Is it possible for an American to open a Beer Bar in Phuket, Thailand?

Many a farang has gone broke opening a beer bar.

Here are a few for sale in Phuket:

http://phuketdir.com/tigerentertainment/index.htm

http://www.bahtsold.com/detail.php?id=27382

http://www.phuketbarforsale.com/patong_beach_bar.h...

http://www.globalbx.com/listing.asp?bId=102032

http://www.asiabusinessinvestor.com/DirectSearch/E...

http://www.phuketbusinessforsale.com/

Maybe you'll be one to make it, its a buyers market. Here's an article on how to start. Don't forget the "tea" money.

http://www.knowphuket.com/Articles/20070225-own-a-...

http://www.knowphuket.com/Articles/20070311-own-a-...

http://www.knowphuket.com/Articles/20070318-own-a-...

You have received some excellent informative answers here! But i have to say.... Why would you want to throw a wad of cash away? You are crazy to want to start ANOTHER beer bar in a place with way too many beer bars. It is not easy to navigate this kind of business environment in your own country, much less in Thailand. Basically, you will be milked of every penny you have, then when you're broke they'll run you out like a dog. And you will have absolutely no legal recourse.

Consider your motives. sitting at a bar is totally different than sitting behind the bar. The Thai authorities have made it very difficult to work even in your own bar. No, you can't serve a drink or empty an ashtray. that work is reserved for Thai Meung.

If you want an extended stay in Thailand, go for it! i love the place and have spent maybe three years of the last ten in the Kingdom. If you need something to do, think day trading or exporting to your home country. how about volunteer work? go out and spread the word of Lord Buddha. How about a small talent agency?

just reconsider this bar idea. basically you would be wedding yourself to a lousy, cheating, gold digger who leave you the moment the ATM was empty.

Good luck and DON'T BUY A BAR IN THAILAND

First let me respond to the answer from Ice Cube. Americans are not required to have a Thai partner owning 51% due the the Treaty of Amity that exist between the two countries; we are the only foreigners with this exemption. Now, yes you can own a beer bar or any kind of bar in Thailand. Is it a smart idea...the answer is No? As one answerer has mentioned before many foreigners owning bars have lost most or all of their investment; this is due to many reasons. First, you cannot get a work permit to work in the bar (to oversee the money)even if you own the bar and would have to rely on a non owner manager to be responsible for this aspect. Not a good idea. Next there are so many parties that you will have to 'pay off', everyone from Thai gangsters to the police, believe it or not. Next and most importantly any existing bar(s) you purchase you will have to pay whats called 'key money' which is just a fancy way of saying that although you own the establishment the previous owner expects payments in perpetuity. My advice is to find another business or find an established place and become a part owner. It will save you much headache, heartache and most importantly money...Just a word of advice....Good Luck.

I would have the appetizers, I don't see anything wrong with beer and wine, you don't have to do the full range of alcohol. And if guests get hungry, they might get a bit grumpy! Keeping everyone smiling will make the atmosphere nicer. My husband and I bought the full 5-hour drinks package at our wedding starting straight after the late afternoon ceremony, (when the cocktails started) through to the end of the dinner reception but frankly, I don't think our guests made that much use of it. We didn't get married in the West where an open bar is quite normal, I don't think drink at a wedding is considered as important over here so that might have been a factor. What I can say is all the canapes were finished during cocktails, so it's obvious what was important to our guests! :-)

The best way to make a small fortune owning a beer bar in Thailand is to start with a large fortune !...don't do it,,and don't fool yourself into thinking you can do it. There is a 100% chancen it WILL fail..

You should contact the Department of Commerce, its website http://www.thairegistration.com/mainsite/index.php...

but I don't think that you can run the business as you're a foreigner becos you should have some one who you can rely on (very much) to translate some documents that only provide in Thai. Anyway, I hope you only want to open this kind of business becos you like to do, not becos you want to get rich from this business. God bless you lucky!

Yes, legally you will need a Thai partner holding more than 51% shares. Lots of western guys are investing in Thailand, that's including Pizza Hut that now changed the name to The Pizza. I met the guy, he is American and somehow owns lots of business in Thailand. In fact, he owns the whole Minor group, with a hotel in Pattaya, Pizza company chain, among a lot of businesses I can't remember.

Beer Bar may escape attention if you do it small enough, but I don't know whether you would be confronting with Thai gangsters extorting money for protection like Yakuza in Japan, like in the movie.

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Ok Micheal B: found this: But it's not quite covering Bar Beer:

U.S.–Thai Treaty of Amity

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The U.S-Thai Treaty of Amity, formally known as the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, was signed at Bangkok on May 29, 1966. The treaty allows for American citizens and businesses incorporated in the U.S, or in Thailand to maintain a majority shareholding or to wholly own its company in Thailand, and thereby engage in business on the same basis as would a Thai national. These companies are also exempt from most of the restrictions on foreign investment imposed by the Foreign Business Act of 1999. The treaty in effect allows for an equality of benefits between the countries. American companies who wish to be covered by the Treaty of Amity should have a minimum of 50% American directors and a minimum of 51% of shares must be held by American citizens.

Under the U.S.-Thai Treaty of Amity, Thailand restricts American investment only in the following fields of business:[1]

Communications

Transportation

Fiduciary functions

Banking involving depository functions

Exploitation of land and natural resources

Owning land; and

Domestic trade in agricultural products.

The treaty also allows for preferential treatment for Thai businessmen applying for visas to conduct business in the United States. The formalities for their applications are kept to a minimum. Under the treaty the U.S. Congress may not enact discriminating laws against Thai firms. Their profits may be freely remitted to Thailand and their assets may not be expropriated.[2]

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Nevertheless:

Thai-US Treaty of Amity Scheduled to Expire

In compliance with World Trade Organization rules requiring member nations to extend most favored nation status equally to all other WTO members, Thailand has announced that it will not renew the Thai-US Treaty of Amity. The 1966 Amity Treaty will soon be replaced by the Thailand-US Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement, scheduled to be unveiled at the October APEC summit in Bangkok. Existing privileges of the amity treaty will be extended to the new FTA agreement, and Thailand may even have to open up more of its services sector under the new agreement. The model for the Thai-US FTA agreement is the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the first free trade agreement between the United States and an Asian nation. The Thai-US FTA agreement would be the 6th between the US and a foreign nation. In 2006, Thailand will be required to open up to all WTO member nations, as per WTO rules.

Source: Thailand Law Forum, Friday 13 June 2003

Note: American Businessmen don't really wish to be treated under this treaty, because they then become Thai company and face a different restriction.

Same time you posted this you asked about opening a brothel in Mexico.

What are you really trying to do?