small business ideas in Isaan

[bodlivy]

Hello, for those in LOS living in Isaan. I am interested in understanding small business opportunities for 1-2 people in the area. Don't know anything about Isaan and have never been. It would be something that doesn't require specialized equipment and hopefully small initial investment, something along the lines of buy bulk/sell retail, food services, growing food, educational.  Any ideas are greatly appreciated, looking for some guidance and shared experiences from those of you who were both successful and not successful at it.

[CharlieH]

Better suited to isaaan forum, MOVED

[NanLaew]

Don't know anything and never been there but wanting advice on what sort of small business would work in Isaan?

 

What has she suggested?

[Denim]

I would start by doing a Google search on local demographics. 

 

Search for information on the specific amper and dtambon you plan to open your idea. This will tell you what your potential customer base is. From that number consider how many are elderly or children that might not use your service. If people in that area are simple farming folk they won't be very interested in wasting their money on non essentials like fancy restaurants etc.

If you try to do something that caters only to expats...very difficult as not enough potential customers. 

 

Over the years I have seen Thais and foreigners open businesses that were obviously doomed to failure right from day one. One muscular guy tried to open a small air con gym in the middle of town probably thinking that as the town didn't have one it would be a good idea. Lasted 6 months.

 

Our local store does a roaring trade especially in the morning selling precooked food and vegetables to the local villages. Very cheap and within their limited means.

 

Auto repair shops are always busy but that's another thing altogether.

 

Building supplies also do well but needs big investment and lots of space.

 

In the end though , almost all new business we see start up here fail.

 

So, what you are left with is doing one thing well and selling cheap. In the mornings a woman does well selling hot Thai donuts. Another sells only Pad Thai from a cart. In a rural area where the people are mostly poor, doing business is not easy.

 

My wife and I have our own little business selling online. Don't make much but bigger customer base so the profit pays all our bills.

 

 

[SamSipEt]

Be prepared for competition to appear very quickly if you are seen or seem to make money.  A new coffee shop / cafe opened outside our village a couple of years ago.  No competiton along the main road for a few km in each direction.  Today there are another three all doing very similar menus almost in sight of each other.  No one makes good money anymore because there aren't enough customers to go round.

 

Growing stuff?  Some years ago date palms were popular.  Exepensive to buy the plants but the fruit could be sold for a good price.  Lots of people planted them and the price has come down a lot.  Grapes used to be 300 - 400 baht a kilo but the price in the market is down to 75 baht or less a kilo. Currently the popular fruit appears to be the red / pink guava which command a premium in price.  We know of several rai being planted this year so, if the pattern is repeated, there will be as many red / pink ones as white ones in a couple of years and the prices will be the same.

 

Small businesses as mentioned above tend to specialise in one thing, do it well and have a loyal customer base in the village(s) they sell in.  E.g. a local market has a stall that only sells pad thai at 20 baht a small portion.  They appear to sell out everyday but how much money they make I wouldn't know.

 

Of course many businesse do make their owners a living but for all of the small family businesses I think it is very much a hand to mouth existance due to the wafer thin profit margins.  If you try and increase the margin someone else will simply undercut you.

 

My comments are based on village life but there are some major cities in Issan and in one of those things will be very different.  If you rent and are seen to make money then the rent goes up and sucks out as much of the profit as possible.  To buy in a good location will be expensive.

 

I hope I'm not sounding too negative but although it will be difficult it can be done.  Best of luck with it and please let us know how you get on.

 

[FritsSikkink]

Sit on a chair in a room with a red light.

[simon43]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

Sit on a chair in a room with a red light.

No windows?

[bodlivy]

23 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Don't know anything and never been there but wanting advice on what sort of small business would work in Isaan?

 

What has she suggested?

 

Hey there keen investigator. She suggested growing and selling vegetables in a small plot. What do you think? Or is it a better bet go to settle in Pattaya or Hua Hin? It just seems in coastal areas initial investment has to be substantial and okayed by local authorities via kickbacks.

[bodlivy]

18 hours ago, SamSipEt said:

Be prepared for competition to appear very quickly if you are seen or seem to make money.  A new coffee shop / cafe opened outside our village a couple of years ago.  No competiton along the main road for a few km in each direction.  Today there are another three all doing very similar menus almost in sight of each other.  No one makes good money anymore because there aren't enough customers to go round.

 

Growing stuff?  Some years ago date palms were popular.  Exepensive to buy the plants but the fruit could be sold for a good price.  Lots of people planted them and the price has come down a lot.  Grapes used to be 300 - 400 baht a kilo but the price in the market is down to 75 baht or less a kilo. Currently the popular fruit appears to be the red / pink guava which command a premium in price.  We know of several rai being planted this year so, if the pattern is repeated, there will be as many red / pink ones as white ones in a couple of years and the prices will be the same.

 

Small businesses as mentioned above tend to specialise in one thing, do it well and have a loyal customer base in the village(s) they sell in.  E.g. a local market has a stall that only sells pad thai at 20 baht a small portion.  They appear to sell out everyday but how much money they make I wouldn't know.

 

Of course many businesse do make their owners a living but for all of the small family businesses I think it is very much a hand to mouth existance due to the wafer thin profit margins.  If you try and increase the margin someone else will simply undercut you.

 

My comments are based on village life but there are some major cities in Issan and in one of those things will be very different.  If you rent and are seen to make money then the rent goes up and sucks out as much of the profit as possible.  To buy in a good location will be expensive.

 

I hope I'm not sounding too negative but although it will be difficult it can be done.  Best of luck with it and please let us know how you get on.

 

 

Thank you for detailed write up. I'm from Texas and my impression of Isaan is that it is just like rural Texas and has the same difficult business climate. Thanks again.

[bodlivy]

23 hours ago, Denim said:

I would start by doing a Google search on local demographics. 

 

Search for information on the specific amper and dtambon you plan to open your idea. This will tell you what your potential customer base is. From that number consider how many are elderly or children that might not use your service. If people in that area are simple farming folk they won't be very interested in wasting their money on non essentials like fancy restaurants etc.

If you try to do something that caters only to expats...very difficult as not enough potential customers. 

 

Over the years I have seen Thais and foreigners open businesses that were obviously doomed to failure right from day one. One muscular guy tried to open a small air con gym in the middle of town probably thinking that as the town didn't have one it would be a good idea. Lasted 6 months.

 

Our local store does a roaring trade especially in the morning selling precooked food and vegetables to the local villages. Very cheap and within their limited means.

 

Auto repair shops are always busy but that's another thing altogether.

 

Building supplies also do well but needs big investment and lots of space.

 

In the end though , almost all new business we see start up here fail.

 

So, what you are left with is doing one thing well and selling cheap. In the mornings a woman does well selling hot Thai donuts. Another sells only Pad Thai from a cart. In a rural area where the people are mostly poor, doing business is not easy.

 

My wife and I have our own little business selling online. Don't make much but bigger customer base so the profit pays all our bills.

 

 

Thank you very much for the information. Online seems the way to go from what I gather, and it's easy to move the business elsewhere if it's not tied to product unique to Isaan. I appreciate your time.

[The Old Bull]

If you want a small business start with a large one and wait a few months

[essex boys]

Sounds like the OP has gotten himself a girlfriend in Isaan who has never met in person, she no doubt wants money to start a business and has asked the OP to fund it…seen it all before

[bodlivy]

5 minutes ago, The Old Bull said:

If you want a small business start with a large one and wait a few months

 

What about selling one orange the first day, then 2 oranges next day, etc. This seems a sure success, no,?

[NanLaew]

8 minutes ago, bodlivy said:

 

Hey there keen instigator. She suggested growing vegetables in a small plot. What do you think?

 

We do that, accumulated fresh veggies from several family and friend's small "garden" plots. All home grown and as organic and fresh as we can. Delivered and/or collected at the house for cleaning and sorting in the pre-dawn. Then given to another relative to sell on her market stall. Quite lucrative in the cool season (right now) but forget about it come March when it's heating up and bugs need serious pest control. Very (short) seasonal income. Scaling up would probably mean investing in land, pesticides, etc..

 

Another source of seasonal or opportunistic income is from foraging. Depending on the season, frogs, waterbugs, ants, land crabs, snails, mushrooms and other short-lived but quite expensive flora and fauna makes its way to the relative's market stall where some city slickers will pay (almost) a king's ransom for some weeds, grubs or furry critters. Keeping an eye open for a natural bee hive full of wild honey is a tidy little earner with some happy to pay upwards of 400 baht for a large Saeng Som sized bottle of the stuff.

 

The other one that keeps us in beer and skittles is the roadside food stand that, as already suggested, specialises in something that's NOT already offered nearby. No need for somtam wars in the moobahn! Minimal dine-in as it caters for locals either going to work in the morning (closed after lunch and rest of the day) or, the evening commuter headed home. The latter is a bit less busy with a greater possibility of a dine-in request. You may also need to offer more than one specialty dish too (open late afternoon and evening only).

 

Thai landlords are as mercenary as the ones back home so if any chosen enterprise avoids paying rents, leases and inflated utility bills, it's going to be more profitable (take longer to die).

 

Good luck

[NanLaew]

11 minutes ago, essex boys said:

Sounds like the OP has gotten himself a girlfriend in Isaan who has never met in person, she no doubt wants money to start a business and has asked the OP to fund it…seen it all before

 

Sorry she didn't work out for you. She was cute but.

[bodlivy]

3 minutes ago, essex boys said:

Sounds like the OP has gotten himself a girlfriend in Isaan who has never met in person, she no doubt wants money to start a business and has asked the OP to fund it…seen it all before

 

You're a bit older than I am and wiser, I hope. So realistically what would be my options? Just moving to LOS? It's nice and all, but I make good money in the States. Will probably retire in Hungary or some other place in Central Europe. Thailand would be not my first choice tbh. My concern is she'll get bored in Isaan anyway, regardless of business or family. Should I forego all the bull<deleted> and whisk her out of the country? I live up north in the States. Don't think Thais can handle real winter. 

[bodlivy]

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

We do that, accumulated fresh veggies from several family and friend's small "garden" plots. All home grown and as organic and fresh as we can. Delivered and/or collected at the house for cleaning and sorting in the pre-dawn. Then given to another relative to sell on her market stall. Quite lucrative in the cool season (right now) but forget about it come March when it's heating up and bugs need serious pest control. Very (short) seasonal income. Scaling up would probably mean investing in land, pesticides, etc..

 

Another source of seasonal or opportunistic income is from foraging. Depending on the season, frogs, waterbugs, ants, land crabs, snails, mushrooms and other short-lived but quite expensive flora and fauna makes its way to the relative's market stall where some city slickers will pay (almost) a king's ransom for some weeds, grubs or furry critters. Keeping an eye open for a natural bee hive full of wild honey is a tidy little earner with some happy to pay upwards of 400 baht for a large Saeng Som sized bottle of the stuff.

 

The other one that keeps us in beer and skittles is the roadside food stand that, as already suggested, specialises in something that's NOT already offered nearby. No need for somtam wars in the moobahn! Minimal dine-in as it caters for locals either going to work in the morning (closed after lunch and rest of the day) or, the evening commuter headed home. The latter is a bit less busy with a greater possibility of a dine-in request. You may also need to offer more than one specialty dish too (open late afternoon and evening only).

 

Thai landlords are as mercenary as the ones back home so if any chosen enterprise avoids paying rents, leases and inflated utility bills, it's going to be more profitable (take longer to die).

 

Good luck

Thank you very much, this is definitely something to look into for seasonal stuff. Used to sell ice cream during hot days only and it was good money. Great advice, much appreciated.

[fredwiggy]

33 minutes ago, bodlivy said:

 

Thank you for detailed write up. I'm from Texas and my impression of Isaan is that it is just like rural Texas and has the same difficult business climate. Thanks again.

From Texas too, San Antonio area, and yes, starting a business there is also hard, even though more have more cash. Competition is fierce and you have to find something different to make any money. Everything you can think of, from coffee shops to burger places, sandwich shops to vegetable or fruit sales, has already been tried. Here, they have much less money, and one thing Thais do well, is try and figure out what will sell, and that involves one commodity no one can do without. Food or drink.

 

There are coffee shops everywhere, and they only last if there aren't any others close. Noodle shops and vegetable sellers barely get by, as that's the usual go to to make money here.

 

My ex tried to start a noodle shop here in our village, and although she makes good noodle soup, it didn't make any money as there already is 4 others doing the same thing who have been here a long time. Another family member tried selling meat, veggies and fish, and it stopped in a few months for the same reason. Durian was big, and still is, but so many got into it, you'll see 5 sellers right after another on a road, and they have a hard time selling out because of it. Small business fail more than succeed because of the population and the competition.

[fredwiggy]

10 minutes ago, bodlivy said:

 

You're a bit older than I am and wiser, I hope. So realistically what would be my options? Just moving to LOS? It's nice and all, but I make good money in the States. Will probably retire in Hungary or some other place in Central Europe. Thailand would be not my first choice tbh. My concern is she'll get bored in Isaan anyway, regardless of business or family. Should I forego all the bull<deleted> and whisk her out of the country? I live up north in the States. Don't think Thais can handle real winter. 

The smartest thing you can do is get her to move there, period. You can visit here, and rent for some months, just to see how it is, but it's not a place to be if you get bored easy, especially in Isaan. If you're making good money in the states, stay there. If you have hobbies you enjoy there, remember many aren't available here, especially in the country. If you like the beaches, Thailand has some nice ones, and that's the only place you wouldn't be bored unless you like gardening and drinking most of the time. Europe has a lot of nice things, especially food, scenery, mountains, lakes and good fishing and hunting, which are my things, but again, in the country there's not much to do, and if you don't like winter, it's long there, especially in northern areas. I lived in New Jersey and moved to Texas because the winter was too long in New Jersey. I miss it, but when I move back to Texas I can always visit anywhere in the states easily. Many Thais move to the US every year, and most never come back here because of more opportunity there.

[bodlivy]

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

From Texas too, San Antonio area, and yes, starting a business there is also hard, even though more have more cash. Competition is fierce and you have to find something different to make any money. Everything you can think of, from coffee shops to burger places, sandwich shops to vegetable or fruit sales, has already been tried. Here, they have much less money, and one thing Thais do well, is try and figure out what will sell, and that involves one commodity no one can do without. Food or drink.

 

There are coffee shops everywhere, and they only last if there aren't any others close. Noodle shops and vegetable sellers barely get by, as that's the usual go to to make money here.

 

My ex tried to start a noodle shop here in our village, and although she makes good noodle soup, it didn't make any money as there already is 4 others doing the same thing who have been here a long time. Another family member tried selling meat, veggies and fish, and it stopped in a few months for the same reason. Durian was big, and still is, but so many got into it, you'll see 5 sellers right after another on a road, and they have a hard time selling out because of it. Small business fail more than succeed because of the population and the competition.

 

Yeah competition is a killer here too. But I know this one guy in Austin area. He put a food truck right next to a gas station and he's making good money selling breakfast tacos. He's basically stationary. The gas station is in suburban area, the only one within a few miles and has ample parking, so it's easy to buy from his truck. Gets a steady flow of morning commuters as they start their drive from the subdivision. They're all repeat customers too. 

 

Thank you very much!

[fredwiggy]

1 minute ago, bodlivy said:

 

Yeah competition is a killer here too. But I know this one guy in Austin area. He put a food truck right next to a gas station and he's making good money selling breakfast tacos. He's basically stationary. The gas station is in suburban area, the only one within a few miles and has ample parking, so it's easy to buy from his truck. Gets a steady flow of morning commuters as they start their drive from the subdivision. They're all repeat customers too. 

 

Thank you very much!

You can always sell tacos in Texas, especially if they're good and you have less competition. Truck stops, if they let you, are the best places in Texas, especially along the major highways. People need gas, and fresh tacos are more appealing than truck stop fare for the most part. Just like any business. Location, location, location.

[NanLaew]

37 minutes ago, bodlivy said:

Thank you very much, this is definitely something to look into for seasonal stuff. Used to sell ice cream during hot days only and it was good money. Great advice, much appreciated.

 

My pleasure. If you need any advice on making a small fortune as the town's premier provider of natural, home-made ice cream in northern Brazil, or as the village baker (and hub of the community) in northern Peru, let me know.

[NanLaew]

18 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

You can always sell tacos in Texas, especially if they're good and you have less competition. Truck stops, if they let you, are the best places in Texas, especially along the major highways. People need gas, and fresh tacos are more appealing than truck stop fare for the most part. Just like any business. Location, location, location.

 

Tamales. Tacos are for the white folks, but making fresh tamales and serving them up to the Hispanic migrant manual labor force on their way to work at an intersection in Northwest Houston was another little gold mine.

[fredwiggy]

9 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Tamales. Tacos are for the white folks, but making fresh tamales and serving them up to the Hispanic migrant manual labor force on their way to work at an intersection in Northwest Houston was another little gold mine.

Tacos are for everyone, and most are sold to Mexicans in the San Antonio and Houston metro areas. Tamales also, although white buy them for holidays more.

[ChaiyaTH]

You move to isaan never or when you somehow lost it and are retired. You not move their in working age as a westerner to do a business lol, then you simply lost your mind yourself.

[novacova]

On 2/2/2025 at 8:17 PM, bodlivy said:

Don't know anything about Isaan and have never been. It would be something that doesn't require specialized equipment and hopefully small initial investment

A somtom stand

[recom273]

What do you do in Texas? It seems, although not doesnt always follow - use your existing skills - Butchers and bakers do well here. You dont need to make big money every day, just enough.

 

Whatever you do, like others, little startup cost, no rent, is the best.

 

Again, clothes, my wife sells something that local people can't get hold of, she sells at local markets, maybe two or three times a week, the goods are imported second hand, her rent for the pitch is about 40-100B per market, and the profit is 250%.

 

For fun, I also grow hydroponic vegetables, it's ok in the cold season - trouble is that everyone copies each other here, but luckily they dont continue past one season.

 

You say Issan. its a very varied place, you have big cities, small provincial capital towns, even in a rural district you might have a rich  village that is inhabited by the families of local government office workers, the next village might be filled with older people with little disposable income - there are some areas that are really poor, no infrastructure and and another area, maybe has a big river, for example, these can be very rich areas due to natural resources. 

 

I wish you all the best. Dont think about investing in a coffee shop.

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, bodlivy said:

 

You're a bit older than I am and wiser, I hope. So realistically what would be my options? Just moving to LOS? It's nice and all, but I make good money in the States. Will probably retire in Hungary or some other place in Central Europe. Thailand would be not my first choice tbh. My concern is she'll get bored in Isaan anyway, regardless of business or family. Should I forego all the bull<deleted> and whisk her out of the country? I live up north in the States. Don't think Thais can handle real winter. 

Maybe start with meeting her in person for a while to see how she really is.

[Hummin]

The fastest growing marked is fast food, and home delivery, but if you thinking making money, real money, you will most likely not cover your investment money, aand thats how business in Thailand mainly works. 

 

Investment money

Start up time and money spent will never be covered up, unless you manage and push threough the necessary work ethic and economy handling. 

 

We have a small farm, which cost us 300k a year to run including salery, but estimated this year is 280k

 

We getting there slowly, and we do have a live stock we feed from our self, and all the fish, vegetables and fruit we want, but still, this is just for us to have an hobby and try to be self sufficient, nothing else. 

 

Anyway, investment in farmland, is a good investment for your wife and her family, and hopefully you, and it will keep them busy. 

[bodlivy]

6 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

The smartest thing you can do is get her to move there, period. You can visit here, and rent for some months, just to see how it is, but it's not a place to be if you get bored easy, especially in Isaan. If you're making good money in the states, stay there. If you have hobbies you enjoy there, remember many aren't available here, especially in the country. If you like the beaches, Thailand has some nice ones, and that's the only place you wouldn't be bored unless you like gardening and drinking most of the time. Europe has a lot of nice things, especially food, scenery, mountains, lakes and good fishing and hunting, which are my things, but again, in the country there's not much to do, and if you don't like winter, it's long there, especially in northern areas. I lived in New Jersey and moved to Texas because the winter was too long in New Jersey. I miss it, but when I move back to Texas I can always visit anywhere in the states easily. Many Thais move to the US every year, and most never come back here because of more opportunity there.

 

I have considered it, and I see some issues. First is the immigration processing and visa processing which is a complete nightmare and takes years. Also I know some people in Vietnamese community here. It just seems despite potential economic benefit, overall immigrant experience for those coming to US is quite traumatic even in best circumstances. Especially when host culture and language are so different. And it is different for Thais as well, if not more than Vietnamese. So this may be an option, but I feel it's basically ripping apart all the ties that bind a person to their identity.