Hi Renee,

I thought would jump in here since I have started my own business and it is teaching English. What I am about to say is not much different from what others have already stated, but just some things to keep in mind.

1. What is your background in Spanish? I think it would be mighty hard to teach legal English if you don't have the equivalent vocabulary/knowledge in Spanish.

2. If you specialize in business/legal English, most of your clients will want an invoice that they can either submit to their company, or in the case of a lawyer who is "autónomo" (self-employed) write off with their taxes. Since you won't be legal you won't be able to produce this kind of document for them so your client base would be really reduced.

3. I operate out of my own office, work about 45 hours/week (teach 25-30) and do not make anywhere near a 6 figure salary. My client base is largely professional adults. I am legal and can produce invoices. I have been in business since 2004 and have a decent reputation in the neighborhood. In addition to the hours I personally teach, I also hire teachers to teach in-company.

Starting a business, without being a legal resident, is a whole different ball game from my case as I have comunitario status. If I am not mistaken, to start a business without legal residency, you will need at least $75,000 in the bank and a special investor's visa. That might be something you could look into.

Like I said, everyone here has been giving you honest and straight forward answers. There is no easy way to launch a business here or earn 6 figures. Much less so when you aren't a legal resident. Sorry the news couldn't be better for you.

Good luck!

Jer, I was looking at dean6410's post on page 1 of this thread (I note now that s/he actually said s/he was making 80,000 euros and that was equivalent of 6-figures in U.S. dollars). Thanks.

I know it's not possible to make a great income teaching english - hence my looking for another business. I am going to research the life out of this issue - where there's a will, there's a way! I'm not viewing a move to Spain as a money-motivated move, but given my age I need to be realistic - I am past the age where I can run around for the next few years from one end of the city to another every day for teaching classes, and I also have to make sure I have sufficient funds to retire on (yes, I am nearing that age). So, I have to find out if what I'd like to do is possible (surely there must be people in Spain making a good income!), and if there is a way that I can achieve that also. If not, I may have to stay in the U.S., get my retirement funds together, then make the move to Spain as a retiree (I'd rather not wait until then though if I don't have to). Thanks, everyone.

quote:

the only money you'll make here is chicken feed, and you could end up disappointed & then find yourself scooting-off back to the states, maybe in debt even!!

Angelo,

This happened to me, but I was not disappointed at all. While I was in Madrid, I made the best of my time there and I had a great time while doing it, although I wasn't 100% happy. I am back in the states now and found a program where I am an assistant in a public school in Madrid and can make good money for only 14 hours of work. So, me going back to the States was a blessing and not a disappointment at all. A lot of times when things look like a failure are only blessings in disguise.

Shawn

hey renee77.

trust me when i tell you that deano is THE EXCEPTION to the rule.

he is also eu so you cannot compare that to your situation as he is totally legal to bill clients here. very few companies will be able to work with you if you cannot bill them (whether the biz be online or not).

and if you read his post you also see that he wtote "I literally was online 10-16 hours per day 7 days per week, and it took me 18 months to learn about and decide what I was going to do to make good money online."

and in another post he said he works "51 weeks a year".

working that much is NOT my idea of the spanish way of life (no offense deano) as it would leave very little or no time to enjoy spain.

the spaniards get 4 weeks paid vacation a year (even in the lower paying jobs). my wife gets them and even though i have my own biz, i always make sure i take at least those 4 weeks off when she does to recoup from the rat race.

those are the hours my friends back in the u.s.a. work (many happen to be attorneys as well) and that is the life they want but it is not the one i want. to each his own but i would venture to say that very few ex-pats here will make 6 figs.

quote:

(surely there must be people in Spain making a good income!)

depends on what you consider "good". i would say i make a good salary.

saludos,
jer...

Jer brings up a good point when he says a good salarywhich is very subjective. I wans't making that great of a salary as an English teacher when I was there, but I enjoyed my lifestyle. While many people were stuck in offices all day and sometimes all night, I was out and about teaching and having fun while doing it.

We simply cannot compare salaries in Spain to salaries in the US. We are talking about two different countries. Before anyone jumps on their high horse, I am not saying that anyone on this thread is comparing salaries.

Once again, "a good salary" is a very subjective concept.

Shawn