need advice opening small-ish thai restaurant in pattaya.

[wjcdavies]

It will be up there with one of the worst decisions you ever make.....too many reasons to mention but including the ones already mentioned

[wjcdavies]

Brilliant idea...pay 40k per month to established a vehicle for all and sundry to squeeze u dry. Why not just burn 250k on the first day of every month instead and avoid all the headaches and work involved?

[arunsakda]

Funny! Reminds me of when A mate wanted me to go skiing with him an a rainy day with high winds. I told him I'd rather stand in a cold shower in my ski clothes tearing up 10,000 Yen notes then change and go to lunch.

[mihalis]

Best of luck, but getting reliable staff is a nightmare.

Also, be prepared for the staff to just walk away without giving any notice, leaving you in the lurch. It is not the same here as in the West.

Really, staff dont just leave business in the lurch in the western world... well, well, well...........

[AdamRich]

LOL

[bark]

Good Deal ?? I bet it is within 500 meters of a school !!!

[thaiduncankk]

Best of luck, but getting reliable staff is a nightmare.

Also, be prepared for the staff to just walk away without giving any notice, leaving you in the lurch. It is not the same here as in the West.

Really, staff dont just leave business in the lurch in the western world... well, well, well...........

I must be out of touch, not been back for nearly 11 years.

When I was there the norm was to give your employer some notice, to give them time to find a suitable replacement.

That way, you left on amicable terms.

[merlen10002]

This is the best advice you will ever get,, DON'T ,, you are going into the most competitive business in Thailand every one and their dog sells food in Thailand, and you have no experience and your G/F has no experience and there is a Thai restaurant ever few meters in Thailand, best you give me the money I will give you a small interest on it, much better than going into selling food in Thailand.

Being serious please don't do it you will lose your shirt, take it from someone that knows. PM me if you want to know the real deal about it.

[fxe1200]

Be aware that most Thai business owners have no concept of gross v. nett nor budgeting.

Most Thais have no concept of arithmetic at all.

I remember a restaurant owner, who used to count the empty bottles at night, to calculate his beverage sales, only to learn, that some of the staff disposed some empty bottles every day in the garbage can around the corner.

[TechnikaIII]

Without you even knowing about it, your suppliers will be paying for the right to deliver to your business.

They pay to the boss who controls their business on his his/her patch.

You will eventually need to know who is the boss of your patch.

Whether you run a noodle shop or a car assembly plant, you are on someones patch.

You either comply with their demads, or for inexplicable reasons, your business will simply not flourish.

If you can live with that, you'll get on ok.

Edited February 2, 2016 by TechnikaIII

[bkk6060]

Pay a higher wage and hire younger sexy/cute girls. The place will be packed.

[Gsxrnz]

Be aware that most Thai business owners have no concept of gross v. nett nor budgeting.

Most Thais have no concept of arithmetic at all.

I remember a restaurant owner, who used to count the empty bottles at night, to calculate his beverage sales, only to learn, that some of the staff disposed some empty bottles every day in the garbage can around the corner.

There are so many scams here it ain't funny. But if that was the extent of his stock control, well he was asking for it. Even rock solid systems can be overcome by an avid pilferer.

I know a chap (bar owner) that was doing great business but was still losing money. He asked me to help him out. He had a computerised system but he couldn't work it - bit of a dinosaur.

First thing I uncovered was the beer being delivered and paid for was under delivered. Five cases ordered, four cases delivered, five cases paid for. The same with spirits. Supplier and staff divided up the profit end of month. Solution - don't let the staff order, receive, or pay for the stock - simple, but he was too trusting. Changed the supplier obviously.

Next, the old "delete" button on the software. Staff would charge for the drinks served, get the payment, and then before receipting the cash they would delete a few (actually a LOT) of the sales - untraceable in the software and reports. Money pocketed end of night. Solution, the software allows you to remove the delete button.

Then it was the "just walk out with the stock" trick. Taking out the boxes of empties, but include a full box while you're at it. Cheeky buggers! Solution - cameras, proper stock reconciliations, and just be more aware. It's often the simplest things we ignore that leave the place exposed.

Next, cash straight from the till. Unless you're a bank, cash should accrue in the till. As an owner, he should have been roughly aware of the hourly sales and simply clean out the surplus cash two or three times a day, leaving enough for a reasonable float and not enough to nick. They can't nick it if it's not there. And even they know that if you clean them out of cash, do a roaring trade selling 50 beers in the next hour, then the cash should reflect that when you next take the surplus.

And learn how to use the software properly - it maybe can't stop them from ripping you off, but if you can drive the software (or a paper based system) and know how to reconcile things properly, then you'll know sooner rather than later that something is amiss.

Also, be aware that if your customers suddenly start complaining of being over charged or short changed, then you've probably managed to seal up most of the leaks. If they can't nick it off you, they have no resort but to have a go at the customers.

[3NUMBAS]

hhmm . i guy i used to k now who built a nice business in soi post office when the lease came up for renewal the owner raised it so high to force him out and installed his own manager to grab the business .....its ok if you have a 10 or 20 year lease ,,but if its successfull they will force you out by fair means or fowl to take over the business

[jamie2009]

Thai Restaurant in Thailand ? There is very little profit margin in Thai food, you don't see many Thais in the restaurants, too expensive and the majority of the Tourists eat farang food, the Chinese have their own places. I walk from Big C in South Pattaya on Pattaya Tai to Soi Bulkhao on a night, numerous pavement places selling food, loads of Thai Restaurants mostly empty, keep your money in the bank.

Best of luck though, where is it and what's it called ?

Edited February 2, 2016 by jamie2009

[LC 100]

hhmm . i guy i used to k now who built a nice business in soi post office when the lease came up for renewal the owner raised it so high to force him out and installed his own manager to grab the business .....its ok if you have a 10 or 20 year lease ,,but if its successfull they will force you out by fair means or fowl to take over the business

Yes, that's been done a few times....

[Roomuck]

There are many second hand shops along sukumvit road in Pattaya selling what you need. You must haggle hard with them though. Get the best price and then tell them you will also look elsewhere, they eventually come down. It is a good idea to have an idea of prices for new stuff as well to compare.

However when it comes to staff it is best to pay them well if they are good workers. Many farang with businesses here churn through staff simply because in Pattaya has lots of opportunities and like any human anywhere in the world, they will go for a job that pays more. Then the tight farang bitches and moans that the staff leave all the time usually without notice and blame "thainess".

If you pay above the standard rate they won't leave. Pay average and you will have constant problems. Thais can actually be very loyal if you look after them. Feeding and housing them on the premises is a great idea if they want it. Harder to come up with fake excuses if you see them all the time.

Crunch suppliers, save on costs everywhere you can, but look after your staff. Learn as many Thai words as you can also that are related to the business. And be very hands on with the finances. Do daily checks and this will reduce opportunities for staff skimming. If they know you are "on to it " they won't even try ( in most cases).

Don't be scared to sack those who are incompetent. Pay them well and demand a high standard.

Good luck.

[ozyjon]

Don't waste my time, you are doing fine by yourself.

[cyberfarang]

dirtycash: i need to know where to look for chefs, how much salary i will pay them, one will work nights and one days.
- You honestly don`t know and you want to go into the restaurant business?

What about the legalities of Farlang ownership, how do you plan to get around that?

[bazza40]

Be aware that most Thai business owners have no concept of gross v. nett nor budgeting.

Most Thais have no concept of arithmetic at all.

Really. They are not too bad at doubling the price for a falang.

[Sydebolle]

Rule of thumb; food purchase multiply 3.2 for sales price; keep seasonal/product (non-)availability pricing in mind. Rent should not exceed 12% of turn-over, if 40K is adequate depends on size (two square metre dining space as you need kitchen, storage, location, infrastructure (toilets, offered parking etc).

You'll need to do a turn-over of THB 320'000/month (or THB 11'700/day as you'll close for 30 days a year like Songkran etc. ) to hit break even. If you make THB 200/cover (drinks and Thai food) you need 59 guests a day; if you generate only THB 150/cover, then you'll need 78 guests - each and every day - must be a suckling good location if you ask me.

My grain of salt - forget it; Pattaya is not a place to make money in your anticipated segment. People are out for the cheap and if they want to spend money they expect (naturally) befitting product as far as place, infrastructure, food, service etc. is concerned.

[bazza40]

If you really want the business to succeed, open a child-minding business instead. More affluent Thais love them. Do the research, however.

IMHO, you'd be better off just torching money than trying to sell food.

[bwpage3]

40,000 baht rent

How much is the electric bill going to be? Is this an open air restaurant or closed where you need to run the A/C all day?

Water Bill

Trash Bill

2 cooks one for day and one for night? Really? How many customers can one cook serve? People won't want to be waiting around. What happens if you get 20 customers? The 20th customer is not going to be very happy waiting as no Thai's usually are.

How many servers do you need to hire?

Who is going to clean the place and wash the dishes?

Where are you going to supply all the restaurant food? Fresh vegetables, meats, etc.

What about takeout boxes and things of that sort?

How many baht of inventory do you expect to invest to get the place going for food, drink, dishes, glasses, paper products, pots and pans, silverware, etc.)

You are probably looking at needing to generate 100,000 a month to break even

Now do the math with that number.

Is it a restaurant aimed at farang that will pay 200 to 300 for a dish or for Thai's 35-50 a dish?

How many seats does your restaurant have? Can you even fit the number of people inside needed to break even?

The biggest mistake every failed restaurateur makes is over-estimating the number of expectant customers with no market survey or real facts.

[vukovar77]

I read a survey about doing business in Thailand and more than 80% last less than 1 year!

Your gf is not capable or skillful to run business and you do not have any experience,right????

You will not last even year!!!

Big chance to lose all!!!

[boonchu]

Dont do it. I have 25years expirience in the restaurant trade, just retired last year. It has to be one of the hardest businesses to succeed in at the moment. We hhave a couple of buildings in great location but I would not consider opening a restaurant in the current economic climate, better just collecting the rent and let others do the long hours. No experience in hospiitality is a no no to start in this tough business.

[Henricus]

You need to sell about 130 Meals on a profit of 30 baht a meal good luck with that

[dirtycash]

" .......... she has expirience of cashier,"

in Pattaya .........555!

PS

Great lease deal, you will lose 40k a month for 3 years.

Easier just to give the gf 40k a month to stay at home.

One born every day.

one loser born everyday...guess who that is ? just look through your posts and topics and its not hard to figure 555

[cyberfarang]

" .......... she has expirience of cashier,"

in Pattaya .........555!

PS

Great lease deal, you will lose 40k a month for 3 years.

Easier just to give the gf 40k a month to stay at home.

One born every day.

one loser born everyday...guess who that is ? just look through your posts and topics and its not hard to figure 555

In all sincerity, unless you know the trade, how to get around the laws, how to deal with Thai people and staff, then don`t dive into anything head first in Thailand. You either believe or don`t believe.

[NanLaew]

What STYLE of Thai restaurant? How big is it? Where exactly will it be.

You will need a lot of advice but without the basic information above, all you'll get is the red ar5e from this lot

[fekman]

My advice, put the money in the bank.

Or invest it in grammar lessons.

[ableguy]

You are courting a financial disaster, your gf wants money tell her to get a job or pay her a stipend out of the money you will lose on this project, your post tells the story you have not got a clue on Thailand, catering,business or females, .

This may sound harsh to you but you need to get a reality wake up call.