surely a minority. There are just too many beer bars chasing too few seasonal tourists, at least in Phuket and Pattaya, and when it comes to having a cost advantage, the Thai have it stitched up.

I know of many making a good living from Bars, the best example is the OZ man who started with Blue BBQ off soi 33, he's moved on and now runs a successful upmarket bar rest in soi 33.
On a smaller scale the guy that runs the sportmans bar in Soi 20, seems to make a good go of it and has taken over the (thai run) bar next door to him.
Office bar in soi 33 is another very sucessful operation.
The guys that run the Payschool / Suzi wongs and other bars in Nana/ SC are professionals that do well out of their business's.
I could go on for quite a while with successful bars just in BKK. I don't think they are a minority (in BKK anyway) but one common theme is that they are all hands on and usually have winning personalities coupled with competant business skills.

[Jardine]

“Business” here seems to be synomonous with bar/pub/restaurant in a lot of respects.

The only successes that I can think of now off the top of my head are all involved in areas other than that.

I suspect in those other areas the success rate is higher maybe 50%

[AntRobertson]

“Business” here seems to be synomonous with bar/pub/restaurant in a lot of respects.

The only successes that I can think of now off the top of my head are all involved in areas other than that.

I suspect in those other areas the success rate is higher maybe 50%

Jardine,

Your guess is as good as mine but I'd say that sounds about right. I'd imagine it reflects the amount of time, investment and knowledge that goes into it.

Having thought about it further now it also occurs to me that I personally know two examples of guys in business (manufacturing and construction respectively) who have not only made a success of it but are actually doing very, very well for themselves - basically earning the kind of money that would be considered plenty enough for Western countries.

And here I am, a salary slave...