Opening a business in your SO's country

[Ta Ta 1]

Who has thought of opening a business, store, shop in your SO's country ?

Who has actually done it and are you glad you did ?

We were thinking of several businesses like taxi service, Boutique, computer parts and repair ( he is big into computers )

but have settled on a Rice and staples shop.

The initial investment is very low, $ 500 for rent for a whole year and $ 50 per sack of rice.

We would also sell oil, flour and sugar.

He wanted the computer store but I think it would be a hassle buying the parts for repair as they are not easily accessable

in Sierra Leone so the Rice and staples is more realistic.

It is fun planning and talking about it for us and to kick ideas around. ( The phone company loves our long talks about it too !!! ) It is so difficult to find work in S/L so we may as well open a business ourselves and he will be operating the store there since

it may take another whole year for him to get here. Then someone in the family or close friend can take it from there.

Just wanted to bounce ideas around.

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

Joseph owns some land in Enugu and we plan on building a guest house ( bed and breakfast type with a smae resturant /bar )

and a small shop attached to it and/or from his cousins place. We have plenty of relatives to manage it while we are here and will use the guest house as a place to stay in Enugu. Drinks/ phone cards we aren't sure what. We are also thinking of importing clothing to southern caifornia

[ForeverAmen 0]

We have considered a Bus service. A company that provides transportation between the various cities (perhaps up to a 6-8 hour drive away). Another option was building a duplex. But from what I think I understand, we may have people wanting to occupy space, but pay no rent all in the name of 'because we are family'. Not to be inconsiderate, but the bank wants the loan repaid regardless of whose occupying the premise. So far these are just ideas for us, our thoughts probably won't be put into action until much later.

Edited August 27, 2008 by Boaz

[Ta Ta 1]

We have considered a Bus service. A company that provides transportation between the various cities (perhaps up to a 6-8 hour drive away). Another option was building a duplex. But from what I think I understand, we may have people wanting to occupy space, but pay no rent all in the name of 'because we are family'. Not to be inconsiderate, but the bank wants the loan repaid regardless of whose occupying the premise. So far these are just ideas for us, our thoughts probably won't be put into action until much later.

Yes, I can imagine, 1. and 2. and 3. cousins all "because we are family ". At that rate you would never make a profit

and they all would want to be treated equally

We were thinking about the van transportation but it is too high of an investment to start with for our pocket book right now.

The veehicles will brake down and the gas is very high.

So we have to start on a small scale for now, by now I mean within 2 months to get it rolling.

[Ta Ta 1]

Joseph owns some land in Enugu and we plan on building a guest house ( bed and breakfast type with a smae resturant /bar )

and a small shop attached to it and/or from his cousins place. We have plenty of relatives to manage it while we are here and will use the guest house as a place to stay in Enugu. Drinks/ phone cards we aren't sure what. We are also thinking of importing clothing to southern caifornia

We have some land in Sierra Leone. I tried to find a buyer for it to help finance the visa cost but was not successful

in finding a buyer. It is hard to get the price we want for it right now so we decided to keep it and built a rental unit later.

Rent is so cheap there it won't be a lot of profit unless we built something really nice.

I hear phone cards make very little profit.

Can you tell me more what you mean by importing clothing to S. California ?

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Bassi and I haven't thought seriously about it yet. We talk about stuff in general terms, but truthfully, Bassi is the kind of guy that takes one thing at a time. He doesn't think that far ahead. So, he's more focused on passing the driving test right now.

He has a friend in Ghana that runs a business and we may work with him on expansion. It helps also to have someone experienced there taking charge and just working our end from here. I think at one point they were talking about selling cars even. So, who knows. I'm not big into entrepreneurship. I'd just have to have money to take care of my babies. That's about it and Bassi knows it. My dream is and always has been to open an orphanage or children's home of my very own. I work with a children's home in Kenya now and we are building one in Haiti. Our next stop is supposed to be Ghana. Whoo Hoo!! I love it! That's my real passion.

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

Joseph owns some land in Enugu and we plan on building a guest house ( bed and breakfast type with a smae resturant /bar )

and a small shop attached to it and/or from his cousins place. We have plenty of relatives to manage it while we are here and will use the guest house as a place to stay in Enugu. Drinks/ phone cards we aren't sure what. We are also thinking of importing clothing to southern caifornia

We have some land in Sierra Leone. I tried to find a buyer for it to help finance the visa cost but was not successful

in finding a buyer. It is hard to get the price we want for it right now so we decided to keep it and built a rental unit later.

Rent is so cheap there it won't be a lot of profit unless we built something really nice.

I hear phone cards make very little profit.

Can you tell me more what you mean by importing clothing to S. California ?

There is a large Nigerian community here in California and they love their clothes. Prices for the stuff is very high. I still have to see wht the profit margin will be. I like the idea of real estate and a second home as my primary is nearly paid off.

[reeses16 8]

We've been talking about having a guest house & a cafe. That way we have a place to stay when we visit (and so does our immediate family) and a way to generate money for the entire family.

[Ta Ta 1]

Thanks for the input, keep it coming.....

[LovinLiberia 0]

I think it's a great idea for S to open a business for himself, especially with work being so hard to find. We've been seriously talking about opening businesses there. We have papers drafted and are in the process of applying for permits. Our trip in December won't just be for the wedding, but also for finalizing the business ideas and doing something with our land. The things that we are immediately working on is a nice clothing store and a guest house (trying to do our small part in the rebuilding process). In the future, we want to do more real esate related business (fixing, building, selling, and renting property, buying and selling land...) and rubber. Firestone has a large plantation there and growing your own rubber trees and selling the rubber to Firestone is very profitable. Luckily, we have a rubber tree farm in our name, but it takes 7 years for the trees to mature and start producing rubber. They are 3 years old now, so we have a good 4 year wait before we can do anything with those.

Bassi and I haven't thought seriously about it yet. We talk about stuff in general terms, but truthfully, Bassi is the kind of guy that takes one thing at a time. He doesn't think that far ahead. So, he's more focused on passing the driving test right now.

He has a friend in Ghana that runs a business and we may work with him on expansion. It helps also to have someone experienced there taking charge and just working our end from here. I think at one point they were talking about selling cars even. So, who knows. I'm not big into entrepreneurship. I'd just have to have money to take care of my babies. That's about it and Bassi knows it. My dream is and always has been to open an orphanage or children's home of my very own. I work with a children's home in Kenya now and we are building one in Haiti. Our next stop is supposed to be Ghana. Whoo Hoo!! I love it! That's my real passion.

That's beautiful!!!

[Ta Ta 1]

A rubber tree farm, that sounds very interesting LL.

[reeses16 8]

Random, yet slightly business related. A friend went back home to Ethiopia for a long visit. He told me someone in Bahir Dar opened up a cafe called Obama Cafe. They have tons of Obama photos and stuff...the place is always packed. Thought it was nice, unique, and smart.

LL, those are some extensive plans! I know you two can do it. I admire that its important for you to participate in reconstruction.

[Zi Zi 0]

Who has thought of opening a business, store, shop in your SO's country ?

Who has actually done it and are you glad you did ?

were thinking of several businesses like taxi service, Boutique, computer parts and repair ( he is big into computers )

but have settled on a Rice and staples shop.

The initial investment is very low, $ 500 for rent for a whole year and $ 50 per sack of rice.

We would also sell oil, flour and sugar.

He wanted the computer store but I think it would be a hassle buying the parts for repair as they are not easily accessable

in Sierra Leone so the Rice and staples is more realistic.

It is fun planning and talking about it for us and to kick ideas around. ( The phone company loves our long talks about it too !!! ) It is so difficult to find work in S/L so we may as well open a business ourselves and he will be operating the store there since

it may take another whole year for him to get here. Then someone in the family or close friend can take it from there.

Just wanted to bounce ideas around.

Omaba,

Where would the business be located? In large urban area? In his area is there a certain industry(s) that provide good incomes ( I am thinking something to target those employees and employers.) When I did a real quick search for S/L and found the economic summary below:

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $3.971 billion; per capita $700. Real growth rate: 6.8%. Inflation: 11.7%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 8%. Agriculture: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish. Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.). Industries: diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair. Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite. Exports: $216 million f.o.b. (2006): diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish. Imports: $560 million f.o.b. (2006): foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals. Major trading partners: Belgium, Germany, U.S., UK, Côte d'Ivoire, China, Netherlands, South Africa, France (2004).[/b]

Reading it didn't give me any ideas because it pertains mainly to big business... but it might give someone else an idea.

I really like the rice and staple store(non perishable items) the only things I would worry about it competition but I am sure he would know where such a shop is needed.

You mentioned a taxi service. I read that S/l was trying to increase tourism. If he had a taxi service maybe he could concentrate on private airport transfers....you know the guys waiting for you with a sign. A lot of tourist when they travel like to be meet at the airport by a prearranged and driver and not have to the hassle of trying to negotiate a taxi at the airport. ( I say this as a female who travels alot international on business. My company will pay 40-60 bucks to have me picked up at the airport..when I can hail a cab alot cheaper. Believe me its nice to have someone waiting on you at the airport when you arrive.) He can promote this thru company's that bring in foreign workers or guest and with hotels...or with a website. When he doesn't have any scheduled pick ups he would just operate as a general taxi. Down side you would have to provide a car that is nicer than the average taxi.

Anyway thats all I could come up with.......

ZiZi

Edited August 29, 2008 by Zi Zi

[Zee Bee 61]

We talked about tourism. I really want to open a guesthouse/hotel. We wanted to start small, like a travel agency and then build up. There are not a lot of quality travel agencies that I have seen in Ghana but we want to be a one-in-all kind of thing: plane tickets, lodging, transportation, tours etc. No bouncing from one contact to another

[LovinLiberia 0]

Random, yet slightly business related. A friend went back home to Ethiopia for a long visit. He told me someone in Bahir Dar opened up a cafe called Obama Cafe. They have tons of Obama photos and stuff...the place is always packed. Thought it was nice, unique, and smart.

LL, those are some extensive plans! I know you two can do it. I admire that its important for you to participate in reconstruction.

Thanks! LOL @ the Obama Cafe. I would love to go and visit that place one day. That was such a great idea!