Thread: Starting a business here in Spain

I am being nosy now if you were going to start a one person business here, what do you think would work and what would not !

I think the best business - especially if you know enough Spanish and live in an area with lots of Spanish women - would be hairdressing! In spite of the "crisis", I haven't noticed any hairdressers closing down!

I know a lady who five years ago took a hypnothereapy course and is now so sucessful she is constantly jetting off to all parts of western world holding seminars.
Lots of people must feel like turning to hypnothereapists for weight loss, quitting smoking, gaining a positive attitude etc. pay good money too.

Personally I would not recommend a bar. There seems to be a never ending stream of Brits snapping up small bars which have closed down because the previous owners couldn't make them pay. There are some which have been going for years and are succesful, but they seem to be in the minority. Others seem to change hands about every six months. Maybe many years ago, it was a good investment, but with the low pound and the recession many would rather pay 23 cents for a can of beer and sit on their patio with friends, than sit in a bar and pay between 2 and 3 euros for a pint.
CD

trouble is it has all been done here, trying to start something original and profitable in spain is difficult i think.

Gardener, Dog Carer (for vacation periods for other folks, say up to 2 dogs £8/day per dog); car booting; home delivery of shopping for old folks at reasonable rates, pick up and shop for old folks at reasonable rates; selling quality garden furniture at cheap rates imported from china on eBay and at Car Boots; sale of home made cakes at car boots, markets etc; teach Pilates (very popular round our way and not bad rates).

I wrote a long reply to this then found I was timed out ! not a happy bunny.

hairdresser YES to date I have only found 2 spanish hairdressers that are any good and thats not brilliant just good, not a patch on my hairdresser in UK and yes I go to her every trip back. The man that did my hair for my wedding is also worth the trip to Gib. So I agree with the hairdresser option.

Hypnotherapy, not something I would use, who does, business people ? people trying to get back in work or promotion ?

Thader yeah bars, how often have we read on ex pat forums the dream of having a bar in Spain. The work load alone would put me off long before I thought seriously about it. I have done hotel work and ran a guesthouse and thats hard work !

Haggis now while I would pay for haggis to shipped

( I don't have to though) I can't think what I would want shipped. Maybe when you move here or return to your native country. I only purchase small amounts of goods on line and postage is cheap enough.

J you swore ! gardener what are they ? puttt yes if you were reliable, knowledgable and mot looking to make a million from one customer I believe there is work for that and pool cleaning/maintenance.

Dog carer, I would only use if properly licenced and the dogs were kept strictly apart in proper kennels. I know a lot of people that feel that same hence it is difficult to get places.

I would not use the 'poodle palace' type places either. Scally is a dog not a baby.

I know some can make money at car boots but trawling them and seeing past the complete rubbish is not my thing. I have read that many visitors spanish and expat want it for little or nothing here. I don't think the spanish really 'do' second hand.