So You want to start a business in Belize

[pedro]

you should come to Belize for a minimum of six months,and look around and see for yourselves what mistakes are made by other people who bought something without ever living in Belize.

examples a bar has just been sold on the beach with no restaurant facilities -asking price was 130kusd for a lease of less than 2 years and a monthly rent of 2100usd -this would be impossible to make money on-the bar was sold for 30k and same rent-I cannot see how the new owners can make money as most of the clients are not in the "well heeled society" drink a few rums rum or beers and spend most of their time complaining how expensive things are in Belize-this is going to be  very difficult for the owner to claw back his investment and live on the income-imo impossible.

Another thing why people listen to people who have never done business in Belize is totally beyond my comprehension-listen to the successful ones but always take their views with a pinch of salt why should they help a newbie who they do not know-when you decide which bar to use by your rounds but do not buy more than your share-when you are accepted then listen as by now you should have got a grip on who is doing well.


When you start your business (no matter what it is) be prepared to work 14 hours a day every day and maintain control of the money-do not allow others to manage your affairs -it does not work (generally)

To wrap it up be prepared to make less money and to work harder than you have done in the past.

[deadserious]

On another note, for anyone looking to build a business in Belize, the best solution is to look at something that does not rely on local customers nor tourists and where your income comes primarily from out of country. 

Once BTL gets their act together, I'll be establishing my business, which does exactly that, in Belize.

[Pedros Hotel]

Dead Serious

just want to point out that you have yet to start a business in Belize

[deadserious]

just want to point out that you have yet to start a business in Belize

Your point is?

[Pedros Hotel]

you mean I have to have a point

[deadserious]

Just wondering where you were headed with that as I didn't think it was relevant to what I posted.  I currently do 100% of my business online with none of my customers in Belize.  My work can be done from anywhere that has an adequate internet infrastructure (here's to hoping the GOB takeover of BTL fixes things).

This is the best type of business to do for someone moving to Belize as all money made is generated from outside the country and brought into the country and business successes isn't dependent upon local factors that effect the other aspects of the Belizean economy, such as tourism.  Plus it is something you build before you come and you can maintain a steady income once you get there.

The fact that I have yet to start a business in Belize is irrelevant in my opinion so I was wondering why you think it is.

[pedro]

I may have to agree with you -it is just that I have seen a few people come down with internet busineses and tehy have come and gone as it appears that it was too difficult for them to work down here

[deadserious]

You are right that it has been too difficult for me to work my business down there, but the reason has been the anti-competitive practices in place at BTL.  Blocking of VPN's and Skype make it impossible for me to work on their networks.  If the GOB can fix those problems now that they've nationalized BTL, my hope is that it will enable my move sooner rather than later.