Hi all. Can anyone give me some advice on starting a business, and business premises please?
I am an artist and want to take my work from the uk and live in spain.
Are there any limits to what I can do from a residential property?
In the uk I have my studio set up in part of my home and have a small amount of clients visiting the place...

I'm just trying to ascertain what type of premises is going to work for my family and I.

Thanks in advance.

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst myself and BEVS moderate Europe. Please read the Site Rules Site Rules | British Expatriate Community adhere to them so that the site runs smoothly. Moderators are there to ensure that the rules of BE are maintained. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

OK why not do the same thing here in Spain. Many people work from home etc.
You can't become self employed here until you have applied and gained residency, so that is more important than worrying about the type of premises.
You can work from home if that suits or you can rent or purchase premises. It's the same as the UK, perhaps the paperwork is a little more complicated.

I would prefer to work from home... here in the UK it saves me loads of cash as I don't have a separate premises, business rates, staff etc.

I didn't realise I would have to apply for residency and visas... who do I speak to about that? I honestly thought I could just buy a place and continue working!

Where would I stand if I wanted to do 3-6 months a year in spain?

I'm so confused! I know I can make it work, and earn money... I just can't decide on the best way to go about it!

If you are a UK or EU citizen you don't need a Visa (although for the UK, who knows after March 2019 etc), but if you plan to live in Spain for 3 months or more or run a business/work here, you will need to apply for residency.

Everything you need to know is here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain

Head to Casares inland from Estepona it is full of artists doing exactly what you plan to do....
One example : Surprise visit for local artist

People rarely consider being an artist as being a business. Most don't even consider it work.

I gave up on Spain simply, because Police/authorities made it impossible for me to work in public places. After 10+ years of building up a client list, I still relied on selling on the street to tourists to get my 'pocket money'. I still have many clients in Spain mind.

I never took the plunge on premises. As a single guy my situation is different to your own. The €260/month (and all that late payments entailed) put me off more than paying rent/rates etc.

If you are thinking long-term, you really need to speak to a gestor at least. It sounds complicated, but it isn't really. The Spanish system favours families as far as self-employment goes. I won't waste any more time here other than...

Do not expect anything like the same income/sales prices in Spain compared to virtually any other country within Western Europe. The story linked to in this thread is not typical. The majority of my clients I have met on the streets of Spanish cities are not from Spain. To expect a €100 a day to come to your pretty doorstep each day of Summer in Spain is pure fantasy.

Hi Championi & a very warm welcome to the forum.
Just so you know there are moderators on this site, yes I know all sites have them but thought it best to let you know.

Do not have a clue about your question so cannot help, but do not hesitate to contact me should you need any further help.

Wow... thanks for all your help, guys... looks like I've got some more reading to do!

I will be back soon when I have my next load of questions.

Much appreciated