Newbie Please Be Gentle Lol

[croweater]

My advice to you here on thaivisa is no not any advice from here on thai visa. Just read the posts,selfexplanatery.

[transam]

EH.

[Rik325i]

Ok, the general concensus is that its too risky to do this illegelly, i dont want to risk deportation and not being able to see her again, so my ladyfriend will have to start a business and employ me as a supervisor unless i can get a WP through with special skills in which case i can go hands on, am i correct ?

does any one have a rough idea what this would cost as im going to have to save this money in scotland before i can start, she has many cousins etc living nearby who will be glad to help us with the employee side of things

[AmusingBellyDancers]

Ok, the general concensus is that its too risky to do this illegelly, i dont want to risk deportation and not being able to see her again, so my ladyfriend will have to start a business and employ me as a supervisor unless i can get a WP through with special skills in which case i can go hands on, am i correct ?

does any one have a rough idea what this would cost as im going to have to save this money in scotland before i can start, she has many cousins etc living nearby who will be glad to help us with the employee side of things

Why not set up an export business instead? That way, you know your target market and you're not just "stabbing around in the dark".

[Soutpeel]

Ok, the general concensus is that its too risky to do this illegelly, i dont want to risk deportation and not being able to see her again, so my ladyfriend will have to start a business and employ me as a supervisor unless i can get a WP through with special skills in which case i can go hands on, am i correct ?

does any one have a rough idea what this would cost as im going to have to save this money in scotland before i can start, she has many cousins etc living nearby who will be glad to help us with the employee side of things

Guessing you need a THB 2.0 million ltd capitalised company & 4 employees to be considered for a WP, need to be paying social security etc for the employees

[endure]

I love all the talk about failure. With advice like that given here, Google, Apple and a host of other companies would never have gotten off the ground. Some people can’t see past their next beer or English class. Two of my uncles (now sadly deceased) were highly successful in businesses that they started and ran – one as a no English speaking, barely a pot to piss fresh off the boat immigrant to the US. I assure you, they would shudder at such nonsense talk. The western world is getting its ass kicked because we are too afraid to take risks anymore. One thing I like about the Scottish people I’ve known, they seem more willing than most to open a business.

I didn't realise that the US had a work permit system or restricted occupations?

[TwoDogz]

my idea is to start building some small pieces of modern style western furniture out of real wood during my holidays there and giving it to my ladyfriend to sell, the first pieces will be a gift to her which she can attempt to sell and see if there is a viable market in her area so no issues about visa, licences etc at first, after perusing the visa laws, forbidden jobs and causing ourselves no end of headaches i decided to ask here after reading about people suggesting ways around certain aspects of the strict laws governing foreigners living and working in thailand.

My thai ladyfriend and i like each other quite a lot and i am trying to find a way utilising the skills i have learned in my life to be able to live with her in thailand should the relationship develop that far

Yes i do trust her, if i manage to start this business, she couldnt do it without me anyway (in the beginning) she is a very good cook and thai language teacher and also an accountant but she cant tell the back from the front of a router or circular saw.

Just do it.

Don't listen all the hoo hah on here from the anal brigade.

I know plenty of people that do things work wise and have so for years.

Unless you piss someone off, you will have no issues and keep it quiet, anyone asks each and everytime you are building it for yourself, for your home etc.

Do it the way you want to start, slow and easy and quiet and you will be fine and it is a good way to quietly enter the field and also suss out the girl over an extended period of time.

Ignore the doom and gloom.

[Rik325i]

Hmmm, i did consider an import export business but talk about stabbing in the dark, im a handworker and have been all my life, ive never had anyone around me to teach me the basics of any kind of business except handwork and whilst speaking fluent german and english and having good friends in both countries i havnt the faintest idea of what to import or export or how to go about it although any advice on what from where to import and export would be greatly appreciated i cant see anyone offering me this advice straight up lol

hence the reason for building furniture, its what im good at along with building house interiors and modifying cars, working with fibreglass etc etc

[Furbie]

I love all the talk about failure. With advice like that given here, Google, Apple and a host of other companies would never have gotten off the ground. Some people can’t see past their next beer or English class. Two of my uncles (now sadly deceased) were highly successful in businesses that they started and ran – one as a no English speaking, barely a pot to piss fresh off the boat immigrant to the US. I assure you, they would shudder at such nonsense talk. The western world is getting its ass kicked because we are too afraid to take risks anymore. One thing I like about the Scottish people I’ve known, they seem more willing than most to open a business.

I didn't realise that the US had a work permit system or restricted occupations?

You need a green card or a specialty visa to work in the US as a foreigner. These are employer sponsored – similar to Thailand. While we don’t “restrict” occupations per se, it needs to be demonstrated why an American cannot fill the job. The idea that someone can arrive in the US and start working, legally, is a myth. Just ask all the illegals sent back to their country of origin each year – including some Europeans. As well, if you want a green card through a business that you own, I believe the minimum investment is US $1 million. However, unlike Thailand, there are few restrictions on foreign-owned businesses and no real restrictions on land and home ownership. This is where the US is better than Thailand. Though, as an American, I can own my own business 100% in Thailand (with some restrictions).

[KNJ]

Just come make a few peices, but dont let the locals see.

See if there is a market.

In phuket there are numerous Farangs operating businesses, and whilst Thai labour is cheap, so is much of what they produce. Quality is not best. always

There are farang builders, and I am thinking of high end developments which would be more than happy to have custom kitchens and furniture made.

Might be an avenue worth persuing, dont try and compete in teh local market set yourself up as a top end fitter/joiner.

Just be careful with the basic wood supply as not all of it is cured properly.

if you want to see what teh better Thais can manufacture take a walk around Chatuchak one weekend, there is some nice work there

[Rik325i]

some good info here, thanks muchly, ill keep looking into this, anybody have any company names or contact details of some of the farang builders, maybe i could get a work permit through them ??

[KNJ]

Get yourself here first and then go visit the place, you would also need to demo your work, they are unlikely to take you on your word.

Come make some nice sample peices and then do the rounds, nothing ventured nothing gained.

As a side note I had a friend arrived a few years back, no qualifications so set himself up as a male escort, never had a WP but I often wondered if he applied would the local government viewed it as a proffesion Thais could do?

[Rik325i]

Thanks KNJ

That sounds pretty much what i was planning to do and financially its realistically the only way im going to be able to do this, its a shame everything is so difficult, my thai ladyfriend and i like each other very much but shes really worried that i wont be able to live with her financially and while she has already mentioned eventually getting married and staying with me in scotland for x months of the year i really dont think shed be happy here with our weather,temperatures and food, not to mention having to leave her family, friends and business behind for months on end and i genuinely love the quiet area she lives in and got on well with the locals i met when i visited and the family didnt want me to leave

[Pseudolus]

or some looser farang in the local bar, next village, working on a rig in the gulf but upset that his girlfriend thinks you have a good heart, or that you are happy and he isn't, will report you...

all the looser farangs working rigs in the gulf are long gone, assume your are talking about the Thai gulf as opposed to the gulf of mexico ?....plenty of loosers working there..

Plenty of Farangs working in the Gulf of Thailand getting 1k + USD per day - the Thais get 120k - 250k baht a month for simialr jobs. Who are the losers? Or did you really mean Looser, as in, after a few years of eating poison street food their <deleted> are much looser than a normal guys?

[Soutpeel]

or some looser farang in the local bar, next village, working on a rig in the gulf but upset that his girlfriend thinks you have a good heart, or that you are happy and he isn't, will report you...

all the looser farangs working rigs in the gulf are long gone, assume your are talking about the Thai gulf as opposed to the gulf of mexico ?....plenty of loosers working there..

Plenty of Farangs working in the Gulf of Thailand getting 1k + USD per day - the Thais get 120k - 250k baht a month for simialr jobs. Who are the losers? Or did you really mean Looser, as in, after a few years of eating poison street food their <deleted> are much looser than a normal guys?

fully aware of what is being paid in the GOT... ....it was meant to be "losers".. .....what I was referring to was a period about 8 years ago, when every rag arsed loser farang in Thailand was trying to blag his way offshore in the GOT, some made it offshore but didnt last very long, some actually thought they deserved the job just because they were an expat, but didnt have a clue about the job..

Actually in the GOT, if there are 200 western farangs offshore you would be lucky...even if completely wrong will not be more than 300, obviously not counting Malaysain, Indonesian etc who would be classed as "expats" as well

In reply to the post was saying all these losers offshore were long gone..

Edited August 2, 2012 by Soutpeel

[CiaranO]

Life's to short - give it a go working under the radar on a 3 month tourist visa and see how it goes.

here here.....i agree with you.....build a few things, leave them "lying around" and let your GF sell them.....sounds like a great idea....dont listen too all the "you need a work permit" crap/.....live a little.....

[h90]

I imagine you can do it if you register a business, but the problem is findng your market, advertising it, business premises etc.

As posted above you can't legally do the work yourself and without capital you're going to struggle.

You'll need to employ 4 Thais at somewhere near 9000B a month each depending on location and pay minimum tax. So you'll looking at about 45,000 baht a month to cover that. Then there is the matter of do you trust this lady or any other Thai enough to go into business with them ?

Then of course you've then got to be able to beat the mass manufacture stuff from Index etc and now IKEA plus all the thousands of Thais already doing this.

It's possible, but it's not going to be easy.

Well the 4 Thais can be her family, so no need to pay them....

[Soutpeel]

I imagine you can do it if you register a business, but the problem is findng your market, advertising it, business premises etc.

As posted above you can't legally do the work yourself and without capital you're going to struggle.

You'll need to employ 4 Thais at somewhere near 9000B a month each depending on location and pay minimum tax. So you'll looking at about 45,000 baht a month to cover that. Then there is the matter of do you trust this lady or any other Thai enough to go into business with them ?

Then of course you've then got to be able to beat the mass manufacture stuff from Index etc and now IKEA plus all the thousands of Thais already doing this.

It's possible, but it's not going to be easy.

Well the 4 Thais can be her family, so no need to pay them....

I imagine you can do it if you register a business, but the problem is findng your market, advertising it, business premises etc.

As posted above you can't legally do the work yourself and without capital you're going to struggle.

You'll need to employ 4 Thais at somewhere near 9000B a month each depending on location and pay minimum tax. So you'll looking at about 45,000 baht a month to cover that. Then there is the matter of do you trust this lady or any other Thai enough to go into business with them ?

Then of course you've then got to be able to beat the mass manufacture stuff from Index etc and now IKEA plus all the thousands of Thais already doing this.

It's possible, but it's not going to be easy.

Well the 4 Thais can be her family, so no need to pay them....

But would still to pay tax for them and social security payments to get the WP, even if no actual salary involved

Edited August 2, 2012 by Soutpeel

[KeyserSoze01]

or some looser farang in the local bar, next village, working on a rig in the gulf but upset that his girlfriend thinks you have a good heart, or that you are happy and he isn't, will report you...

all the looser farangs working rigs in the gulf are long gone, assume your are talking about the Thai gulf as opposed to the gulf of mexico ?....plenty of loosers working there..

Shows what you know about the GOM, which obviously is very little.

At least the rednecks from Alabama and Mississippi know the difference between lose and loose.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbandictionary.com%2Fdefine.php%3Fterm%3Dlooser&ei=mYMaUOqmOobb6wHC6ICQBw&usg=AFQjCNEhy4mcQnC-ESTmPAOGzO6qUXa4-Q&sig2=KRw7HtsFxrW45QkoDmszmA

A looser is a loser who can't spell "loser". ... 2. looser. Idiotic way of spelling "loser". Most often used by teens and adults with no more than a 2nd grade grammar ...

[croweater]

My advice to you here on thaivisa is no not any advice from here on thai visa. Just read the posts,selfexplanatery.

My advice to you here on thaivisa is no not any advice from here on thai visa. Just read the posts,selfexplanatery.

Make that "do not take any advice etc" (too much Sangsom on my wheatbix)

[Soutpeel]

or some looser farang in the local bar, next village, working on a rig in the gulf but upset that his girlfriend thinks you have a good heart, or that you are happy and he isn't, will report you...

all the looser farangs working rigs in the gulf are long gone, assume your are talking about the Thai gulf as opposed to the gulf of mexico ?....plenty of loosers working there..

Shows what you know about the GOM, which obviously is very little.

At least the rednecks from Alabama and Mississippi know the difference between lose and loose.

http://www.google.co...FxrW45QkoDmszmA

A looser is a loser who can't spell "loser". ... 2. looser. Idiotic way of spelling "loser". Most often used by teens and adults with no more than a 2nd grade grammar ...

Actually I worked the GOM for a while..

nice to see I gave the English Nazi's a chance to get a comment in and show their expertise with the language....maybe a topic for your class tomorrow ?

[Rik325i]

well, speaking to my ladyfriend earlier about this and i remembered that the family owns quite a bit of land and have built a few houses along the access road, directly behind her sisters new house is the old disused family house where she grew up, i can build furniture in there to my hearts content without being seen by another living soul except for harvest time and there is still even a power supply. location sorted and shes quite happy with the arrangement of me building and her selling at first too.

Looks like this is starting to come together, thank you all for your wise words and help, i appreciate it greatly

Now ill have to start looking for good timber suppliers and solid wood board suppliers, already found hafele in bangkok for all the fittings, fixings handles etc i will need

[Rik325i]

well, speaking to my ladyfriend earlier about this and i remembered that the family owns quite a bit of land and have built a few houses along the access road, directly behind her sisters new house is the old disused family house where she grew up, i can build furniture in there to my hearts content without being seen by another living soul except for harvest time and there is still even a power supply. location sorted and shes quite happy with the arrangement of me building and her selling at first too.

Looks like this is starting to come together, thank you all for your wise words and help, i appreciate it greatly

Now ill have to start looking for good timber suppliers and solid wood board suppliers, already found hafele in bangkok for all the fittings, fixings handles etc i will need

[Holysteel]

well, speaking to my ladyfriend earlier about this and i remembered that the family owns quite a bit of land and have built a few houses along the access road, directly behind her sisters new house is the old disused family house where she grew up, i can build furniture in there to my hearts content without being seen by another living soul except for harvest time and there is still even a power supply. location sorted and shes quite happy with the arrangement of me building and her selling at first too.

Looks like this is starting to come together, thank you all for your wise words and help, i appreciate it greatly

Now ill have to start looking for good timber suppliers and solid wood board suppliers, already found hafele in bangkok for all the fittings, fixings handles etc i will need

Rik,

Bring a Thai along when u visit these timber & solid wood suppliers. They will charge a slightly higher price if u were to go alone. And you dun want that. U are in a business. Get the best quality at the lowest price possible.

Also. Thai carpenters usually get a special 'carpenter' price from these suppliers if they are in the trade. A Thai who is not in this trade will not even get this price. Its a insider secret among themselves.

Also. Do check the price for related accessories & tools in places such as Thai Watsado or Home pro. Just to give yourself a rough gauge how things are priced in Thailand. Write it down on a notepad. With this pricing. Go out and compare prices with these suppliers. If they quote u a higher price than home pro. It means they are taking u as a fool.

Good luck buddy !

[mikecwm]

- Try to marry that Thai lady. If she wants to. ( Long term Marriage Visa )

- Build the furniture behind 'scene'. Ask her to sell/market it for you.

- Be the Mr friendly farang guy in the neighborhood. Be nice to everyone. Keep a low profile. Dun attract trouble.

- Split the profits. Maybe 60%-70% to yourself since ur paying for the materials. 40%-30% for her. Or you can be generous and go 50-50, maybe 80% to her. Lol.. your call. Not mine.

- Be good to her parents. Appeal to their needs.

- Thats it. End of story. Live happily ever after.. Just try to do things one thing at a time. Progress a little in each stage.

Once the money start pouring in..maybe you can consider starting a company.

At last some good advice.

Let your Thai G/F - maybe better - Wife, do all the front stuff.

You would definately have to keep your head down and not let on to anyone that it is you doing the actual work. Once you have enough sales to employ 3 more Thais you could apply for a work permit as the "design advisor" and teach them how to do what you do so well.

Of course making something is not the hard part - selling what you've made at a decent profit is much harder.

I've built many kitchens when I was self employed and also building the house. Also been a finish carpenter on big projects. When I talked to the guys installing the kitchen cabinets all of them seemed to have been cabinet makers at one time, but couldn't compete against the big companies so end up installing for them - gotta eat and pay the mortgage.

I think finding enough sales will be your toughest task.

Good luck - PM me if you get going - I'll be building in Petchabun in 2 years.

[croweater]

my idea is to start building some small pieces of modern style western furniture out of real wood during my holidays there and giving it to my ladyfriend to sell, the first pieces will be a gift to her which she can attempt to sell and see if there is a viable market in her area so no issues about visa, licences etc at first, after perusing the visa laws, forbidden jobs and causing ourselves no end of headaches i decided to ask here after reading about people suggesting ways around certain aspects of the strict laws governing foreigners living and working in thailand.

My thai ladyfriend and i like each other quite a lot and i am trying to find a way utilising the skills i have learned in my life to be able to live with her in thailand should the relationship develop that far

Yes i do trust her, if i manage to start this business, she couldnt do it without me anyway (in the beginning) she is a very good cook and thai language teacher and also an accountant but she cant tell the back from the front of a router or circular saw.

Just do it.

Don't listen all the hoo hah on here from the anal brigade.

I know plenty of people that do things work wise and have so for years.

Unless you piss someone off, you will have no issues and keep it quiet, anyone asks each and everytime you are building it for yourself, for your home etc.

Do it the way you want to start, slow and easy and quiet and you will be fine and it is a good way to quietly enter the field and also suss out the girl over an extended period of time.

Ignore the doom and gloom.

my idea is to start building some small pieces of modern style western furniture out of real wood during my holidays there and giving it to my ladyfriend to sell, the first pieces will be a gift to her which she can attempt to sell and see if there is a viable market in her area so no issues about visa, licences etc at first, after perusing the visa laws, forbidden jobs and causing ourselves no end of headaches i decided to ask here after reading about people suggesting ways around certain aspects of the strict laws governing foreigners living and working in thailand.

My thai ladyfriend and i like each other quite a lot and i am trying to find a way utilising the skills i have learned in my life to be able to live with her in thailand should the relationship develop that far

Yes i do trust her, if i manage to start this business, she couldnt do it without me anyway (in the beginning) she is a very good cook and thai language teacher and also an accountant but she cant tell the back from the front of a router or circular saw.

Just do it.

Don't listen all the hoo hah on here from the anal brigade.

I know plenty of people that do things work wise and have so for years.

Unless you piss someone off, you will have no issues and keep it quiet, anyone asks each and everytime you are building it for yourself, for your home etc.

Do it the way you want to start, slow and easy and quiet and you will be fine and it is a good way to quietly enter the field and also suss out the girl over an extended period of time.

Ignore the doom and gloom.

This post confirms my post.

[phuturatica]

Good luck to you and I hope everything works out!

[arthurwait]

If you are near Bangkok try this place. Much better than Homepro and much cheaper.

http://www.hardwarehouse.co.th/

Maktec and makita tools use the same parts. They just create 2 markets for themselves by marketing one as the premium brand.

I've not had a maktec fail yet.

If there is a good tool shop near you build up a good rapport and you might find you soon get offered nice discounts. Same as material suppliers, or an little extra thrown in free. Some tool shops repair them these are the ones to find.

If you are doing kitchens find a decent granite top supplier. They are all over the place.Again if you are near Bangkok you might want to look for one around Ang Sila and Chonburi City as Ang SIla is known for it's stone.

What someone posted about not going alone is so true, but maybe it's best if the Thai goes alone first on his own to get the true price as you may still get a special farang price if with a Thai.

Check everything before you accept it as you might find you've been given rubbish or the worker who doesn't bother to measure what he's getting gets the wrong size when the previous worker hasn't bothered to store it in the right place.

Once you are seen to be return customer with companies you shouldln't get ripped off anymore.

You are most likely to get ripped off at small places especially if they is a lazy layabout whiskey swilling slob owning it or being made to do some work in his wifes business to get his whiskey money. He's likely to think he's so clever scamming the farang, but too stupid to think of return business.

Anyway good luck and check out the thai design and furniture magazines to see what people are buying.

The fashion for high gloss white everything is on it's way out now and retro stuff is in. 60's British looking stuff is also in.

[Daewoo]

or some looser farang in the local bar, next village, working on a rig in the gulf but upset that his girlfriend thinks you have a good heart, or that you are happy and he isn't, will report you...

all the looser farangs working rigs in the gulf are long gone, assume your are talking about the Thai gulf as opposed to the gulf of mexico ?....plenty of loosers working there..

Shows what you know about the GOM, which obviously is very little.

At least the rednecks from Alabama and Mississippi know the difference between lose and loose.

http://www.google.co...FxrW45QkoDmszmA

A looser is a loser who can't spell "loser". ... 2. looser. Idiotic way of spelling "loser". Most often used by teens and adults with no more than a 2nd grade grammar ...

Actually I worked the GOM for a while..

nice to see I gave the English Nazi's a chance to get a comment in and show their expertise with the language....maybe a topic for your class tomorrow ?

Thanks for jumping to my defence Soutpeel,

KeyserSoze, you are correct, I mispelled loser, English not being my native language, since I am Australian ... In my defence, I am an Engineer, and it is widely known that Engineers can't spell for shit...

As I qualified later, my dig wasn't against Oil Workers, who I generally find have lots of great stories from all around the world, and who I love drinking with, to excess, aside from the fact that typically I end up falling over before they are even starting... me being a white collar, office boy, manager...

I was having a dig at the multitude of bitter and twisted farang, (sometimes oil workers stuck in The Gulf worrying about what their lady is up to 'back home') who will push someone else down to make themself feel good...

I think you have have proven my point perfectly... thanks...

Cheers,

Daewoo

Edited August 3, 2012 by Daewoo

[Rik325i]

anyone know of any timbermerchants on the net, bkk area i could look into ?