Starting Company In Thailand

[MyThaiLove]

Ok, here is what I've been told. I can enter Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa, then i can finish setting up my company in Thailand. I'm using bangkokbase to do this. THey say that once I finish setting up the company that my company will invite ME to work in Thailand. With those papers i can go to any neighboring country and get my multiple-entry non-immigrant B visa which will in turn get me my work permit. Is this the case and if not then where did i go wrong?

Dave

[vinny]

See also 10 steps to One Year Work permit and visa

[Maestro]

Ok, here is what I've been told. I can enter Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa, then i can finish setting up my company in Thailand. I'm using bangkokbase to do this. THey say that once I finish setting up the company that my company will invite ME to work in Thailand. With those papers i can go to any neighboring country and get my multiple-entry non-immigrant B visa which will in turn get me my work permit. Is this the case and if not then where did i go wrong?

First a comment. A 30-day entry stamp means entry without a visa, available to the nationals of many countries, apparently including yours (which you did not name)

This leads me to a question, which an expert on this forum will have to answer. Can you enter on a Tourist visa (permission to stay 60 days, with possibility to extend by 30 days for THB 1,900), and later apply at the Immigration Bureau, within Thailand, to change your visa status from Tourist to Non-immigrant B? If this is possible, you could then, if you get everything set up during this initial 60 or 90-day period, apply for the change of visa status and your work permit without having to leave Thailand.

Or can you already now apply outside Thailand, for example in your home country, for a single-entry or multiple entry Non-immigrant B visa for the purpose of “setting up a company in Thailand”, then when everything is set up and you have your work permit, apply for your first annual extension? I seem to have read of such possibility on this forum in the past.

As I said, hopefully some experts will come forth and answer these questions.

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Maestro

[hewhonose]

Ok, here is what I've been told. I can enter Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa, then i can finish setting up my company in Thailand. I'm using bangkokbase to do this. THey say that once I finish setting up the company that my company will invite ME to work in Thailand. With those papers i can go to any neighboring country and get my multiple-entry non-immigrant B visa which will in turn get me my work permit. Is this the case and if not then where did i go wrong?

Dave

Dave. You have obviously done your homework.

You wil have no problems and good luck to you. So many sad people post their problems here for less than expert advice. You could do less than follow their example.

[SweDog]

Ok, here is what I've been told. I can enter Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa, then i can finish setting up my company in Thailand. I'm using bangkokbase to do this. THey say that once I finish setting up the company that my company will invite ME to work in Thailand. With those papers i can go to any neighboring country and get my multiple-entry non-immigrant B visa which will in turn get me my work permit. Is this the case and if not then where did i go wrong?

Dave

It easy to start a company in Thailand. If you set up a "limited partnership", it will cost you around 3-5 000 thb. Depending on who help you with the paperwork. Unfortunately, it is not that easy to get a work pemit attached to the company. That cost money......

A few reasons for setting up Thai Co., Ltd.

1. Establishing a company here as a serious moneymaking proposition – basically as a primary or secondary source of life income. The intent is to grow the company, earn substantial profit, and build a little business empire.

2. Establishing as minimal a “shell” company as possible, for any of the following reasons:

a. As a “front” for buying land.

b. As “front” for securing a non-immigrant Class B (employment) visa.

c. As a “front” for helping a Thai partner build an employment record, for purposes of assisting her in later getting a visa abroad.

3. Establishing a semi-serious company as a way of keeping a Thai partner occupied, and hopefully allowing her to take seed money, and earn enough income from it to fund a modestly comfortable lifestyle.

This example is mainly aimed at supporting people in Category 1, above. For that type of enterprise, here are the things that you will need as part of the "package", along with typical costs:

Company registration, including securing VAT registration, corporate tax registration, individual employee tax registration for all employees earning more than 12,000 baht per month.

Assuming you will want one farang work permit and non-immigrant visa, you will need to capitalize company at a minimum of 2,000,000 baht. You will pay a capitalization fee of 500 baht per 100,000 baht of capital, so you will pay a total of 10,000 baht in capitalization charges. Other application fees paid to Thai government run around 2,000 baht. Unless you want to personally run all your papers around, you will also need to pay a lawyer to attest to a power-of-attorney. This typically costs 1,000 baht. You will need a company seal – assume about 200 baht for that.

Other things you will need: An address – this can be significant, because this address will determine the jurisdiction for several Thai offices with which you will need to interact. If you later change address, you must submit address change documents to a number of places. In order to get the VAT registration, and later the work permit, this address must be in a commercially-registered building whose landlord will issue you a building owner’s registration of your office occupancy. Preparation of this document package typically costs 2,500-4,500 baht. People often want to know if they can use their home as an office address. Normally, the answer is “no”. Residential landlords will not normally be willing to issue you an office registration – it opens them up to additional tax scrutiny, and some other potential liabilities, and most residential landlords are evidently not typically fully reporting their actual rental income.

So – you basically need to figure out, in advance, where your fledgling business will have its office – because you will use this address from the very first application you must submit. Office space comes at many different price levels – depending on location. Typical requirement is to sign a one-year lease, pay a deposit of two months rent, plus pay the first month in advance. To put in a phone involves a phone installation charge, an advance deposit on calling charges (typically 10,000 baht), plus monthly base charges.

Let’s see – where are we so far? 10,000 baht capitalization fee, 2,000 baht application fees, 1,000 baht lawyer fee, 200 baht company stamp/seal, 3,500 baht building owner’s office registration, lets say 45,000 baht initial office payment (2 months deposit plus first month in advance, for a 15,000 baht per month office). 10,000 baht phone deposit, plus 2,000 baht installation charge. And we have not yet even mentioned the processing charges from a company like mine.

Also, you will need to pay-in at least 25% of your registered capital, within 90 days of registering your company. That’s 500,000 baht – and you must demonstrate that it came in from outside Thailand. That means first opening a business “current” account. This normally requires at 10,000 baht deposit to open the account, plus about 200 baht for an initial checkbook. You bank outside Thailand will typically charge about US $35 (approximately 1,500 baht) for an international wire transfer. The good news is that once you pay in the capital, you may then use it to pay office lease fees, etc. But – you cannot get the bank account to receive the funds until you have the company registered, and have a VAT certificate. Also – until you have a work permit, you cannot even exercise signature authority over your own company bank account.

What this leads up to is that to start a company in Thailand, you need a Thai person to act as Senior Thai Director – and this person will have to sign many of the documents early in the life of your company (up until the point in time when you receive a work permit).

Another requirement that kicks in almost immediately is the requirement for a licensed Thai accountant, or “auditor.” A start-up company will typically outsource this function – for 3,000 to 10,000 baht per month.

Not mentioned so far is the subject of shareholders. To submit your company registration application, you must list seven shareholders. No exceptions to this rule – EVER. Every company in Thailand has at least seven shareholders. At least four of the seven shareholders must be Thais. Foreigners as from 2001 can make up 6 out of 7 shareholders but Thais still hold 51% of the shares – except in three cases:

1. If you are an American, you have no restriction on the number of shareholders that are Americans – as long as the total shareholder count is seven, and Americans own at least 51% of the shares (and they can own all the way up to 100%). The downside is that to obtain coverage under the Treaty of Amity and Friendship, an American-owned company must register with the Department of Foreign Business – which entails and additional 42,000 baht registration fee.

2. If you apply for promotion of your business by the Board Of Investment (BOI), you can also have majority non-Thai shareholders – but again, you will then have to register (for 42,000 baht) with the Department of Foreign Business). BOI promotion is necessary of you wish to pursue a business restricted to Thais – such as animal farming (animal husbandry).

3. Foreign owned businesses setting up a representative office in Thailand (or a subsidiary here) fall into a special category. They must register with Department of Foreign Business, and go through a lot of additional steps – I will not address these here.

Typical “consultant” processing charges to handle the entire company registration process run from about 7,000 baht, up to about 18,000 baht.

Typical “consulting” costs for processing a work permit run from about 7,500 baht, up to about 16,000 baht, plus government fees that run about 3,000 baht (for a one-year permit). Again, a lawyer-attested power of attorney will be needed – add 1,000 baht.

Getting the work permit requires that you have 2,000,000 baht in registered capital (brought in from outside Thailand) for each farang work permit issued, and also four Thai employees on the payroll (that is – depicted on a company registration chart, and registered for social fund withholding) foreach farang work permit issued.

Typical “consulting” charges for processing a non-immigrant Class B visa for a work permit holder run about 5,000 baht to 15,000 baht.

The differences in fees charged generally relate to how well the processing company speaks English, and the degree to which “they come to you” (to pick up papers, obtain signatures, etc.), or make “you come to them.” The low-end fees generally involve Thai-run companies, with modest English language skills, and very little ability to provide collateral business advice.

The entire company registration, work permit, non-immigrant visa process typically takes four to eight weeks. The two biggest time delays usually involve obtaining the landlord’s building owners registration of your office, and the delay (typically 12-20 days) between submitting the work permit application, and actually receiving your blue work permit booklet.

The only time a farang needs to personally be present is to actually pick up your work permit – you must sign the booklet beneath your photo in person, and they then laminate over the signature and photo. One other note – on both the day you submit your work permit application, and on the day you pick the completed work permit up, you must be in Thailand on a non-immigrant status entry permit – meaning you must be here on a class B visa issued overseas, or a Class O visa, or some other non-immigrant visa.

For “front” companies, the main changes are that if you do not need a farang work permit, the company capitalization can be reduced to 1,000,000 baht, and you can probably get by with a “virtual” office – basically paying another company to allow you to use their office address. This type of service is typically available for between 4,000 and 15,000 baht per month, with no advance deposits.

You will still need seven shareholders (on paper), you will still need an auditor, company stamp/seal, business current account, VAT registration, etc. If you never obtain a work permit, you will never be able to sign official documents or contracts, including exercising signature authority over your company bank account. So - you will need a trusted Thai to serve as Senior Thai Director, with all signature authority.

So – a “front” company will cost about 25,000 baht to launch (fees of about 13,000 baht, landlord registration at 3,500 baht, plus maybe about 8,000 baht in processing fees) probably about 10,000 baht per month (virtual office rent, plus auditor), say about 150,000 baht for the first year. You will have to put opening deposit plus 250,000 baht wired-in capital into a bank account – but you can then use that money to pay the monthly office and auditor fees.

If the company is going to be completely run by a Thai (girlfriend or such), then it can be set up with the 1,000,000 baht capitalization / seven shareholders as above – or she can set up as a Thai sole proprietorship (think noodle vendor, or real estate agent, or independent accountant). Such a Thai sole proprietorship may be set up without any capitalization, and may be registered at a home address.

For a foreigner coming to Thailand to set up a real company, the realistic minimum you need to get up and running is probably about 650,000 baht. Start by making a “loan” to your not-yet-existing company of about 150,000 baht. Use that to get everything lined up to the point that you have a current account open. Then transfer in 500,000 baht capitalization. At that point, you may repay back to yourself the 150,000 baht initial loan.

There are lots of other costs to consider – here are a few:

Hiring at least one serious Thai employee as office manager – at a minimum of about 8,000 baht per month – probably more like 12,000 baht monthly.

- If you want to have a website, you will need to register a domain name, obtain hosting, and have someone develop a website.

- If you want business cards, you may want to have a company logo developed, and then have cards printed.

- If your office will have a computer, you will need to buy or lease an entire system – CPU, screen, printer, etc., plus software. If you will want internet access, you will need an ISP account – and probably a second phone line.

- If you want FAX capability, you will need to arrange for that.

- Keys, photocopies, parking fees, postage, office supplies, handphone costs. It all adds up.

REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE

In order to form a representative office, at least one of the following purposes is sought:

1. The business is to search for the source of goods or services in Thailand for the headquarters overseas. It is to check the quality and quantity of the product ordered by the headquarters overseas. It is to give advices to the headquarters about the goods to order. It is to supply the information of the headquarters' products to the customers in Thailand. It is to report the economic movement in Thailand to the headquarters.

Requirements:

To be a representative office, the company will have to bring Baht 5M into Thailand (1 M within the first 6 months of operation and another million within another six months. After that it has to bring in 1M a year till it has reached 5M). It cannot earn an income or act like a sales office in Thailand. A work permit can be attched to the repoffice.

[MyThaiLove]

ok, that was a lot to read but i got it all down. Now, the only issue i have with that is that I've been told by 3 compaines in Thailand that if you start a company you only need ONE Thai national and 6 other shareholders. So, i'm a bit confused when you say that you need FOUR Thai nationals out of the 7 shareholders needed. So, can you shed some light on that?

Also, has anyone used bangkokbase.com before? THey want 40,000 Baht to setup the company and they handle all the paperwork and fees are included in that price. Is there someone else that you can recommend that will do it cheaper the same way? Also, they say it takes about 2 weeks to do this.

Thanks so much for answering this questions,

D

[lopburi3]

I would highly advise talking with one of the sponsors, perhaps Sunbelt for information. Believe your cost will be much lower.

[Sunbelt Asia]

I would highly advise talking with one of the sponsors, perhaps Sunbelt for information. Believe your cost will be much lower.

Thanks Lopburi for mentioning us.

So, i'm a bit confused when you say that you need FOUR Thai nationals out of the 7 shareholders needed. So, can you shed some light on that?

Only one Thai national is needed as a shareholder. If land is involved then you would need 4 THai shareholders.

A couple comments on SweDog's post. Their was some good points but I like to clarify a few misunderstandings on his part.

Also – until you have a work permit, you cannot even exercise signature authority over your own company bank account.

We refer clients to our bank that will open a corporate savings account without a wp required.

What this leads up to is that to start a company in Thailand, you need a Thai person to act as Senior Thai Director – and this person will have to sign many of the documents early in the life of your company (up until the point in time when you receive a work permit).

A Thai Director is not required and not recommended by our firm. Form the company and immediately apply for the WP.

1. If you are an American, you have no restriction on the number of shareholders that are Americans – as long as the total shareholder count is seven, and Americans own at least 51% of the shares (and they can own all the way up to 100%). The downside is that to obtain coverage under the Treaty of Amity and Friendship, an American-owned company must register with the Department of Foreign Business – which entails and additional 42,000 baht registration fee.

The registration fee is in fact $80.00 to the USA Commercial services and 22,000 Baht to the Thai government (approximate 25,300 Baht in total)

If you apply for promotion of your business by the Board Of Investment (BOI), you can also have majority non-Thai shareholders – but again, you will then have to register (for 42,000 baht) with the Department of Foreign Business). BOI promotion is necessary of you wish to pursue a business restricted to Thais – such as animal farming (animal husbandry).

This is not correct in reference to needing to register with the Dept of Foreign Business and having to pay 42,000 Baht.

Getting the work permit requires that you have 2,000,000 baht in registered capital (brought in from outside Thailand) for each farang work permit issued, and also four Thai employees on the payroll (that is – depicted on a company registration chart, and registered for social fund withholding) foreach farang work permit issued.

Only 1 million Baht required if married to a Thai national and no Thais are required to be employed to obtain any WP. The 4 Thais are required per WP only on a long term visa based on business in certain sectors. If you want a long term visa based on business, if you are an agent or a consultant only one Thai employee is required to obtain a long term visa.

We have easily 500+ clients that do not have 4 Thai employees and are able to legally live and work here. Either because they have a multiple entry visa, go to school, married to a Thai or have made an investment of 3 million Baht in Thailand. None of those visas require any Thais employed.

www.lawyer.th.com