You can legally buy and own 1 rai of land I think it is . But it has to cost 50 million bht or above as far as I remember. 

As for business Idea you would need a hotel licence to rent out rooms for short rental and any guide work etc would be employing Thai staff.

Buy property somewhere and rent it out weekly on air b&b or similar. Less chance of losing your money and usually far less hassle.

Marry the first bar girl you meet, buy land in her name, build the business then kiss your arse goodbye

On 6/29/2025 at 8:30 PM, rikiderorck said:

If it was simple and risk-free everyone would be doing it.

 

 

On 6/30/2025 at 4:52 PM, rikiderorck said:

I do wish you could share some context or examples

sometimes it seems like everyone is already doing it - - great dream but you seem severely under capitalized if you want something nice. And then, who will be your 51% partner. Have you checked the price of land in the area that you think your customers might want to stay? The areas where the tourists want to be are surely very expensive already - if you want to be off the beaten path, advertising will be expensive and I don't think people go to Phuket to be out of the main action... 

 

As a foreigner, you cannot run tours, renting out equipment that will get damaged and then fighting w/your customers does not sound like fun to me - and with people doing activities, I would guess that you will need a fair amount of insurance... it's sad but tragedies happen there often partly because people drink too much and become belligerent and violent - is that also part of your dream, fistfights, knife fights w/out of control customers? 

 

There is not much you can create on your budget,,, it is like opening a restaurant and only having 2 tables - you might be full all night and not make any money... 

 

If you have never run a business like this - you will need a professional to run it for you - I don't guess it will be as idyllic as it sounds... good luck to you. 

Known several investors with similar plans and ambitions.

 

The most successful one was able to leave Thailand after a few years with a million dollars.

 

He came with 5 million.

On 6/29/2025 at 2:44 PM, rikiderorck said:

At first I assumed I could simply buy land and go from there, but after digging into it more, it figured out that foreigners cannot legally own land in Thailand outright. What I understand so far is that a foreigner can own up to 49 percent of a Thai company, and that company can own land, while the remaining 51 percent must be Thai-owned. If anyone here knows the facts for sure or has gone through  this process, please confirm or correct that for me. I don’t want to rely on half-truths or secondhand assumptions.

First thing always to remember is the old saying that runs something like: "To make a small fortune in Thailand, you need to begin with a big fortune".

 

There are of course several successful businesses with foreign ownership, but there are also many small businesses that gives up – and some investors that lose (all) their savings.

To establish a company at present you'll need 2 shareholders and minimum 51% owned by Thais. You cannot use nominees, the Thai shareholders might be asked to prove that they have their own funds for the investment. According to lawyers you can control the company by using preferred shares, where the foreign shareholder(s) owns a number of preferred shares with 10 votes per share, while the Thai shareholders owns normal shares with one vote per share. Another method can be that a Thai shareholder has preferred shares with no voting rights, but instead a guranteed dividend payout of for example 4% of the nominal amount of the shares. Both methods might let you gain voting control over the company.

 

In short, you need to find one or more Thai business partners that can legally afford to invest in your company.

 

When a company buys land, some land offices will only accept 39% foreign ownership. If you have 49% foreignownership, this can often be arrenged by temporary transferring 10% of the shares to Thais, and then revert the shares after land title deed is registed.

 

Another possibility is to lease land on 30-years agreement. There is no such ting as 30+30 or more years, or 3+3+3 years' rental agreements. When renting land for more than 3 years it need to be registered on the title deed in the land office and a tax of 1% of the total agreed lease sum for the whole period shall be paid.

 

For one working permit for a foreigner you'll need a company capital of not less than 2 million baht and 4 Thai employees.

 

You cannot expect to be a tour guide, this work is reserved for Thais. In general a foreigner can only perform management jobs and jobs requiring special skills.

 

Russians and other foreigners might run a business on the edge of the law or in a gray-zone – it might cost them some fees for cookies in some tea money boxes – now and then you can read in the news about these illegal business getting closed by authorities.

 

On 6/29/2025 at 2:44 PM, rikiderorck said:

Getting my money out of Europe and investing in Thailand is the goal, but only if it’s legally and structurally done. I’m not going all in if there are still major gray areas.

 

So what advice would you give me based on your own experiences and knowledge in the matter ? 

The benefit of moving one's savings – or part of it – to Thailand is that you are free from currency exchange rate fluctations. However, it's difficult to gain a reasonable profit or interest. The Thai equity market lives a kind of it's own life, only partly affected by the the World market. It might be a good time to invest, as the stock prices has gone down during the past few years and are low know – but bear in mind, they can fall to an even lower value, if foreign stock investers continue to money of out.

 

However, a number of large well-run Thai companies can in average give you a paid dividend around 4% per year after withheld dividend tax. 4% is the average hand rule of what you gain when not into (very) high risk investments.

 

Establishing a business in Thailand I will consider as high risk. You really need to do your home work of demand for a kind of business, rather than outliving a dream of what you wish to do, or what would be nice to do. 4% dividend from a good 6-figure savings – which depends of which currency the six-figures are in – might be more safe than opening a business. You might also find more fun to enjoy your life when not running a company in a foreign country with different rules than you might be used to.

 

For your info: I have – i.e., 49% ownership – a Thai company limited that owns a n umber of land plots, which are rented out; furthermore the company has some othe activities. I'm only a shareholder and board member – director – while dauly managment is a Thai. Furthermore I have private investmen ts in SET-equity – SET is short for Stock Exchange of Thailand – that gives me the around 4% dividend, which adds some extra to my retirement pension and savings from abroand. So, I fully enjoy my life in "Paradise"...😎

9 minutes ago, khunPer said:

First thing always to remember is the old saying that runs something like: "To make a small fortune in Thailand, you need to begin with a big fortune".

 

There are of course several successful businesses with foreign ownership, but there are also many small businesses that gives up – and some investors that lose (all) their savings.

To establish a company at present you'll need 2 shareholders and minimum 51% owned by Thais. You cannot use nominees, the Thai shareholders might be asked to prove that they have their own funds for the investment. According to lawyers you can control the company by using preferred shares, where the foreign shareholder(s) owns a number of preferred shares with 10 votes per share, while the Thai shareholders owns normal shares with one vote per share. Another method can be that a Thai shareholder has preferred shares with no voting rights, but instead a guranteed dividend payout of for example 4% of the nominal amount of the shares. Both methods might let you gain voting control over the company.

 

In short, you need to find one or more Thai business partners that can legally afford to invest in your company.

 

When a company buys land, some land offices will only accept 39% foreign ownership. If you have 49% foreignownership, this can often be arrenged by temporary transferring 10% of the shares to Thais, and then revert the shares after land title deed is registed.

 

Another possibility is to lease land on 30-years agreement. There is no such ting as 30+30 or more years, or 3+3+3 years' rental agreements. When renting land for more than 3 years it need to be registered on the title deed in the land office and a tax of 1% of the total agreed lease sum for the whole period shall be paid.

 

For one working permit for a foreigner you'll need a company capital of not less than 2 million baht and 4 Thai employees.

 

You cannot expect to be a tour guide, this work is reserved for Thais. In general a foreigner can only perform management jobs and jobs requiring special skills.

 

Russians and other foreigners might run a business on the edge of the law or in a gray-zone – it might cost them some fees for cookies in some tea money boxes – now and then you can read in the news about these illegal business getting closed by authorities.

 

The benefit of moving one's savings – or part of it – to Thailand is that you are free from currency exchange rate fluctations. However, it's difficult to gain a reasonable profit or interest. The Thai equity market lives a kind of it's own life, only partly affected by the the World market. It might be a good time to invest, as the stock prices has gone down during the past few years and are low know – but bear in mind, they can fall to an even lower value, if foreign stock investers continue to money of out.

 

However, a number of large well-run Thai companies can in average give you a paid dividend around 4% per year after withheld dividend tax. 4% is the average hand rule of what you gain when not into (very) high risk investments.

 

Establishing a business in Thailand I will consider as high risk. You really need to do your home work of demand for a kind of business, rather than outliving a dream of what you wish to do, or what would be nice to do. 4% dividend from a good 6-figure savings – which depends of which currency the six-figures are in – might be more safe than opening a business. You might also find more fun to enjoy your life when not running a company in a foreign country with different rules than you might be used to.

 

For your info: I have – i.e., 49% ownership – a Thai company limited that owns a n umber of land plots, which are rented out; furthermore the company has some othe activities. I'm only a shareholder and board member – director – while dauly managment is a Thai. Furthermore I have private investmen ts in SET-equity – SET is short for Stock Exchange of Thailand – that gives me the around 4% dividend, which adds some extra to my retirement pension and savings from abroand. So, I fully enjoy my life in "Paradise"...😎

You got to invest 3 baht to finely make one 😉 

 

Main investment is usually 1 baht, and for the next years you use two baht to make it running, for maybe one day make one baht. Most fail, very few have a concept making money from day one in Thailand, and those who do make money, they got their hands on the task, and understand what it takes to succeed. Both work wise and also the business aspect managing staff and target. 

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I got badly shafted in the 1990s after I went into a partnership with substantial Thai partners to build a hotel and college in Kao Yai. The 97/98 crash occurred, our supporting Thai bank collapsed, and the project died.  My Thai partners ran away leaving me with unpaid debts and an unpaid workforce. I am lucky to have  been well enough off to survive the huge losses incurred, but I would advise people to be very, very careful before investing even a small amount in Thailand.

Seriously, please do not bring that money into Thailand and look to start that sort of business.  Put your money into some fixed income safe investments and live off the investment.

 

 

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On 6/29/2025 at 9:51 PM, rikiderorck said:

I’m heading there for business

In which you will be a Minority shareholder. If that your goal - great. But I doubt with the complexities and risks associated with a minority shareholder in Thailand isn't what you want, at least related to the tourist business.

You might think of a broader form of investment in Thailand that would be tied to a trade treaty or Foreign Direct Investment in primary Thai projects driven by the digital and automotive sectors and Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor.

• "Foreign investment in Thailand surges 34% as EEC draws over 47 billion baht," June 29, 2025 https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/business/economy/40051901 

On 6/29/2025 at 8:17 PM, novacova said:

Yes, you can buy property through the method you describe.

Don't still need   -- Work Permit?

 

If you are European, start your tourism business in Europe where all the tourists are and they have all kinds of money to spend and there are a lot of cool things to see and do.  I don't know where you live now, but I think just two examples are Paris and Venice but there are plenty of others.  People go there because they don't know where else to go or what to do.  So you have an overwhelming number of people there and in many other cities.  Take them someplace else and someplace fun.

Don't throw your money away in Phuket where the tourism business is sketchy, often low budget, and pretty much you will be locked out of 80% of the market if not more.  If you are not Russian or speak Russian, do you think you can lock up Russian market?  Same with Chinese market, or Japanese market...or local budget market.

Why would you want to get your money out of Europe and into a shaky 3rd world economy like Thailand?  That sounds like a good way to loose everything you have worked hard to obtain.
No matter what anyone tells you or what kind of workaround they think they have discovered, you cannot own land as a foreigner in Thailand.  Even if you could, there would be no ROI for you.  Look at the prices of land vs what you could charge per night for similar accommodations that you envision.

Don't buy into anything you can't control.  Your 49/51 is correct, but that means your partner is in control.  They are cracking down, especially in Phuket where the 51 is controlled by a lawyer or nominee just for that purpose.

If you spent a year in Thailand did you do your market research?  Did you do market surveys on rent?  

Plenty of people do this for a while like Russians, but at some point the Boys in Brown crack down.

Someone will get jealous and turn you in.  Maybe your partner.  Maybe your staff.  Maybe the staff you fire.  Maybe your competition.

What's your 3rd silent partner budget?  The BiB budget? 
Read the news here regularly.  Plenty of people get busted.  Just a matter of time.

 

Can you hear in Europe that giant sucking sound from the weed business in Phuket?  That inhale is the sound of foreigners and locals too losing their shirts, shorts and slippers on the weed business.
 

If you want to move to Thailand, do it.  Just don't dream of running a buiness or buying land.  Work remote with European income.  Or spend you savings on rent and food.  Don't risk it all on a risky illegal business.

 

20 hours ago, khunPer said:

First thing always to remember is the old saying that runs something like: "To make a small fortune in Thailand, you need to begin with a big fortune".

 

There are of course several successful businesses with foreign ownership, but there are also many small businesses that gives up – and some investors that lose (all) their savings.

To establish a company at present you'll need 2 shareholders and minimum 51% owned by Thais. You cannot use nominees, the Thai shareholders might be asked to prove that they have their own funds for the investment. According to lawyers you can control the company by using preferred shares, where the foreign shareholder(s) owns a number of preferred shares with 10 votes per share, while the Thai shareholders owns normal shares with one vote per share. Another method can be that a Thai shareholder has preferred shares with no voting rights, but instead a guranteed dividend payout of for example 4% of the nominal amount of the shares. Both methods might let you gain voting control over the company.

 

In short, you need to find one or more Thai business partners that can legally afford to invest in your company.

 

When a company buys land, some land offices will only accept 39% foreign ownership. If you have 49% foreignownership, this can often be arrenged by temporary transferring 10% of the shares to Thais, and then revert the shares after land title deed is registed.

 

Another possibility is to lease land on 30-years agreement. There is no such ting as 30+30 or more years, or 3+3+3 years' rental agreements. When renting land for more than 3 years it need to be registered on the title deed in the land office and a tax of 1% of the total agreed lease sum for the whole period shall be paid.

 

For one working permit for a foreigner you'll need a company capital of not less than 2 million baht and 4 Thai employees.

 

You cannot expect to be a tour guide, this work is reserved for Thais. In general a foreigner can only perform management jobs and jobs requiring special skills.

 

Russians and other foreigners might run a business on the edge of the law or in a gray-zone – it might cost them some fees for cookies in some tea money boxes – now and then you can read in the news about these illegal business getting closed by authorities.

 

The benefit of moving one's savings – or part of it – to Thailand is that you are free from currency exchange rate fluctations. However, it's difficult to gain a reasonable profit or interest. The Thai equity market lives a kind of it's own life, only partly affected by the the World market. It might be a good time to invest, as the stock prices has gone down during the past few years and are low know – but bear in mind, they can fall to an even lower value, if foreign stock investers continue to money of out.

 

However, a number of large well-run Thai companies can in average give you a paid dividend around 4% per year after withheld dividend tax. 4% is the average hand rule of what you gain when not into (very) high risk investments.

 

Establishing a business in Thailand I will consider as high risk. You really need to do your home work of demand for a kind of business, rather than outliving a dream of what you wish to do, or what would be nice to do. 4% dividend from a good 6-figure savings – which depends of which currency the six-figures are in – might be more safe than opening a business. You might also find more fun to enjoy your life when not running a company in a foreign country with different rules than you might be used to.

 

For your info: I have – i.e., 49% ownership – a Thai company limited that owns a n umber of land plots, which are rented out; furthermore the company has some othe activities. I'm only a shareholder and board member – director – while dauly managment is a Thai. Furthermore I have private investmen ts in SET-equity – SET is short for Stock Exchange of Thailand – that gives me the around 4% dividend, which adds some extra to my retirement pension and savings from abroand. So, I fully enjoy my life in "Paradise"...😎

Most of what you said was accurate and good advice. Your recommendation of transferring a % of shares and then taking them back after registering or controlling a company via preferred shares i don't believe is actually legal as that is no different than using proxies to stand in for you. A good lawyer will be tge best advice for the OP as he needs proper education on what is and isnt legal.

3 hours ago, Dan O said:

Most of what you said was accurate and good advice. Your recommendation of transferring a % of shares and then taking them back after registering or controlling a company via preferred shares i don't believe is actually legal as that is no different than using proxies to stand in for you. A good lawyer will be tge best advice for the OP as he needs proper education on what is and isnt legal.

What I refers to is however the lawyer-method, I never had to use it myself, but my lawyer advised me about it – and yes, after the law was tightened concerning nominee shareholders – and yes, you need an experienced lawyer with knowledge in both company set-up and property registration to handle it...

29 minutes ago, khunPer said:

What I refers to is however the lawyer-method, I never had to use it myself, but my lawyer advised me about it – and yes, after the law was tightened concerning nominee shareholders – and yes, you need an experienced lawyer with knowledge in both company set-up and property registration to handle it...

 Not a good lawyer if that was his advice as its always been illegal just not pursued as it now. 

3 minutes ago, Dan O said:

 Not a good lawyer if that was his advice as its always been illegal just not pursued as it now. 

Actually more than one lawyer suggesting it – are you a Thai lawyer?...