Hello all,

I really want to move to Spain but getting over there illegally is not an option for me. So I'm looking for work but obviously it's tough from here. I need help. I can start my own business or work for someone else, as long as it is in Spain. Ideas? I speak Spanish and I have a B.A. in International Business. I don't have much experience but would prefer a job in marketing and/or advertising if I have to work for someone else.

I have several ideas for starting a business there, and since many of you live there currently, you may be able to help. First is a ski/snowboard shop. Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe and those industries are skyrocketing there, but could/would I be successful? The other idea I have is to open up a doggy day care place. This place could have boarding places, grooming services, as well as just have a day care package for the dogs. These places are taking off in the States, but who knows about Spain. I figure that it would have to be in a very wealthy area of Madrid or Barcelona to be profitable. Opinions? Thoughts?

I have been going through a lot of threads here and have come across some inspiring things. Thank you all for posting.

Ryan

p.d. My lease in Denver is up in 6 weeks, so I have very little time to make up my mind. I can stay here short term while looking for something, or sell everything and move there and look for something. I know I'd have to return to the US to apply for a work permit, but at least I'd be there. Thanks for reading!

Ryan,
you need to jsut come over here and figure it out from here. if you are worried about the illegal thing, know that you have 3 months on your tourist visa. to renew it, you go back to the states, or jet (um...ferry) down to morrocco.

the doggie day care could work in madrid as this town is obsessed with its pets. i've seen a few doggie grooming places in barrio salamanca and saw one mobile doggie grooming van tidying up a poodly near santiago bernabeu.

as for starting a biz, do a search on this site, and also do a standard google search. there is a spanish legal website that is in English and will surely have info. I know someone posted about it on the board, but I don't remember where or what.

skiing/snowboarding is indeed big here. you'll have to do your research though. you could have a big advantage if you offer it in English as then you could tap into all the tourists and resident guiris.

anyway i have to repeat, that i think it is futile to try and plan it all out before you come here. you have three months and you can really pound the pavement once here, visit the embassy, go see a lawyer specializing in this kind of thing, make connections, visit doggie shops, etc.

Good Luck
Candela

Agreed on all fronts. You can't have everything lined up before coming here...it just doesn't work that way in Spain! I agree that doggie day care could be good...I had trouble finding pet care here and even thought of starting my own service until I met all the generous cat-loving mm'ers who have taken my kitties under their wing. I think more pet care is definitely needed here.

And with the recent posting about a lawyer who can help you get your papers done (or at least let you know how likely it is), within your 3 months you should be able to get a good idea of your situation before deciding to commit to staying.

Wait a minute...on the website Candy mentions above...doesn't it say that if you invest a certain amount here in starting a biz (60K maybe?) you can automatically get a work permit??

Trekking and climbing stores are really picking up around here, these sports are starting to become very popular with the health awarness and all, check out www.barrabes.com, they are even popular in US now, major Spanish on-line store success story.

As for the pet daycare, I am not sure. From what I have seen so far, families in Spain are very close together and generaly are not very mobile people, so they always have an aunt/uncle or a mother living close by. Most of my friends with kids hardly ever leave there kids with a nanny, they usually leave them with family members, I would guess this is the same with animals, though I am hardly the expert on this subject.

I would only agree with Candela about coming over here to Spain to scope things out first hand / in person within the first 3 months and then be ready to go back home to make some money and put everything together from there.
The worst you can do is make the official move over here too soon / before you are prepared and end up strapped for cash and then find yourself teaching English against your will just to try and make ends meet.
I say get all of your stuff in order first, taking as many trips back and forth as necessary, and then once you have everything ready go ahead and make your move.

I would not recommend a move without first being financially secure. It's just a bad idea. If you have a bunch of money saved then go for it. I say work in the States for as long as it takes to start your business abroad. Save additonal money to fall back on just in case your business doesn't go as expected.

Good luck!

As a guy who does marketing, you may wish to join a large consulting gig, or even go it on your own. A lot of the medium enterprises here are starting to think about attracting english customers either by directly marketing to them in the UK, or through discreet marketing to British and American nationals here in Spain, mostly because it's the english-speakers who have the money.

A lot of spanish marketing people are floundering over this, at least in the couple of companies I've worked with, as they have vaguely realised that english-speakers are different to market to, but they aren't sure how. Spanish marketing towards Spaniards takes a much more formal tone, and involves a much less abstract level of impressive-sounding b.s.

As for pet daycare, it may well take off. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of families here either live together or close to each other, and it might be the working man's abuelo who comes over and feeds the dog and takes him out for a walk during working hours, so you have that as competition.

Hi! Just adding my two cents' worth. The pet day-care thing sounds good. Since it's a business you can also combine with pet care grooming and stuff.

I think the same argument goes for kids. THe day-care thing here functions very well with kids. I think the same argument would go for pets. If there are a lot of young couples today who can't leave their kids with their parents, they also can't do that with their pets. A lot of people here are from outside Madrid so the parents can't be here to take care of anything.

Good luck!

Ryan,

I sent you an email, but I will just state what it said.

Take your time and PLEASE do not come over here without sufficient funds. Thanks for that HAIR.

Here are some questions to consider:

You want to open a business, but what's your business plan?
How do you plan to finance it?
Have you seen sites on how to open a business in Spain?
Do you know everything involved in getting a business visa?
Who will your customers be?
Where will your business be located?
Do you know how much it costs to rent office space in Madrid?
How much will your suplies cost?

The list goes on . . .

Think hard about your decision because it is not to be taken lightly.

I wish you luck and want to see all people realize their dreams.

Let us know how it goes.

Shawn

Just to second (or third) what Hair and Shawn have stated...

Many people come over here for different reasons. Some come over and prefer to "wing it" so advice and opinions for them would be different.

As the owner of a small business, I fully agree with Shawn�s line of questioning.

When someone opens a business in the USA, they seek all sorts of advice and do all kinds of planning. Your steps to take should be no different in your decision to open a business here in Spain.

Candela brought up excellent points about doing the research first. Come here, scope out the territory then go back and do your planning. The decision to move here and open up shop should not be based on how quickly your lease is up. It should be based on facts that you have researched in your planning process.

Good luck with your ideas. They sound interesting!