Can I own a business in Thailand with an Elite Visa, or do I need a Business Visa?

Not at all, as the owner you are not on payroll, you have no time card.

FYI:

@Daniel *************

If you become a member you will find that most of us are engaged in property investment and Thai Elite hosts multiple seminars with developers to showcase various projects on offer, plus assistance with private banking.

Elite is at the end of the day bound by Thai immigration regulations, they can't just do whatever they want. So it fits into an existing category, and is bound by those regulations. As Robert said Elite does let you invest or own a business, it just doesn't allow you to *work* in that business. It was targeted at investors but you can invest on Elite no problem. There are other visas for people who want to work or actively run a business here. And they are a lot cheaper- like a few thousand baht only, for the actual visa- but come with more requirements than just producing the money.

They explain that what this means is they will help you get your stuff together to apply for a non-immigrant visa that can have a work permit attached to it. You'd then go off the Elite visa and onto the non-immigrant visa. If the non-immigrant visa subsequently expired, and you had time left on your Elite, you could go back to that at that point. But you still have to qualify for the non immigrant and the work permit on your own merits, and you can't do that on the Elite itself. And if so you qualify... you don't need the Elite. So it would seem like a very expensive roundabout way of getting a non immigrant and work permit. I have seen zero suggestion that Elite can bend anything so that you can get this stuff without the usual requirements. They will just assist, same as a lawyer or visa agency will assist.

@Daniel *************

I know of several business owners that are active in their investments and are seen on a regular basis. Some even have name cards with them listed as Owner / CEO. Provided the business is structured legally and you are employing the correct number of employees, paying taxes and not making problems, you can probably be happy. But you should speak to a good lawyer before committing.

@Daniel *************

and if you are based in Bangkok and do your 90 day reporting @ CW, you do not have to wait in queue, just identify yourself as a TE member (you also receive a membership card / photo ID) and they will process you immediately. Thereafter you can file online or by post.

@Daniel *************

Better to buy it and hire a professional to run it / manage it on your behalf...might require a holding company as well. If you go this more active investment route, you should contact a lawyer for advise. For me, the best advantage of the TE visa is you have the choice of never having to travel and remain in the kingdom for the long term OR traveling frequently and enjoying the finest VIP departure and arrival service available, in any class, ie: First Class or Economy. The choice is yours.

@Daniel *************

If you run it, it means you work at your hotel than YES you need a work permit.

All I can say Daniel is that in nearly two decades of living, investing and doing business here, I have never had a work permit.

There is no mention of the word "tourist" on the elite visa sticker, and it does not state Employment is Prohibited", as the tourist visa stickers have noted. But everyone knows you cannot hold a work permit while an elite member.