I'll be back in Thailand by the end of 2027. I will be fulfilling my lifelong dream of opening a 7/11 franchise. The real win though? No more stressing about getting old as a foreigner and getting denied health insurance. Once I’m in the system I’ll actually have proper social security coverage.

This is a great idea that will keep us busy while still having a comfortable life with our savings.

Opening a 7-Eleven franchise in Thailand, brilliant idea, because as we know with 16,000 existing 7-Elevens throughout the country, there is clearly a massive shortage, and another one is desperately needed. Not only that, Thai government healthcare is the absolute gold standard. Nothing ever goes wrong with medical treatment in Thai government hospitals, so you should be completely set for life.

Combine that with how much we know you love living in Thailand, what could possibly go wrong?

Honestly this sounds like one of those guaranteed success plans. Move halfway across the world, invest every last baht into setting up in the most saturated convenience store market on earth, depend on government systems for life support as a foreigner, and live the dream of managing toasties and drunk muppets at 2 AM. Retirement heaven!

If your post was not a total windup to begin with, I might actually respect the commitment to turning every possible variable in your life into an experiment in chaos. Nice one!

OP: Sweetie, I am thinking how to assure us a comfortable future. This English teaching position doesn't pay well at all.

Thai GF: Dahling, I tinking also. We mek 7.

OP: What do you mean?

TGF: 7-11 you know. Put money mek one 7. After good money evely day.

OP: I guess I could scrape together some cash. And get mom back home to help us. But, sweetie, I don't know anything about running a 7-11. Never run a business myself.

TGF: You don wolly. You limember my bluther?

OP: Yes, of course, the good-looking boy who comes to stay over whenever I have to be out of town to make sure you're safe in this tough area. I like him.

TGF: Yes, him good man. Him know evelyting 7. Dahling, you put money mek 7. After him me take care. You can not working no more. Can only sleep and dlinking beer and check money evely day. Ok, na?

Edited May 14May 14 by Autocan

You’re talking like buying a toasted ham & cheese at 7/11 comes with Thai citizenship, free healthcare and a seat on the board of CP All 😂

By the time you’ve paid franchise fees, staff wages, electricity, “tea money” and replaced the fifth microwave some drunk tourist exploded, your “comfortable life” will be surviving on expired cheese toasties and Leo promos.

Deary me so much negativity from people who love living in Thailand

5 minutes ago, Nemises said:

replaced the fifth microwave some drunk tourist exploded

That's not gonna happen in the future. Anutin is getting rid of riff raff!

9 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Deary me so much negativity from people who love living in Thailand

Business ideas that are less about spotting an opportunity based on an untapped need in the market and more about escaping whatever hopeless situation someone is already in are rarely a good start. The plan gets built backwards from the arse end towards the goal and then slowly turns into a self fulfilling prophecy rather than a solid business case. As I said in my previous post, the idea is so ridiculous that the OP has to be a windup.

37 minutes ago, Alpha84 said:

Business ideas that are less about spotting an opportunity based on an untapped need in the market and more about escaping whatever hopeless situation someone is already in are rarely a good start. The plan gets built backwards from the arse end towards the goal and then slowly turns into a self fulfilling prophecy rather than a solid business case. As I said in my previous post, the idea is so ridiculous that the OP has to be a windup.

I am absolutely serious. It's a lifelong dream.

Edited May 14May 14 by Celsius

7 hours ago, Celsius said:

I'll be back in Thailand by the end of 2027. I will be fulfilling my lifelong dream of opening a 7/11 franchise.

Nice one, would you be the director of the company ?

3 hours ago, Nemises said:

and replaced the fifth microwave some drunk tourist exploded,

Do customers have access to the microwaves ?

Personally, been here 20+ years and in all that time, travelled all over Thailand AND NOT ONCE have I seen a 7-11 franchise closed! - never seen one start and not make it. Ive seen them 100yds a part and still make it.

Best of luck with it, I for one would be VERY surprised if it didnt work, make a fortune, probably not, but I doubt very much it will fail.

I see them 100m to 200m apart and both busy. Ban Krut is small but there are 2 only 100m apart. The old one is better I find.

9 hours ago, Celsius said:

I'll be back in Thailand by the end of 2027. I will be fulfilling my lifelong dream of opening a 7/11 franchise. The real win though? No more stressing about getting old as a foreigner and getting denied health insurance. Once I’m in the system I’ll actually have proper social security coverage.

This is a great idea that will keep us busy while still having a comfortable life with our savings.

I thought you hated Thailand

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

I thought you hated Thailand

No

6 hours ago, Celsius said:

I am absolutely serious. It's a lifelong dream.

Well, in that case it is 7-Eleven or nothing. The best bit for most franchise hopefuls is that, if you actually land a decent location and manage to turn a bit of profit, you can always enjoy the tradition of landlord optimism. Five years in, lease renewal time comes round, and suddenly the rent has discovered fresh ambition and wants to triple or quadruple itself. Problem solved, business gone.

At that point you either permanently close up shop or you generously donate all your previous gains to relocating and fitting out a new store somewhere else, all for the privilege of starting the whole adventure once again.

I would say that, unless you have solid experience in business in Thailand and in retail, and you can afford to lose everything you invest if things go pear shaped, you are probably better off finding another dream.

Edited May 15May 15 by Alpha84

3 hours ago, Celsius said:

No

Just pattaya then. What city will it be?

14 hours ago, Celsius said:

Beautiful news - The real win though?

I'm on a winner, She's beautiful

I Send her out for a couple of hours each night, rake in the cash.

Tax Free.

Good luck with your 7-Eleven venture 👍

Edited May 15May 15 by SAFETY FIRST

I have a better idea, open a chain of topless coffee shops

Edited May 15May 15 by scubascuba3

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

I have a better idea, open a chain of topless coffee shops

Good idea but illegal in Thailand

16 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I'm on a winner, She's beautiful

Send her out for a couple of hours each night, rake in the cash.

Tax Free.

Good luck with your 7-Elev

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Good idea but illegal in Thailand

I think it would be possible, have you seen all the gentleman clubs in Pattaya, Soi 6, agogos

54 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I think it would be possible, have you seen all the gentleman clubs in Pattaya, Soi 6, agogos

Different rules for clubs.

5 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Different rules for clubs.

No

OP: Pattaya it will be then, the location of your franchise store.

Expats here can hardly wait, to welcome our biggest fan of Pattaya.

(Sarcasm allert)

I can't tell you how many blokes I've met in Thailand who share the exact lifelong goal of 7-11 stewardship, so you'll be relieved to know you're not alone. Right, who doesn't desire the joy of owning a business that's open all day and all night, every single day of the year, where the staff mysteriously vanish exactly when you need them most, and every broken air conditioner and refrigerator becomes a life or death emergency in tropical heat. Plus you get the added thrill of being woke up at 3 a.m. because some absolute knob nicked six cans of Chang and a big bag of crisps. Proper dream job that, mate. Truly the dream.

21 hours ago, Celsius said:

Deary me so much negativity from people who love living in Thailand

Well, I wonder why my Thai wife of 23 years prefers to live in OZ. She only makes up to 65 AUD per hour (1495 Baht )

48 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Well, I wonder why my Thai wife of 23 years prefers to live in OZ. She only makes up to 65 AUD per hour (1495 Baht )

Does your wife make 65 an hour ?

2 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Does your wife make 65 an hour ?

3 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Does your wife make 65 an hour ?

3 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Does your wife make 65 an hour ?

3 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Does your wife make 65 an hour ?

I said up to 65, depending on hours and shifts; she is a nurse.

55 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Well, I wonder why my Thai wife of 23 years prefers to live in OZ. She only makes up to 65 AUD per hour (1495 Baht )

And you don't even work

9 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

No

Yes. Can't be near schools. Patrons must be 20yo+. A cafe has no such rules.