Successfull in Spain.
 

Just wondering, those of you who have been in Spain for a number of years (having needed to work),and consider yourself to have made a success of it,what do you think has helped you to be succesfull here,and do you think you will stay permanently?
Will kick things of with a few suggestions;Language,secure job or viable trade,
adequate starting up cash,positive attitude:)

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Three things! The language, the skills, and the commitment.
If you don't have all three (in abundance) you're up against it....big style!
Most Brits invariably have none of the above.....but they'll talk themselves up regardless!
Then the bubble bursts, their shortcomings get exposed.....and they blame everybody else for their failure.
And I'm here permanently.....I'm not even going back in a box!

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

oh shit:D

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

you know what Pete, you couldn't have possible hit the nail on the head better.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

In the UK you always need a plan A and B.

In Spain you need a plan A,B,C and at least D.

When I arrived in Spain with a job, fluent Spanish and 80,000 cash, i thought yeap he we go, add a Spanish wife to the equation and jobs done.:)

But it was fun for a time.

What people fail to grasp is you can plan till your 80, change always happens.

After I left and became Autonomo, i learned that 6 engineers have since left and there about to close the office in Malaga.

I`m now investing the money into a second home in Spain and returning to earn a decent living in the UK.

And the govt are giving me cash for having children too :) only problem is I give it back to the govt in Tax :(

But at least i`m back earning double than in Spain and I`m getting a second home :)

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Oh dear god!

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

In my two years here, I've already seen some ludicrous business ideas! Some came to fruition and failed, others never made it past the talking stage.
A recording studio in a cave in an isolated rural village was one, and a bloody car wash in the Almeria desert are the ones that immediately spring to mind.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

You promised that you wouldn't mention that idea again you bastard!

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

You wouldn't find anybody else to shovel the porn out from the inside of your PC case Bob!
If you'd left it any longer it would have been smelling of fish! :lol:

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Next time just take the bucket with you like I told you Matt! :lol:

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Well ..... definately no competition :)

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

you stopped telling people off?

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

No I haven't .... please get this thread back on track :)

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

spoilsport!

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

I thought the donkey sanctuary was a bonkers plan, but he`s charity funded so can take the hits.

A petting farm was one done in the South, he came from a finance background, bought some land, piled cash into building a petting zoo, cafe and sleeping accomodation.

He didn`t realise there was a zoo 3 Kms away, with exotic animals from around the world, that gave free entry.

He failed in getting planning consent for the rest of the buildings and now has a huge headache, some rabbits, chickens and a caravan

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

You`ve been watching and believing tv shows again. ;-))

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

yes, saw that on Living in The Sun on BBC,app fella done exstensive research for 2yrs,and concluded that there was no competition nearby:blink::blink::blink:,according to relies,that zoo nearby has been there about 200yrs:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Watching ofcourse, i now know not to make his mistakes.

Do you believe that show to be faked then.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

I wounder how many members here have been on that show.:D

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Very def a case of failing to prepare,is preparing to fail:)

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Anybody here support Jock and the Garage.
:rofl:

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Saw another one where a couple wanted to make houses out of polyestiren(spelling???)blocks,with no building exp AT ALL!!!!!:D
Only got one order for a garage (from son):D

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Think he's brilliant:D

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

As Icortez said.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

So jdr have you been to the Garage yet.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

The other problem is that people start businesses with the wrong mindset!

Besides in many cases not having the skills, ability, experience, or vocational track record in their chosen venture, they seem to assume that every Brit within a radius of 50 miles is duty bound to support their business come what may.

Just because we share a mutual language and a British passport doesn't mean we're all joined at the hip. So if you can't do what you say you can do, be aware that you will be exposed......and there's no safety net to fall back on!

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

One problem I found in the South is trying to market yourself beyond word of mouth.

In the malaga area there are several Brit newspapers and free books to advertise in, but many are simply dumped in the darkest corner of Spanish Newspaper shops or in brit shops spread out in the Campo.

Leaflet drops are a waste as the Urbs are either abandoned most of the year and locked with only key access, the finca`s are so spread out it`ll take all day just to get to 100.

Estate Agents usual know several people all ready.

The only way really is to work for several years hoping that the community will spread the word.

Even yellow pages arn`t any good as nobody really uses them.In the UK there are about 8 pages in my profession, in Malaga there are only 5 businesses, and there are more than 5 Refrigeration Engineers in one poly in Malaga city.

Advertising I found to be the most frustrating.

And the fact there`s no A-Z type maps and the Sat Nav only work 60% of the time.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

No, he doesn`t speak Spanish. ;-))

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

He does, not as well as you`d think for somebody 18 yrs in Spain, but he can manage to argue in the ITV quite well.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

I agree word of mouth is the only way to get ahead over here. We have been here for 3 1/2 years now and a lot of time, money, patience and freebies to potential customers has helped us to build up a successful business. We now only really take on customers through word of mouth. We don´t speak fluent Spanish but we more than `get-by´and our customer base is mainly english. We have had to sll 2 properties in order to provide us with enough time/money to stay here in Spain. We have worked very very hard to get where we are and we are looking forward to the next few years being successful and happy here in Spain.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

In the two years I've been here I've never advertised at all. No need to....it's all customer recommendations!
My customers just tell people I'm a mentally disturbed, loud, vulgar, motorcycle-riding Welshman (who occasionally has orange hair) who publicly scratches his cojones and who will just rip the piss out of them!
So they pick up the phome immediately! :lol:
Money can't buy that sort of advertising. :unsure:

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

He only spoke Scottish when I saw him. lol

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Money is the key and ofcourse the problem, finding enough to fund the move and business would stop probably most of the Expats if they really thought about it, having been in that boat though you sometimes think well we`ll get by.

If we didn`t all take a chance we`d never know.

Not many can take at least £50,000 in cash free to spend on essentials without warning signs appearing.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Maybe he didn`t understand your Castellano.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

bet yours is better.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

You called?

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Scottish or Castellano.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Does it matter?


Its gonna be better 'cos its you.

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Oh dear you do have it bad.:)

Re: Successfull in Spain.
 

Looks like all my options out the window then:eek: