Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

Yeah good luck to him. Cyprus is not an easy place to start a business but if you network correctly and work hard it will come good in the end. If you sit on your back side nothing will happen!

There are opportunities out there it's just making sure it's the right one you persue

It depends what aspect of starting a business you are thinking of. In may ways it is an easy place to do business. For example, official procedures are straightforward and bureaucracy is non-intrusive, the rule of law is well established, banks are efficient, tax rates are low and the tax system is very straightforward and transparent.

[Z4]

Yeah good luck to him. Cyprus is not an easy place to start a business but if you network correctly and work hard it will come good in the end. If you sit on your back side nothing will happen!

There are opportunities out there it's just making sure it's the right one you persue

It depends what aspect of starting a business you are thinking of. In may ways it is an easy place to do business. For example, official procedures are straightforward and bureaucracy is non-intrusive, the rule of law is well established, banks are efficient, tax rates are low and the tax system is very straightforward and transparent.

Absolutley Tim.

What I meant by 'not easy' is getting the business off the ground/competition/finding a market etc. There are limited opportunities in Cyprus I feel there are some good ones available - you just need to think harder!

[Tim Drayton]

Yeah good luck to him. Cyprus is not an easy place to start a business but if you network correctly and work hard it will come good in the end. If you sit on your back side nothing will happen!

There are opportunities out there it's just making sure it's the right one you persue

It depends what aspect of starting a business you are thinking of. In may ways it is an easy place to do business. For example, official procedures are straightforward and bureaucracy is non-intrusive, the rule of law is well established, banks are efficient, tax rates are low and the tax system is very straightforward and transparent.

Absolutley Tim.

What I meant by 'not easy' is getting the business off the ground/competition/finding a market etc. There are limited opportunities in Cyprus I feel there are some good ones available - you just need to think harder!

Cyprus is a very clannish place and nobody takes kindly to foreigners coming in and taken the bread out of the mouths of their own people, that is for sure. If you can do something without treading on the feet of local people, though, then it is a different story.

[Z4]

Yeah good luck to him. Cyprus is not an easy place to start a business but if you network correctly and work hard it will come good in the end. If you sit on your back side nothing will happen!

There are opportunities out there it's just making sure it's the right one you persue

It depends what aspect of starting a business you are thinking of. In may ways it is an easy place to do business. For example, official procedures are straightforward and bureaucracy is non-intrusive, the rule of law is well established, banks are efficient, tax rates are low and the tax system is very straightforward and transparent.

Absolutley Tim.

What I meant by 'not easy' is getting the business off the ground/competition/finding a market etc. There are limited opportunities in Cyprus I feel there are some good ones available - you just need to think harder!

Cyprus is a very clannish place and nobody takes kindly to foreigners coming in and taken the bread out of the mouths of their own people, that is for sure. If you can do something without treading on the feet of local people, though, then it is a different story.

If you can't beat them - join them! (if you know what I mean).

[Z4]

I have a couple of ideas I would like to implement which involves working with locals (Cypriots) so hopefully they will be on my side as I would be helping to feed their mouths!

[CBBB]

Methinks the type of business he is talking about will require him to have a vehicle with a "T" plate (like taxis), and obtaining a licence for one of those can be very expensive, apart from the agro from local taxigis!

[Z4]

Methinks the type of business he is talking about will require him to have a vehicle with a "T" plate (like taxis), and obtaining a licence for one of those can be very expensive, apart from the agro from local taxigis!

Your probably right CBBB. Could he not 'get into bed' with a taxi company and use their licence?

[purdey]

There are VERY limited opportunities LEFT in Cyprus. Most bases have been covered and now the pricing war is beginning.
As for sticking a "T" plate on a vehicle and competing in that market well, you would have to know some people !

[Z4]

There are VERY limited opportunities LEFT in Cyprus. Most bases have been covered and now the pricing war is beginning.
As for sticking a "T" plate on a vehicle and competing in that market well, you would have to know some people !

Think outside the box Purdey and there are opportunities, plenty of them. You just need to be entrepreneurial.

It's the same in the UK. Most markets are covered and its one big pricing war. Thinking about it I feel there could be more opportunities in Cyprus than the UK!

I work in I.T and this is one saturated market. Once upon a time you used to make big bucks doing this but not anymore

[purdey]

I see where you are coming from Simon. Maybe I am getting a little too long in the tooth for starting again.
I have alot of good friends in Cyprus who have got plenty of get up and go and have done very well in business but are now starting to feel the pinch.
Not from lack of business but competition. One guy I know has done very well in bathroom fittings and tiles, has two shops one in Limassol one in Nicosia. Three years ago his pricing was based on a 46% mark up, today with competition he is working on 18%.
What with rents, staffing and distribution increases he is looking for work elsewhere.
So yes I am sure there are opportunities but I am not so sure a new Brit can corner the market and make a good living.