Take a job or buy a small business

[Danthefarang]

Good morning, I'm here on an extension of stay based on marriage and I'm thinking I want to feel more challenged than just tending the garden.

 

Option #1:  What is a good resource for finding work for farangs in Thailand 

 

Option #2:.  If I bought a small business (coffee shop etc) can I work it myself ? 

 

Thanks in advance for your feedback,

 

Danny

[William Osborne]

#option 1... Not much work for farangs unless you want to go English teaching

#option 2....Short answer..No

 

it is very easy to get bored here so good idea to get some hobbies before you go down the road of guzzling Chang every afternoon!!  nothing wrong with tending the garden !!

Edited January 8, 2017 by William Osborne

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I'm not sure the correct answers are quite as clear as above.

 

There are various issues that come into play in the questions you're raising, and the answer in part depends on what kind of skills/qualifications you may have. There are job opportunities here for farangs beyond just English teaching, depending on one's skills and experience, in things like F&B management, the oil industry, others.

 

As far as having your own business, there are a couple of levels to consider (and if anything I post is incorrect, I'm happy to be corrected):

 

Actually owning a business in your own name:  If you're an American, you can be the 100% owner of a business in Thailand under a treaty between the two countries. If you're other nationalities, the best you can do is to be a 49% minority owner with Thais as the majority owner.

 

Working in a business you've set up either as full or part owner: AFAIK, generally, getting a work permit for a farang here typically requires that business be to employing 2 or 4 Thai employees (the number seems to vary some depending on the Labor Office involved).

 

Of course, some people try to skirt the actual laws/regulations, working quietly behind the scenes without a work permit, or having Thai employees in name only who may get some money but who aren't actually real employees. But, if you get caught doing those kinds of things, there can be real trouble to be had.

 

Lastly, someone else here has posted on something the Thais call a sole proprietor business, which would be something that a husband and wife alone might do. If I recall the poster's description correctly, in at least some areas, the poster said it was possible to get a work permit for a farang in a sole proprietor business with a Thai wife without the required added employees.  But I'm not entirely clear on those details, and how widely or narrowly Labor Offices are willing to approve those kinds of arrangement.

[Danthefarang]

Thanks for your help gentlemen.

I've only seen job postings on Baht and Sold & here on Thai visa....I wonder if there are other sites I haven't found that might advertise jobs for farangs

My work experience is varied from ,soldier, sales, business development, and farming. I was lucky to translate enthusiasm fair mindedness and an eagerness to leave things better than I found them into success in the west and thought I would enjoy a sedate life here.."....guess I'm getting antsy


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[yellowboat]

10 hours ago, William Osborne said:

#option 1... Not much work for farangs unless you want to go English teaching

#option 2....Short answer..No

 

it is very easy to get bored here so good idea to get some hobbies before you go down the road of guzzling Chang every afternoon!!  nothing wrong with tending the garden !!

Would like to disagree with you a little, but you are pretty close to correct Mr. Osborne.

 

Known people to make money exporting car parts and seasonings.  Also look beyond the Thai borders.  Thailand is the graveyard of ambition.  The rest of Asia is not.  Learn Bhasa.  Indonesia will be the second largest economy in Asia and Bhasa is rather easy to learn.   Malaysian is rather close language wise and is has opportunities as well. 

[meatboy]

if your relying on work or business to enable to live here THINK AGAIN.

before it was come to thailand to live and retire.the last 10yrs.more and more are living the dream and for many its FAILURE.

over 30yrs.ago i thought the same although i had safe employment back home,so the wife wanted to carry on working so we went home and she never looked back,working up to management and earning enough that most thai's only dream of.

when i retire i told her then you will also,maybe the only regret she has was moving to thailand perminant.

its not a bed of roses anymore. 

so think long and hard.

[OmegaRacer]

Whatever you do, look for something you love doing. Please don't become a teacher just because you feel bored. The kids deserve better than this and there are far too many "teachers" ruining kids' lifes (Thai&Foreign).

Choose something you love, become an expert in that field, share your knowledge and you'll see that you'll be as fulfilled as you can be. You don't seem to need the money, so no need to get stressed about it.

Good luck 

[Danthefarang]

if your relying on work or business to enable to live here THINK AGAIN.
before it was come to thailand to live and retire.the last 10yrs.more and more are living the dream and for many its FAILURE.
over 30yrs.ago i thought the same although i had safe employment back home,so the wife wanted to carry on working so we went home and she never looked back,working up to management and earning enough that most thai's only dream of.
when i retire i told her then you will also,maybe the only regret she has was moving to thailand perminant.
its not a bed of roses anymore. 
so think long and hard.

Don't " need" to work......"want" to work.......


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[Danthefarang]

Would like to disagree with you a little, but you are pretty close to correct Mr. Osborne.
 
Known people to make money exporting car parts and seasonings.  Also look beyond the Thai borders.  Thailand is the graveyard of ambition.  The rest of Asia is not.  Learn Bhasa.  Indonesia will be the second largest economy in Asia and Bhasa is rather easy to learn.   Malaysian is rather close language wise and is has opportunities as well. 

Yes, I noticed the lack of pride in a job well done.....I really enjoy service, and I've been a good team builder in the past......but then again I've had 'motivated staff' who shared my desire to perform well......


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[meatboy]

38 minutes ago, Danthefarang said:

 

Don't " need" to work......"want" to work.......


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if you dont need to work,why not try some community work,childrens home,dog kennels, mind you both those jobs are heartbreaking.

[overherebc]

11 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I'm not sure the correct answers are quite as clear as above.

 

There are various issues that come into play in the questions you're raising, and the answer in part depends on what kind of skills/qualifications you may have. There are job opportunities here for farangs beyond just English teaching, depending on one's skills and experience, in things like F&B management, the oil industry, others.

 

As far as having your own business, there are a couple of levels to consider (and if anything I post is incorrect, I'm happy to be corrected):

 

Actually owning a business in your own name:  If you're an American, you can be the 100% owner of a business in Thailand under a treaty between the two countries. If you're other nationalities, the best you can do is to be a 49% minority owner with Thais as the majority owner.

 

Working in a business you've set up either as full or part owner: AFAIK, generally, getting a work permit for a farang here typically requires that business be to employing 2 or 4 Thai employees (the number seems to vary some depending on the Labor Office involved).

 

Of course, some people try to skirt the actual laws/regulations, working quietly behind the scenes without a work permit, or having Thai employees in name only who may get some money but who aren't actually real employees. But, if you get caught doing those kinds of things, there can be real trouble to be had.

 

Lastly, someone else here has posted on something the Thais call a sole proprietor business, which would be something that a husband and wife alone might do. If I recall the poster's description correctly, in at least some areas, the poster said it was possible to get a work permit for a farang in a sole proprietor business with a Thai wife without the required added employees.  But I'm not entirely clear on those details, and how widely or narrowly Labor Offices are willing to approve those kinds of arrangement.

 

Are you 100% sure about the American 100%?

[overherebc]

9 minutes ago, overherebc said:

 

Are you 100% sure about the American 100%?

 

Found this.

The Thailand Treaty of Amity aims to provide significant advantages for US investors to run businesses in Thailand for both corporations and individuals.docx

[1FinickyOne]

There are many other challenges in life other than working. Maybe try and engage your creative side... if you do not need the money, then maybe it is a good time to re-program your brain away from work and onto more interesting and pleasurable activities... 

[TravelerEastWest]

33 minutes ago, overherebc said:

 

Are you 100% sure about the American 100%?

 

Are you implying that the rules have changed recently?

 

It is a well known fact that Americans can form most businesses in Thailand on their own - although there is a bit of paperwork to get started.

[overherebc]

3 minutes ago, TravelerEastWest said:

 

Are you implying that the rules have changed recently?

 

It is a well known fact that Americans can form most businesses in Thailand on their own - although there is a bit of paperwork to get started.

 

Did you read the att' ref' what is allowed and 3,000,000 baht required for each part of business allowed.

I don't think it's for retirees or the almost retired to have a small business to pass the time.

[chicowoodduck]

Buy a one way ticket out of here while you still can nad have $$$$$??

[little mary sunshine]

Neither....enjoy the sun and sea...mountains...

volunteer work .....a new hobby....golf and walk

and go bowling for exercise.......travel every country

in SE Asia......Works for me.....I Don't mill working at

all, and I enjoyed my work!!!

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

If you going to stay here working or not take your time to identify what you want to do. Most of the failures are foreigners that come here with preconceived business ideas which in the end flops. Observe what is going on around you, what the locals like to do etc. The one thing you must remember is that many small businesses have low entry barriers so if you open something that maybe the first, it will not be long before someone copy you. Choose wise and enjoy life, rush and regret.

[seancbk]

16 hours ago, William Osborne said:

#option 1... Not much work for farangs unless you want to go English teaching

#option 2....Short answer..No

 

it is very easy to get bored here so good idea to get some hobbies before you go down the road of guzzling Chang every afternoon!!  nothing wrong with tending the garden !!

 

Depends what the OP's age and previous experience is.   Lots of jobs for expats if you have the right skill set.   Lots of expat recruitment agencies placing senior executives in manufacturing, lots of jobs in IT (Agoda has something like 3000 employees based in Thailand, many of whom are expats).

 

[Danthefarang]

 
Depends what the OP's age and previous experience is.   Lots of jobs for expats if you have the right skill set.   Lots of expat recruitment agencies placing senior executives in manufacturing, lots of jobs in IT (Agoda has something like 3000 employees based in Thailand, many of whom are expats).

 

Thank you for listening to me and not projecting your ideals ........ Can you direct me to any of these head hunters or maybe a resource companies are us using to find farang employees ??


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[Danthefarang]

Hi guys, I'm Canadian so a lot of this talk doesn't pertain but I hope it helps someone......... Anyone have a suggestion for web sourced job ads for farangs.....I've looked on baht and sold also here on Thai visa....I would think there are other sources but I'm such a newbie I can't find them


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[seancbk]

2 hours ago, Danthefarang said:

 

Thank you for listening to me and not projecting your ideals ........ Can you direct me to any of these head hunters or maybe a resource companies are us using to find farang employees ??


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Do a Google search for 'Recruitment Companies Bangkok'   

That will get you started.

Also as many jobs are regional, the job may be in Thailand but the decision on hiring maybe made in the regional head office in Singapore, Hong Kong or elsewhere.  

So don't limit your search to only Bangkok based recruiters, get your CV out to recruiters in Singapore and HK as well.  Just let them know you are interested in positions in Thailand.

Also bear in mind the better recruitment companies specialise, so who you approach will depend on your industry experience.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Danthefarang]

Do a Google search for 'Recruitment Companies Bangkok'   

That will get you started.

Also as many jobs are regional, the job may be in Thailand but the decision on hiring maybe made in the regional head office in Singapore, Hong Kong or elsewhere.  

So don't limit your search to only Bangkok based recruiters, get your CV out to recruiters in Singapore and HK as well.  Just let them know you are interested in positions in Thailand.

Also bear in mind the better recruitment companies specialise, so who you approach will depend on your industry experience.

Good luck in your search.

 

Thank you very much


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