I'm seeking some advice from anyone who has experience in opening and/or running a language school.

I am an American with a University Degree. I've been teaching for almost three years in Thailand. My most recent job was with AUA. I am business minded and feel that if I could get some accurate information, I could get a buisness plan together and make something work.

I would like to open a small (2 classroom) school at street level and run it with my fiance. My Thai fiance has a BA degree in English. I'm mostly concerned with overhead. Here are some questions:

1) I believe the MOE requires a corporate structure and a corporation will pay 30% tax on the net profits right? Seems a little steep to me.

2) Would I also have to pay personal income tax if I am on the board of directors(BOD)?

3) Would I have to pay VAT also? If so, what is the rate? According to one BOI website, I saw that educational services were exempt from paying VAT.

4) Would we need to hire four additional Thai staff in order for myself to get a WP? Could the other Thai members on the BOD suffice for this.

Any other advice on business structure, taxes, overhead, start-up capital, and pit-falls would be helpful.

Phantom200

they open a new section for stuff like this. please use it............lol.

sounds like u need to work in a school as operator not teecher to get knowledge.

i seem to know as mut as you which is nuttin.....lol

Edited October 5, 200718 yr by blizzard

I haven't done this myself but a friend opened a school a few years back. In the education sector, I think you need a Thai/Thais on board who hold at least a masters degree. Also you'll need Min. of Ed. approval for your syllabus, even as a language school.

Things might be different now, of course, but I'm pretty sure you'll find other threads on this topic here at TV.

I do not know first-hand, either, but I'd heard the same info or rumours that KhaoNiaw mentions in post #3. A Thai educator with a master's degree, special permit from the MoE, etc. No walk in the park, the paperwork often takes more than a year, and if you start horning in on an established, licensed competitor's clientele, they'll report you to the authorities.

'Stumbled upon this while checking up on some unrelated info on one of this group's clients... And a pretty impressive list of clients it is.

Maybe this is a good way for you and your fiance to get started with no overhead and other associated problems.

http://www.taci.net/

Any update on this? I know that OPEC (!!!) is responsible for the details, but they won't answer their phone.

Any update on this? I know that OPEC (!!!) is responsible for the details, but they won't answer their phone.

I would also like to get a copy of the regs if anyone has them.

As for the taxes, I've asked some friends and they told me that a school will not have to pay the corporate tax. This is quite a relief.

I know a Thai couple that opened a legitimate English language school for kids. They said that they paid someone 20K baht to expedite the whole MOE proceedure.

Any other advice would be appreciated in setting up a school.

Shouldn't this thread be moved to the SME Business forum ?