Hello. I am strongly thinking of opening a guest house here in Hua Hin with restaurant and cafe/pub.

This will be my first project in Thailand and I am looking for advice on the whole "setting up a business in Thailand" issue.

I've read a few other forums and topics here on TV regarding the issue, but I want to do it right the first time.

I would be very grateful to anybody working in this sector who could give me some advice - especially regarding legal issues (and a reliable and trustworthy law firm). Do I (a farang of course) have to set up a business/company in order to sign the rental agreement for the building?

This is all new to me and I would highly appreciate any feedback.

I know I won't get rich doing this (and that is not a part of the plan either) but I do want to stay in Thailand and earn a living with the guest house (and a few other smaller projects that I am thinking of).

Thanks in advance.

James

First a couple of questions:

1. Do you have previous experience from running your own company?

2. Do you have enough capital to finance the purchase and to overcome perhaps a year or two to run at a loss?

3. Have you made any analysis of the market demands here in Hua Hin for this kind of business?

Then two replies to your initial questions:

1. You need to set up a company to run the business; and

2. You need to get a working permit to operate the business legally.

Good luck!

Naebkehardt 10 close to Soi 51. White and blue building. Seems like the Italian guy has given up his guesthouse. Good location, rented property. Worth to have a look. As stgrhe said, a 2 mill baht co ltd with workpermit is needed to do it legally. Or have a thai run it and just pull the strings

Only invest what you can afford to lose.

Build your own business up instead of buying a failed one.

Pay thai price not falang price if possible.

Good luck!

Only invest what you can afford to lose.

Build your own business up instead of buying a failed one.

Pay thai price not falang price if possible.

Good luck!

UMMM. 1st point . YES.

2nd point YES unless you can find out why it failed, example maybe a marriage breakup etc.

3rd point. Ok i'll bite, WHAT is Thai price, surely if the price is acceptable then you pay it.

example if a 1 year old Toyota Camry 2 litre is being sold for 500,000b do you then ask for Thai price?

To the Op James. I would suggest that you ask around some of the Foreign Bar/ Business owners about the Lawyer etc. You need to consider how you are going to advertise, who are your market audience. Example i remember a few years ago there was a Foreign Guest house owner who would wait at the train station and hand out flyers to the Foreign passengers. It was different but it didn't work for me.