laxman1960

Count me in! Plus 1 Guest.

Dan

How many customers did he see?

Where are they?

What is the average cost per customer visit?

How productive a sales person is he?

I find a combination of BTS/MRT and Taxis/Motos to be very cost effective. You can take a taxi from say Silom to Lower Sukhumvit outside of rush hour for 60 Baht. You can take the BTS for 22 on the monthly card (by the trip or even 20 per trip is buy 30 trips).

If he is exclusively taking taxis and seeing 4 Customers a day at 100B per taxi ride (poor scheduling maybe), in a 22 day work month it comes to nearly 9,000.

Hope this helps.

Dan

Hi

Does anyone have any experience with having a sales person in your business, if so, how do you usually solve his/her travel expenses.

Do you give him a set amount of money that he then has to use wisely in order to visit customers etc? My sales person only work in Bangkok, but last month he cost me 9000 baht in taxi rides, something tells me i must find a better way to handle his travel expenses. Way too expensive, right?

Another thing, how much holiday can a thai employee expect each year? Is there any set rules for this, if so, how does it work?

I am also curious about sick leaves, how many days each year can a thai take off for sickness without getting a reduced salary?

I use Bangkok Bank as well.

Not a perfect bank but they are sure good at international funds transfers.

Last week I really needed my cash from the USA, my USA client wired the money their day time, it appeared in my account around noon my time the next day. Similarly had an Aussie client transfer me funds, they did it when their bank opened up and I had access to my funds after lunch the same day.

For outgoing transfers I have had a similar experience with Bangkok Bank. I have gone to the branch on Sukhumvit Soi 10, done a wire transfer at 330pm (well just before since that is when they close), and received the money in my USA account in about 4 hours!

Dan

Any body else having to do this paperwork just get some money into Thailand?

Last week I wired funds from the U.S. to my wifes family in Thailand. It was quite simple, there was a $30(U.S.) international wiring fee that my local bank charged, then they wired the money to the Bangkok Bank branch in New York City and once it was in their (Bangkok Bank) system it was wired to the Main Bangkok Bank branch in Bangkok (500 baht fee) when they opened the next day and then later that day (in Thailand) it was transfered to our nieces account in Korat. I kept the transfer to under $20,000 and used Bangkok Bank, so perhaps that is why the transfer happened so quickly(less than 24 hours ) and without any problems.

Hi Simon:

I know several here, from Wright Company, Talentplus, Opus, ISM Recruitment.

Probably best to get a copy of the CV and then I can pass it on and make an introduction.

Dan

This isn't my pitch for a new job. But after the last couple of years working from my Phuket hotel base as a telecoms technical consultant, I now want to seek a permanent technical management position in Thailand. My small hotel is running nicely now, so I have the time and interest to work in BKK or other relevant location during the week.

Apart from Jobserve. maybe the best route to finding new employment in Thailand is by using an executive recruitment agency. I worked as a technical consultant for about 20 years within the telecoms amd IT sectors, ranging from design engineer right through to CTO/CEO levels. I hold Masters and Bachelor degrees in electronics and comms from London University [many years ago...]

However, although I'm looking for a senior techie job, my financial needs are not so great anymore. So I'm not looking for an expat salary. The job interest and challenge is more important.

Can anyone suggest the names of Thai or Asian executive recruitment agencies or other suitable resources?

Thanks

Simon

Vientiane was a breeze for a 3 month Single Entry Non Immigrant B, of course I had the complete list of papers as well.

When I applied 15 months ago in the USA, I submitted the full set of papers as well to get my 1 yr. Multi-Entry. Didn't want to risk it with only an offer letter/work confirmation.

Dan

I know this doesn't answer your question directly, but I just got back from Vientiane, was piece of cake to get the Non-Imm B there (single entry, 90 days), used Express Visa, we arrived in the morning at the border around 630am, through Thailand immigration, over the Friendship Bridge to Laos, then straight to the Thai Consulate there. Waited a bit there in line to review paperwork, then inside until they called for payment, was out in a few hours (there were 73 of us together), and sitting at lunch at 1245.

Next day we went to the border, shopped, etc. while they picked up the passports and brought them to us.

All very painless other than the overnight minibus ride and wait to drop off everything.

Dan

Normally submit in morning and get back next workday afternoon.

Thanks for the information. Because my lawyer screwed up and we had to do a new WP for the last 3 months I don't have a magic stamp in my WP for a year, it expires the same day my latest Visa entry expires.

So looks like I am heading out to Vientiane, never been there, seems like fun. Will take an overnight train, couple nights in town and relax a bit while getting my 90 day Visa. Then when I have time I can go get another 1 Yr. when I am back in the USA.

Just bad timing, however the Vientiane trip is quite reasonable and gives me a chance to visit and relax a bit.

Thanks,

Dan

Here is the situation:

Current Non Imm B expires Aug 11 (last day to stay)

I need a new 1 Yr Multi Entry Non Imm B

I need to go to India as soon as reasonably possible on business.

I am American.

What do you recommend?

Get Non Imm B first is KL, Penang (have had WP 2 yrs already so understand I can get a 1 yr multi)

Or go to India and see about getting Non Imm there.

Currently your best bet is to go to KL first. You need all the papers on the MFA website list. Check this site for the list of required documents: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2492

Also you need the 'magic validity stamp' in your work permit for KL. See this thread: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2071351

Remember that you must make a WP5 renewal application before you current WP expires, keep the WP and get your WP5 receipt marked in Thai to show that Labour are awaiting a visa before they can renew it. You have seven days to get the visa back to labour after the WP5 is filed.

Good luck.

Here is the situation:

Current Non Imm B expires Aug 11 (last day to stay)

I need a new 1 Yr Multi Entry Non Imm B

I need to go to India as soon as reasonably possible on business.

I am American.

What do you recommend?

Get Non Imm B first is KL, Penang (have had WP 2 yrs already so understand I can get a 1 yr multi)

Or go to India and see about getting Non Imm there.

Kate,

One man/woman band's can not get legal here. I will not go into all the criteria required but to get a WP you must have a company set up in Thailand c/w paid up capital and for each expat employed four Thais have to be employed. The expat has to be paid a certain wage (this varies from country to country the expat comes from, UK is near the top of the pile) Just keep your head down so to speak. Good luck

This is not correct. You do not require 4 Thai staff in order to get a WP, you do need them if you want to apply for Extension of Stay based on business. The wage requirement for US/UK is 50,000B per month. See Lopburi 3's responses here and in other threads.

Cheers guys, any more suggestions?

Some of my favorite pubs:

Soi 8 Pub on Sukhumvit Soi 8, 50 meters into the Soi on the left. Nana BTS Station. It is a Kiwi Bar, no bargirls, owner is a great guy. Free Wifi too and reasonably priced food and drinks.

Barbican on Soi Thaniya, near Sala Daeng BTS, in the middle of Japanese Karoake bars, but Barbican is very nice, bit upscale pub.

Dubliner on Sukhumvit 22.

Londoner is great on happy hour or Wed night when happy hour all night, but can be a bit pricey.

Bulls Head already covered.

Also in Silom area are O'Reilly's right at the Sala Daeng BTS on Thaniya.

Molly Malone's on Soi Convent.

Witches Tavern on Thonglo already covered, love that place, especially on Wed nights since it is ladies night and they drink free until 9pm.

Dan

A lot depends on your connections, sales ability for ads/sponsors, etc.

I know several publishers here who do ok, they make their money selling advertising one to one, restaurant/hospital/bar/rental agency etc.

PM me as well.

Dan

Can someone throw some light on how can a mag'zine related publication be started ?

My basic content outline is somewhat prepared for at least 6 months ... so i know what to deliver in the coming months...

uve even identified a distribution agencies.. .

i know xpats cant start newspapers.... but im quite sure we can start a magazine...

But i dont know where to start with registration of the name, issn etc..

cheers!

Getting to be close to the time to get another Non Imm B Visa. Travel schedule might not accomadate a trip back to the USA where I am from so was wondering what the latest experiences are in getting 1 Year, Non Imm B Visa's in the area.

I know you can't get one from Singapore, but have heard that KL will issue them if you have had them before, have a WP (which I have), etc.

Any current news?

Thanks,

Dan

To the OP: How long did they give you to find your 4 employees and bring them to interview?

Just a little concerned as I also have 4 Thai employees that I haven't seen for a while...

My Accountantt/agent didnt give me the news until my previous work permit expired so I would have to apply for a new permit with staff already in place. A friend (with a different agent) has been waiting for inspection for 3 months now!

Just not feasible in my business.

As noted above , there seems no way for a one man band to be a legal taxpayer here. (is there?)

My understanding is that the WP is not tied to the 4 Thai Staff, the Extension of Stay is what requires the 50,000 B per month plus 4 Thai Staff (if American,UK, etc., less for others as previously posted).

So you can have your Non-Imm B visa, valid for a year, 90 day stamps each time in. Then your work permit is 90 days at a time to match the validity of your current passport stamp. So you have renew the WP every 90 days.

That is how I have done it the past 2 years. Sunbelt can confirm. I hope this is still the case, since our company doesn't require 4 Thai staff.

No doubt AOT will have to comply, but they are the ones running the airports, arent' they? And what about airlines - they wanted to use Don Muang themselves.

The ministry looks like it's going to bulldoze through no matter what the affected parties think - sure sign that the policy is not going to last longer than the government itself, possibly until May only.

Actually I believe the airlines fully support having a Single Airport, it costs them a fortune to operate out of both.

They were not supportive at all of the move back to Don Muang.

You have a choice in the way you set up the company

1.all in a trusted Thai's name

or

2. going legit with a Thai company 49% in your name

This is what I never liked about setting up a company in Thailand. Unless you are investing large amounts, you have to be the minority shareholder in your own company.

This is probably why the current owner's girlfriend owns the company. Because they created a company and she is either the sole owner, or she owns 51% and he only owns 49%. So she calls the shots with all of his money. Works great now, but what happens later when the relationship breaks down?

Luckily I am from the US, so I would never get stuck in this situation. Let's hear it for the treaty

Probably not, I should think she owns the business because it is a small company that does not have to pay tax or social security for staff or work permits etc that a westerner has to.

If the op wanted to set up a company, he can still be the sole director and the only one with voting rights regarding any decision made. The company can also be set up so that he owns preference shares at a 10:1 ratio of the Thai shares.

IMHO if the business makes any less than 50,000 a month profit I'd stick it in a Thai name.

I have a couple of questions. Are you sure your advice regarding preference shares is up-to-date?

I have lost track as to exactly what stage we are at regarding the Foreign Business Act

but I thought that was going to essentially stop results arrangements.

The other thing is, no one has mentioned the all-important " work permit " ? Surely if

the business which the OP is considering doesn't generate enough to pay his salary

plus the 4 employees, he will not legally be able to get involved at all in running the business?

You could be right, my company is a few years old now and was initially used to buy my house.

It doesn't matter if the op is earning less than the required amount as long as he pays the tax due on it, eg if he earns 25,000baht salary he will still have to pay tax on 50,000

Same goes for the staff, as long as he is paying social security on 4 staffs wages - he is ok, could be his girlfriends mother, whoever

You don't need 4 Thai Staff to get a work permit, only need them for an extension of stay based on business. Without 4 Thai staff you just are forced to leave the country every 90 days, then update your work permit.

If you don't need 4 Thai's don't employ them.

You do need to pay yourself or at least pay taxes on 50,000 Baht income to get the Work Permit.

Dan

I am sitting here talking to the owner and it definitely didn't go down like this is reported. I know him quite well, and his pub is the most customer friendly pub I know!

Here is what actually happened (which is also on cctv tape!):

Firstly he has never seen this customer in two years.

Secondly the owner spoke to the Customer on the phone after the manager advised him that he was taking photographs in the pub, the customer told him that he was going to lay a complaint to the police about smoking which was his prerogative if he wanted. However he was not allowed to take photographs in the pub and if he continued to do so he would have to leave.

He told the manager that he would not leave and continued to take photographs, at which time he was escorted from the pub, at no stage was he physically assaulted. He was screaming out for the police and anyone else to help him. His actions were clearly designed to disturb other customers in the pub.

This customer was intoxicated at the time, and despite complaining about the smoking advised that he wanted to stay and drink his glass of wine and have a meal.

It is Soi 8 Pub policy to become a non-smoking pub and have already designated the outside area as a smoking area. They have however, taken the position to phase in the non-smoking policy.

Dan

The arguments put forward by ex-smokers on the quality of air issue belong on a separate thread and I support you. I do not like the smell of smoke. Its that simple. I am not commenting on world air quality, holes in the ozone or global warming. I'm talking about the smell of smoke in an enclosed space and how it irritates my nose and eyes.

The war on smokers is pretty much over. We are just walking around bayouneting the wounded.

Enjoy.

Well, the "wounded" appear to be fighting back!

The Soi 8 Pub and Restaurant near the entrance to Sukhumvit soi 8, which I've patronized for years, has decided to defy the smoking ban by intimidating, assaulting and physically ejecting anybody who politely complains about the pub's policy of defiance.

I found out the hard way en route home this evening from work. When I politely pointed out to the onsite manager that most of the pubs and restaurants in the lower Sukhumvit area were compliant with the non-smoking law, the manager replied with a variety of threats of physical violence. He then acted on his threats, taking away my eyeglasses and a glass of wine I had ordered and canceling my sandwich order, after which he punched, kicked and physically ejected me.

If you are inclined to complain about the Soi 8 Pub's lawlessness, you'd better bring your own security personnel.

Yes, I did file a criminal complaint with the Lumpini Police Department -- not for violation of the smoking ban, for assault and battery. And yes, there are alternatives on soi 8 to this rogue pub.

That is surprising because that pub, unlike many others, actually has a decent size outdoor area at the front that can easily seat 30-40 people.

I would be quite interested since right now just have to rely on the accountants to do it all for us.

Suspect many others would be interested as well.

Dan

Hi, all. Long-time reader, first-time poster.

I have a software company in Thailand, and so I regularly submit my documents to the revenue department (por gnor dor 1, por gnor dor 53, por por 30, etc.)

Doing this manually is no good: it is tedious and error-prone. So, I am considering writing a simple software package that will keep track of the necessary data (tax IDs, salaries, receivables, expenses) and generate the appropriate documents automatically. For my own reasons, this would be free software (open source).

My question is, would this be useful to anybody else in Thailand? I'd like to make operating in Thailand (slightly) easier for everybody, but if there is insufficient interest from the business community, I'll spend my time pursuing other things. So I'm using you all as a sounding board, if that's okay.

If free software for managing government forms (like for the revenue department) sounds interesting to you, please speak up. I am especially interested in what specific features the Thai business community needs. What operational problems do you all have that can be addressed with software?

Thanks very much!

This is not correct. Sunbelt has posted many times as well.

You do NOT NEED 4 Thai staff to get a work permit.

You DO NEED 4 Thai staff if you want to get your visa extension based on business.

Dan

Well, if you want to legally work for your own company, you have to hire four Thai people to work there also, which will cost you about 20,000 baht per month at minimum wage. That's not counting laywer's fees, management headaches of dealing with Thai corporate law, learning accounting, etc.

I ran my own company for a while. After nine months I found out that at the end of the fiscal year we had to have a specially licensed outside accountant go over our books to swear that our books met Thai government accounting standards and create end-year financial statements from those books. My reaction was "Books? We're supposed to have books?"

To be perfectly legal you need a work permit to come here and inspect facilities etc. that is considered work by the letter of the law however no one who doesn't live here bothers with it.

Living here nearly full time I would strongly recommend you get a work permit. No one will mess with you until you win some major contract from a Thai competitor then you better watch out.

Dan

OK I found a Thai document where they actually do make a difference between "to work" and "to do business". Unfortunately it does not give any explanation as to what this difference is.

http://www.bia.co.th/chapter20.pdf

It goes like this (under Categories of Non-Immigrant visa; page 3/10):

"A non-immigrant visa may be applied for at a Thai embassy or consulate. A Non- Immigrant B Visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter Thailand to work OR to do business."

And further under Three year visa; page 4/10:

"With effect from September 2006, it is possible to apply for a three year visa to foreigners who wish to conduct business (but not to work) in Thailand. The applicant must be a businessman who runs a business in the country in which the application is submitted."

So they really do make a difference between WORKING on behalf of a foreign company in Thailand and CONDUCTING BUSINESS on behalf of a foreign company in Thailand. Which this difference is remains unclear. Anybody has a clue?

I think because of the way the laws are written it is so vague so they can pretty much enforce it however they want. I am still trying to figure out if I need a work permit when I work for a US company and I go to the factory in Thailand and inspect a shipment before it leaves the factory, talk with about new products, check on the status of orders and make sure they are on schedule, or if I work with the factoy to make sure packaging is correct. All of these things to me seem to be doing business.

If I come in for a week each month and take care of these things I might be ok. But now that more of our business is moving to Thailand it makes more sense to make my home here instead of China. So now I will be here for 3+ weeks a month with trips to other countries in the area to visit other factories. Now are they going to say that I am working and need a work permit since I spend most of my time here? Or would I still be doing business, which I am, just more of it, so it requires me to be in Thailand more. I still work for the same company, do the same job, just spend more time in Thailand.

No one has been able to give me a definative answer. I think it is just because no one can really tell and the only way I will be able to tell is if immigration or the labor department takes me away sometime. I have tried sending emails to labor department and embassies, but I never get an answer from them. I think they don't know either.

It sounds like a great idea, however the one potential issue is that if your only advantage is low cost what is to stop established manufacturers from cutting prices to compete with you?

You can get lower cost labor in China or Vietnam, if they are larger than you are what is to stop them from using the lowest cost manufacturing in the world and take away your advantage. You are planning to use freely available designs so you have nothing unique.

Think about how you will market this, and most importantly how long you can have a price advantage.

Dan

...Anyway, that's my idea. Can anyone shoot my idea down in flames or punch a thousand holes in it?? Please do give your comments.

Simon

You only need 4 thai staff if you want to get an extension of stay based on business for you Non-imm B visa. You can get a work permit without 4 thai staff. Check with Sunbelt who sponsor the forum.

Not so sure your statement below is true as a friend of mine just got one in the USA and he also has a Work Permit.

Good question for Lopburi, plus I will check with my friend to make sure he had no issues on renewing the WP with the 3 year Non-Imm B.

Dan

of course it is available. but it can not be used to get a work permit. it is meant for business travellers from OUTSIDE Thailand who travel to Thailand a lot of times. and you can only apply at the EMBASSY, not at any CONSULAR OFFICES.

27% depreciation in 6 years. At around 30 now. That would mean 6 baht/dollar in 6 x 6 years. if this continues:

666? - as I mentioned elsewhere - I think America might be going the same way as Sodom and Gomorrah. Hardly a Revelation tho'.

Thing that is weird is as I walked by the Siam Commercial Exchange booth on Sukhumvit, near Soi 8 their current rate as of 330pm today was 33.25 per dollar which is up .20 from yesterday!

Contact Sunbelt Asia, they are one of the forum sponsors. They can tell you all you need to know about the various forms of operation here in Thailand.

Dan

I know that there are many different form of Companies which can be runned by foreigners. The most known is the Company Ltd.

Bur how is it with the unregistered/registered Partnership and the Limited Partnership. Thay are possible for the foreigners too ?

What kind of paperwork is required and what are tne cost ?

Thanks Frank

I was a naive condo buyer in Pattaya a few years ago and purchased a condo in a COMPANY NAME!!! Doh!!! (I know very dumb of me - so save the lectures!)

With the new rules that close up this loophole are there any options moving forward to salvage this investment? What are all the other Farang Condo owners who unwittingly bought via the Company route doing?

Appreciate constructive advice.

The replies on previous threads about this subject and purchase of houses with land via the Company route all said just hold on and wait it out for a bit. There were not reports of them going out to get the companies, just that they were not making it easy or advisable to register new properties that way. Of course you can also look at legitimizing your company, thai shareholders, etc. as well.

Check with the lawyers, Sunbelt is a sponsor of Thai Visa, they can let you know the current state.