What are the visa and investment requirements for starting a small business in Thailand as a foreigner?

Okay, let's start from the beginning, and get rid of lots of the misleading information you've got so far. Firstly, it is expensive to start a small business, and with any business dealing with the public you have job restrictions, jobs foreigners are banned from doing.

To set up a small business takes at least bt2million in registered capital, and you can only own 49% of your business. The other 51% is owned by Thai partners. For each work permit you must have the bt2million in registered capital, and hire four Thai employees. For two work permits all this would double. If you are married to a Thai these requirements are cut in half, bt1million registered capital, and two Thai employees. Your wife would be the 51% share holder. The Thai job restrictions for foreigners ban any form of retail sales. You can consult, but not sell to the public. You will be a simple small business so you won't qualify as a BOI registered company. Forget about setting up an NGO as that takes at least bt150nillion in registered capital, and government approval. You get your business set up legally then you can get your type B visa and work permit, or if you are married to a Thai, you can also work, and get the work permit with a type O visa extension based on Thai wife. These are the basics. There are other requirements depending on what type of business you start, but these are the basics. If you are an American you could set up a Treaty of Amity business, but all this does is eliminate your need for a work permit, and the Thai employees, but the financial requirement is the same. It just gives you a year to meet that requirement. It also costs from bt60,000-bt80,000 in attorney fees setting up the required corporation. My wife is a licensed accountant and deals with all this on a regular basis.

Put it in a Thais name. Pay them something each month. Get a working visa 90 day renewable.

Carlsberg?? Tesco?? Body Shop

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Hello my people!!!

I just received my Tourist visa for 90 days

I would like to know the requirements upon arrive at the airport. What will the Thai immigration officer be asking for.

This is my first time coming to Thailand

Hi Matthew, there is a Treaty of Amity with Thailand that permits American majority ownership of businesses in Thailand. The capitalization requirement is 2M THB, from which you can pay your salary, but equipment etc. If you don’t employ 4 Thai staff you will have to make 90 day border runs as your Non B one year extension would not be granted until you meet the staffing requirement. There are other options available to you. FB can give you some perspectives, but if you’re making Thailand home and are committed to starting a business I would recommend getting advice from counsel or someone who has been down this path. Best of luck to you. Mark

Registered your company almost 70k baht to 80k baht in which you get non B work permit and you allow hire two foringer peoples for your restaurant.if you have 300k to 400k baht enough start your little business.

Waiting for read the answer.

It can be done, while there is red tape involved, I think many people tend to overstate the difficulties, after all there are plenty of businesses that are at least partially expat run and managed all across the country. My advice would be to seek out advice from folks who have been down this path. Generally the advice on this page is great in terms visas in general, but as for the ins and outs of starting a business, I would recommend asking and consulting an expert..

I have a vegan restaurant and health shop in Pai that we’re selling

that could be interesting for you.

Its not that expensive to start a business what gets expensive is having four thais fully paid, social security etc.

I dont think what you plan to do would be allowed either unless you just stayed behind the scene

It's very expensive to start a business and requires a large amount of capital. You also won't be able to work at all unless you have a non-B visa and work permit. You can only get 1 foreigner work permit for every 4 full time Thai employees you have.