steviedeluxe

We get so many enquiries here from people thinking of moving to Spain, but need work. Given the unlikelihood of them finding a job outside of teaching or IT, should we show expat businesses that have already started?

For instance this article features someone who started a speed-dating business.

http://www.spainbuddy.com/april-expa...arah-allibone/

A tour guide in Madrid here:

http://vayamadrid.com/how-to-be-the-...ide-to-madrid/

missile

I know one who started a pool cleaning business and another who does kitchen fitting.

It is not easy (has it ever been?), but for those with initiative, skills and a strong work ethic it can work - if you will excuse the pun.

GCM

There are so few jobs that I would advise anyone thinking of moving to Spain to make plans to start their own business and go self-employed.

Then at least your destiny is in your hands.

If you can do an existing business better than the current competition (not difficult in most cases) you can carve out your niche.

Mark

pete_l

Yes, that's my thought, too.
Considering that the absolute MINIMUM requirement for getting a job in Spain is fluency in Spanish, the chances of passing an interview for the average brit, getting off the plane, is practically zero.
ISTM it's better to give people a realistic, honest (if no-holds barred) view of working in Spain than to set them up with false hope.

Though making sense of all the forms, applications and regulations around starting an enterprise on your own is probably just as difficult.

Dick Dasterdly

Very few waste their time even trying around here.

All that expense and hassle simply to put your head on the block at average present day odds of 4 to 1 against succeeding or even surviving for any length of time.

Spanish and Brits alike are almost all on the black with little or nothing to lose around here, but possibly a half decent living or more to gain.

If it goes well then setting up legit may be a consideration, but still not worth the risk and hassle for most, who are happy just to earn a crust in the present day economic climate.

Rajoys attempts to block the black with restrictions on bank transactions for example seem to have backfired big-time as the cash is now circulating quite nicely without ever seeing the light of day in any banks.

pete_l

Quite. That does seem like a reasonable explanation for the claims of "25% yoof unemployment" yet the shops and bars seem to be doing very nicely, and prices seem to be very buoyant too.

cricketman

On the CDS there was a gap in the market for Engish cleaners

Why? Well, Spanish cleaners used to charge 12 euros an hour (now down to about 8 due to the hard times) while the English ones would only charge 4-5 euros per hour

Mitzyboy

About the only business I can see working in the present climate is property rental for holiday lets. The guy up the road from me is making £10k+ a year just by letting his villa in the summer months. His plan is to live in the "underbuild" and therefore service the changeovers himself.

He's happy, because most days he can go down the beach (which he likes) go running, biking or whatever, whilst the money just comes in for less than a days work a week

steviedeluxe

This guy runs Civil War tours in Barcelona - obviously you need to be well-informed and signed up to local regs to do this. If you search on FB for Nick Lloyd you can find his page

http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.co...e-guardian%27/

There's someone who does historic+civil war guides in and around Madrid, but I've forgotten his name.

GCM

Yes - as much as there are doom and gloomsters when it comes to Spain, it is and always will be a popular tourist destination.

So of course there are opportunities to relocate and survive.

Cleaning services, maintenance, property rentals etc all viable businesses that most people could learn how to start-up and run successfully.

Domino

that is the linchpin.
so many don't know how to run a business successfully. They were odd-jobbers in the uk so come out here as carpenters, move on to housebuilding and full refurbs. One guy I know has done all that, then when it went flat he moved into satellite systems. Except that he never managed to install a system on one visit, usually need a further 2 or 3 for "fine tuning" - all at no extra charge. Sometimes he would travel 250km in a day just to "fix" one "problem". Meanwhile the roof on his own house was leaking and he couldn't afford to fix it. That is just plain desperation, but still not successful running of a business.

The UK seems to have a plethora of business start-up assistance, training courses, mentors etc etc which Spain appears not to have. Least ways as far as the expats are concerned. I have seen information on start-up information and assistance in Spain, but probably because of the language problems those from other countries who may have perfectly viable "ideas" are making a hash of it or just not bothering.

The other problem is finding a niche market for a niche area. So if you are living in say, Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, Marbella etc you are having to pay premiums for shop, accommodation, living etc and that soon drains any money you have for the start-up.
Generally, even in the UK, business start-ups have something like an 80% failure rate because of
* Insufficient financing
* Insufficient income in the early stages
* Insufficient experience in the market area
* Insufficient effective marketing and targetting
* Insufficient commercial and accountancy knowledge

My late BIL had a great time selling basketware in the UK, importing, running 3 market stalls, selling in house parties through commission agents. Really successful. Except he paid for everything from the days takings, including his salary and mortgage. No proper books. So when after about 5 years the VAT man came to visit - KERPOW ! The Inland Revenue and VAT wiped him out, the house was repossessed. It was like a train wreck and he ended up living in a caravan on a friends farm driving a borrowed car.
`

amideislas

Spot on. Yet another one of those criminal "tax evaders". Probably deserves to have been forced into social welfare (where life could arguably be more carefree anyway).

Since you mentioned "train wreck", I reckon Stevie will be along anytime now.

cricketman

There are plenty of free business courses provided by the ayuntamientos

My wife went on one in Barcelona. It was very helpful, certainly in terms of knowing what paperwork you had to have in place, but they also gave advice on marketing, budgeting, market research etc

Of course, you had to speak Catalan. Nobody is going to provide this in English

GCM

I think one critical piece of advice is this:

Try choose a low-overhead mobile type business.

Those are the ones where you can succeed.

Too many people come to Spain and buy a bar/restaurant - which have large fixed overheads - and the people have not usually ever done that trade before!

People who call on homes with a van - pool cleaning, plumbers, physios etc - they are doing fine because it costs virtually nothing to startup.

If it fails, you haven't lost too much either!

Domino

ISTR your wife is Spanish - so it is only natural for her to get some help - which is the same/similar to the UK. I have started 2 businesses that way, and also been a mentor. I am not saying they will only give money to the Spanish, after all most of it comes from EU Regeneration funds. How many Brits etc actually apply for these things, if they know where to find the forms.?

so they end up only dealing with the Brits, who seem to go home after 7-10 years and also only speak English.. They are predominately pensioners and will never want a large job done.

So "good" market areas ??
* hairdressers - ladies, men don't bother so much
* nail bar - ladies, men don't bother so much
* cleaning - cos the lady of the house is always at the hairdressers
* washing - cos the lady of the house has just had her nails done
* ladies fashion - usually if you can get a container cheap and sell high and fast

forget.....
* food
* restaurant
* bar
all require too much dedication when you really want to be down on the beach

Lets face it, its the same as the UK.
If you have a good business idea, don't tell anyone until you launch it. Stay working for someone else at least in the initial stages. Do your preparation, investigate the market, ensure you have the knowledge in the product/service. Definitely have ooddles of money to keep you afloat for 12months min. Don't sell anything at a discount unless you have to or build it in to your business launch model - but only for a limited period.

And double check all your advertising and then pass it on to someone else to check again - this weekend we had a flyer from a local pizza business, the large size price has been swopped with the small price which is going to cost him something to put right, in the meantime we all expect a large pizza at a very good price.