Expat Business Success in Thailand

[Rob5lax]

HI Forum,

 

I’m compiling stories about expats finding business success in SE Asia.  I’m hoping to discover new examples to add to the collection for Thailand.

 

To succeed in Thailand as an expat obstacles are high.  Most people don’t speak the language well enough or at all.  Creating an running a compliant business is expensive and requires lots of time in procedures.  Getting a work permit depends on circumstances.

 

I’m interested in the self-starters and entrepreneurs, not company men brought form overseas.  I’m also focused on the details such  those who build under a spouse, who embed themselves into Thai companies or institutions, and demographics (male, female, old, young).  Basically the Jim Thompsons of the last few years.

 

I’m happy to share results with contributors of meaningful content.  I’ve already interviewed expats ranging from millionaires to those simply supplementing outside revenue streams.  Kindly post  or email to [email protected]

 

Cheers,

Robert 

[CharlieH]

We appreciate the reports, but this has permission to be posted.

 

Thanks.

[Ulic]

Why not ask for both success and failure. People learn more from their failures than successes. Personally, I like to learn from other people, both success and failure, so I am less likely to make the same mistakes and also choose a successful path.

[dreaming]

I think you are on the wrong forum looking for business success's

 

edit: maybe interview the guy that started thaivisa

[PerkinsCuthbert]

2 hours ago, dreaming said:

I think you are on the wrong forum looking for business success's

 

edit: maybe interview the guy that started thaivisa

Wink wink

[khunPer]

I know about quite a number of succesful expats starting business in Thailand, but I'm not one myself, as I from the beginning did not want to make business in Thailand. I also met a number of expats that failed, and they seem to outnumber the number that made it.

[Rob5lax]

On 1/25/2019 at 7:19 PM, khunPer said:

I know about quite a number of succesful expats starting business in Thailand, but I'm not one myself, as I from the beginning did not want to make business in Thailand. I also met a number of expats that failed, and they seem to outnumber the number that made it.

I’ve found the failures outweigh the successes by a large multiple in excess of the standard win/loss rations for startups (which is low).

 

I’ve begun to make notes on the reasons.  Underestimating the Thai way of doing business slightly out weights those who have courted disaster working with a Thai love interest.

 

Thanks for reply

[Pharoticus]

On 1/24/2019 at 1:40 PM, Ulic said:

Why not ask for both success and failure. People learn more from their failures than successes. Personally, I like to learn from other people, both success and failure, so I am less likely to make the same mistakes and also choose a successful path.

My 2 cents. You can be successful in Thailand. What it takes to succeed here is pretty much the same as elsewhere. Specifically: hard work, innovation, more hard work, flexibility, even more hard work, etc.

 

After a while, though, you realize that "elsewhere" is perhaps easier and more enjoyable. 

 

In other words -- IMO -- eventually the cons outweigh the pros.

 

And one day you wake up and think "why bother?"