Starting A Bike Shop In Thailand? Will It Work?

[Datsun240Z]

Will this work? And make reasonable/good income? I have the skills and experience. Thai bikes a bit different but no problem for me, also the BIG ones. Should be something under a Co Ltd?

My garages here:

[12DrinkMore]

Will this work? And make reasonable/good income? I have the skills and experience. Thai bikes a bit different but no problem for me, also the BIG ones. Should be something under a Co Ltd?

Absolutely, there is a complete lack of any motorcycle repair shop open between the hours of 02:00am and 04:00am, along Petchkasem Road between Soi 8 and the 7/11. Although I believe that our good man Somchai can be aroused in case of emergency.

And I'm please to see that you already have the prerequisite of a decent sound system, so it should all work out great.

[Datsun240Z]

I guess your name 12DrinkMore says it all mate.

[12DrinkMore]

You have been plastering posts all around TV looking for a way of earning a living in Thailand. You are 22 years old, from Holland and even posted a photo of yourself. Although I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm I am an old bastard living here for over a decade and have a certain amount of experience to draw on.

Repairing Thai motorcycles? Forget it, as I indicated, there is a Somchai on every street doing that. They charge me 100 Baht to change the oil in my Honda Dream, INCLUDING the oil and labour. I was charged 200 Baht for half a days' work reducing the carb to its component bits, and rebuilding it. A new inner tube costs 90 Baht INCLUDING the tube and labour. And they are Thai, don't need a work permit and I would guess are happy to pay the rent and have enough to live on. You have NO CHANCE.

A possibility is to specialise in big bikes for the Farangs who ride them. But again you are competing against Thais who will do everything for peanuts. You wouldn't even earn enough to pay for your business/visa/work permit costs. Another possibility is to find a line of decent riding gear and import it. But you need to invest a load of money, get yourself known and then, just when you think it's starting to work, find Somchai doing it for a lot less.

Find a job in Holland or open a business there, earn a load of money and then come out here. That is the best advice you will get, but it is probably not what you want to hear. Sorry about that.

Good Luck anyway.

[TerryTibbs]

Sound advice for the OP, 12DrinkMore.

[H2oDunc]

In another of your " I want to work in Thailand " posts you were given some advice to check the list of jobs that you cannot do as a farang. It appears you did not do so Try following the advice given or not ask ?

As posted above there are bike repair shops everywhere. Try again

[blackout]

if you know enough about engine, bike and car parts, and the most important you know what you are doing, you might want to also look in to open an online shopping site sell both import and domestic car part. it doesn't need to be a big machine part.

a lot of thai already do something similar, open store importing parts and resell, but not must of the store online business. Somchai doesn't seem to interes in open an online shop as well.

it is also definitely better if you can read thai.

it is many car community in thailand. a lot of demand for car part, car toy, engine related stuff, but the supplying part of this market(online) is still not that much.

i am living aboard. i can see many of my thai friend ask me to find some car part for them. but i just have no idea where to find it or even have time to find it for them! i must say i am lazy even if i have time because car is not something on my interest.

i think there is still room for anyone. it can be possible but i can not say it will be easy. making money is not easy, but it better than do nothing.

never afraid to try, and never afraid to abandon your idea if it doesn't seem to work out.

[SteveInThailand]

Good luck to you, whatever you decide to do. I do like the idea of importing and selling car parts, hmmmm.....

It will be bloody hard work but stick to your guns and don't listen to all of the doom and gloom merchants. Work hard, be nice and try above all else to offer something different than all of the others. Get some good marketing ideas to start off your business like FREE innner tubes for the first week, you need to get people to come to you so they can see how good you are who will then put the word around on your behalf. The best advertising is always word of mouth. Make sure you get a Thai worker who you can trust (good luck with that) and keep him onside at all times! Try to advertise in Dutch bars and media to get your fellow countrymen to use you.

Serioulsy mate, good luck. I would like to think that the ex-pat's in BKK will use you , at least to get your started.

If you do go for it let us know how it all goes.

[H2oDunc]

I for 1 would love to have a farang mechanic to take my bikes to. Thai mechanics are cheap and they will work all day for a pittance and are great for the small things. That said the Thais are not going to let a farang open up and work as a mechanic. Plus as much as people wold like to go to a farang what you would need to chage compared to a Thai would mean most would still go to the Thai guy. Try to find a job you can legally do and then make yourself differant to the rest. Good luck

[katabeachbum]

Will this work? And make reasonable/good income? I have the skills and experience. Thai bikes a bit different but no problem for me, also the BIG ones. Should be something under a Co Ltd?

Absolutely, there is a complete lack of any motorcycle repair shop open between the hours of 02:00am and 04:00am, along Petchkasem Road between Soi 8 and the 7/11. Although I believe that our good man Somchai can be aroused in case of emergency.

And I'm please to see that you already have the prerequisite of a decent sound system, so it should all work out great.

Yes it would work for big bikes, not made in Thailand. Your work (according to work permit) would be to find parts around the world. You would employ thais as mecanics.

It is very hard to find good repairshops for big bikes, and most have no knowledge (or equipment) about fuel injection. It is also difficult and slow to find spare parts.

It is even harder to find bigbikes with genuine importdocs and genuine registration, so if you could manage that too, you could make money.

For Thai bikes I agree with 12 drink more. No chance to compete.

[goodheartman]

Find a job in Holland or open a business there, earn a load of money and then come out here. That is the best advice you will get, but it is probably not what you want to hear. Sorry about that.

Good Luck anyway.

this actually does work.

which supports my theory los is not the place for young uns trying to make it in life.

[Datsun240Z]

The small bikes as due 125,200 and 250cc, and mostly all carbed ,I can understand the Thais can do as wel.

Big bikes and Cars ( Foreigner brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Peugeot, whatever )I can do also. I will try to look the possibilty like some of you guys say, to focus on the foreigner scene. I once wanted to start an online shops in wheels. As in Thailand alot and very cheap, and can import to Europe. Although I stayed there to short to find the right stuff.

[cocopops]

Absolutely, there is a complete lack of any motorcycle repair shop open between the hours of 02:00am and 04:00am, along Petchkasem Road between Soi 8 and the 7/11. Although I believe that our good man Somchai can be aroused in case of emergency.

I've heard the same, although the 22 year old dutch guy might be more proficient. On the other hand maybe you meant "roused".

[spacefruit]

If you think all the old codgers here are being too harsh, try and get ANYONE to invest in your project!

If you do it yourself, I think you'll lose the lot.

As they say, good luck.

Harsh but true.

[goodheartman]

Absolutely, there is a complete lack of any motorcycle repair shop open between the hours of 02:00am and 04:00am, along Petchkasem Road between Soi 8 and the 7/11. Although I believe that our good man Somchai can be aroused in case of emergency.

I've heard the same, although the 22 year old dutch guy might be more proficient. On the other hand maybe you meant "roused".

arent most thai sleeping between 2am and 4am.

how would opening these 2 hours give op a competitive advantage? banks dont open 2am to 4am why should a mechanic

these hours only bad thai girls working

[antony77]

You have been plastering posts all around TV looking for a way of earning a living in Thailand. You are 22 years old, from Holland and even posted a photo of yourself. Although I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm I am an old bastard living here for over a decade and have a certain amount of experience to draw on.

Repairing Thai motorcycles? Forget it, as I indicated, there is a Somchai on every street doing that. They charge me 100 Baht to change the oil in my Honda Dream, INCLUDING the oil and labour. I was charged 200 Baht for half a days' work reducing the carb to its component bits, and rebuilding it. A new inner tube costs 90 Baht INCLUDING the tube and labour. And they are Thai, don't need a work permit and I would guess are happy to pay the rent and have enough to live on. You have NO CHANCE.

A possibility is to specialise in big bikes for the Farangs who ride them. But again you are competing against Thais who will do everything for peanuts. You wouldn't even earn enough to pay for your business/visa/work permit costs. Another possibility is to find a line of decent riding gear and import it. But you need to invest a load of money, get yourself known and then, just when you think it's starting to work, find Somchai doing it for a lot less.

Find a job in Holland or open a business there, earn a load of money and then come out here. That is the best advice you will get, but it is probably not what you want to hear. Sorry about that.

Good Luck anyway.

A very good reply. You should have added that he would never get a work permit. These kind of jobs are reserved for Thais. Those that are open to farangs need to employ 8 Thais in order to get a work permit

[Datsun240Z]

How hard is it to find 8 Thais willing to work for money? COMMON!!!

Spacefruit: agree with you on that, should find some business partner.

[12DrinkMore]

How hard is it to find 8 Thais willing to work for money? COMMON!!!

I think you mean..

..How hard is it to find 8 1 Thais willing to work sleep, chat, watch TV, telephone for money?

Easy,

But as soon as you insert that four letter word W%$K and increase the number to 8 then it all becomes much more difficult. :D

BTW it does not require 8 Thais for one work permit, but check the latest regulations and then the local Labour department also often sets seom "local rules" too. TIT.

[pdavids]

How hard is it to find 8 Thais willing to work for money? COMMON!!!

I think you mean..

..How hard is it to find 8 1 Thais willing to work sleep, chat, watch TV, telephone for money?

Easy,

But as soon as you insert that four letter word W%$K and increase the number to 8 then it all becomes much more difficult. :D

BTW it does not require 8 Thais for one work permit, but check the latest regulations and then the local Labour department also often sets seom "local rules" too. TIT.

I'm in the process of renewing my work permit and have a small business up north. I am getting the work permit on the basis of four Thais to one expat - whether that ratio is peculiar to the district (Nan) I am not sure. The lawyer manages that - for a fee of course.