Can a UK business trade with a Thai SME?

[Jason Nevin]

A friend of mine has a business (a restaurant) in Thailand and she wants alot of work done by a UK company (based in the UK). Is this possible or does she have to use a Thai company? If not, how do I invoice her and how does she pay me so its legal?

Thanks

[Bench499d]

I would say there is no problem with that (based on other international businesses I know of who traded with UK companies I worked for), you just need to invoice her without VAT (as Thailand is outside the EU). Both companies should check with their accountants to make sure though.

[Jason Nevin]

Thanks

I do this with European companies with no problem but I wanted to know if Thai companies run by the same rules or (for example) they would refuse to deal with a non-Thai/ASEAN company.

[onthemoon]

Not sure what the question is here. Of course, many Thai companies deal with companies in the EU, so that is not a problem. But how would a restaurant deal with a foreign company: Send food by mail?

[Jason Nevin]

Marketing.

Yes of course Thai companies CAN deal with foreign companies but do they need to be of a curtain size, or do they have to have a special license, etc, etc. I just doubt that a small Thai company could accept and pay invoices from a UK company. Just seems too simple and logical for Thailand.

[onthemoon]

There is no minimum size of a company to pay overseas invoices, or issue invoices to overseas customers.

If you want to import or export goods, you need to be registered with customs, which is a formality and again, it does not matter whether you are a big or small company.

We have some customers who even import goods under their personal name (Thai people) for their little shops in the markets.

[Jason Nevin]

Thanks and a great reply.