Moving & Starting a Business in the DR

Myself, partner & daughter are at present living in the UK. But we are planning to move to the DR next year. We holidayed in Puerto Plata, last year and loved it, we also fell in love with the people and their way of life. we are to return again in October to be married and look at renting a property to start with, as we have been given this advise. We have also been given information on schools etc. The problem is we have a budget, of around ?60,000 to play with. As this won`t last forever, we would have to find some form of income. We have also been advised to invest it and we should be able to live off the income. But thats not us, we would like to start a business of some form. This hopefully will enable us to live comfortably and give something back to the DR as well, we are not aiming to get rich. At present I work on the Railway, I am a Signals and Telecommunications Engineer, (work with the Electrics) so there`s not much call for that. I was also a very good chef for many years.We dont speak Spanish & have been told that it is very difficult to start a business. We have two ideas for a business, one is shooting, the other is poultry. We are both keen clay pigeon shooters and have been for many years, I have been shooting clays since the age of 16, I am now 42 so I would dearly love to open a clay pigeon shooting ground and offer the tourists a days Clay shooting in paradise.We have worked out a business plan and everything from security to the shoot itself, possible income, to hired help but we have been told this is more than likley to be a no no, because of the stringent gun laws in the DR. The other idea is poultry, We would like to start a chicken farm. Organic, freerange, free from steroids etc. We have a friend who is a poultry farmer, he rears on average 3000, per month. We wouldn`t aim to have as many as that of course, nearer the 1000, mark. But have been told the DR people may not go for this as they already have their own poultry farms and we may be stepping on their toes, it could upset them. So before I start working for months on a new business plan can anybody give me some advise as to whether this is possible. thanks.

Hillbilly said:

At least what I saw on a CNN reort last night, is that they are not free range-like cattle wandering around and eating whatever they find-at all. They are just not in cages!. And that is how 100s of thousands of chickens are raised here already.

So no clay pigeons (exhorbitant costs involved=just multiply what you pay for a box of 12 ga. shells and X 4 times (or more) + headaches you have already been told about.

And no "free range poultry" Already too much of that, and no real market value for the "free range" thing.

Ever think of the cigar business? This is where it is centered. there are opportunities, if you can find somebody to buy them in the UK.

And there are plenty of other opportunities, but like the good AdriamB has suggested, you have to look around. And hang onto your money as if it were a lifesaver and you were afloat in the middle of the pond!. Many people will be looking to "help" you...

HB

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thanks for the advise, So would we be able to survive in the DR for a year say on ?10,000 English Pounds.

Robert said:

Great post Adrian!

Doing business here is like nothing you have ever encountered. I would strongly suggest you sit of your 60,000 and invest at least 3 months getting to know this country and how things work before making a commitment of any sort. Rent a place, look, listen and learn. To be honest, your business plan has more worth in it's paper recycling value right now, as you really have no idea of all the pitfalls that exist.

On the positive side...

Other than living here, this board is by far your best source of knowledge.
Don't be afraid to ask relevant and specific questions. You will always get relevant and specific answers.

We ALL want your future business to be a success here, but it's important for you to know this country is not a walk in the park.

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Thanks for the advise, I do spend a lot of time reading here. So would it be possible, for us to move to the DR, rent for a year and survive on a budget of ?10,000 uk pounds.

jsizemore said:

Look if you are not trying to live like a king you can do it. I was in full party mode on one trip and other than lodging I spent $20 a day and was having a blast. So with cooking your own meals and not going out every night three people can make it on under $800 US a month.
Hey worst case find your self a low paying job someplace to stay busy. My opionion your biggest danger is getting bored.
Outside looking in.
John

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Thanks for your helpful advise, I have been around quite a bit, in the forces, so I have seen all sides of the coin. The thing that we would like to get across is, we are not some silly tourists that visited the DR, had a great two week vacation, and have come back with the holiday blues. And from that hey presto we are going to move and holiday for the rest of our lives. We know that it is not going to be easy, but infact it`s going to be a nightmare at first. We dont even speak the language. Different cultures and a completly different way of life. But whilst we were holidaying there, we took time to meet the people and looked at thier way of life, most of them do not have the luxuries that we take for granted over here, but through all that they are smiling. We are preparing ourselves to say goodbye to all that we have here and have a megre existance until such times as we have rebuilt a new life. We both enjoy reading the threads on this board and hopefully in October, we are going to aim to meet up with some of the people living in the DR that contribute to the messages on DR1.

Thanks for your helpful advise, I have been around quite a bit, in the forces, so I have seen all sides of the coin. The thing that we would like to get across is, we are not some silly tourists that visited the DR, had a great two week vacation, and have come back with the holiday blues. And from that hey presto we are going to move and holiday for the rest of our lives. We know that it is not going to be easy, but infact it`s going to be a nightmare at first. We dont even speak the language. Different cultures and a completly different way of life. But whilst we were holidaying there, we took time to meet the people and looked at thier way of life, most of them do not have the luxuries that we take for granted over here, but through all that they are smiling. We are preparing ourselves to say goodbye to all that we have here and have a megre existance until such times as we have rebuilt a new life. We both enjoy reading the threads on this board and hopefully in October, we are going to aim to meet up with some of the people living in the DR that contribute to the messages on DR1.

Conchman said:

The clay pigeon shooting thing for tourists might not be a bad idea. You would have to find some tour operators (English ones bring the most tourists to the North Coast) to sell it for you - as they control the excursion/tours market, and be ready to pay outrageous commissions (40%).

Its worth looking into. Talk to the tour operators first and see how they receive the idea.

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Thanks for the encouragement.
When we where in Puerto Plata, we did ask some of the tourists what they thought. the feedback seemed all positive. It is a really popular sport in the UK, Canada, USA. We shoot every week and for a 50 bird sporting layout it costs us on average ?100. Now we shoot at many clubs, one in particular has at least 200 people turn up every Sunday to shoot. Another one that opens every Saturday about the same, there is hundreds of clubs here in the UK. We have been to competitions where 500 people have turned up, and paid ?50 upwards just to enter. We know many people whom have spent upto ?25,000 on a gun. We also now many many people who book shooting holidays, Greece, America, they go all over europe for competitions as well, it seems there is an awful lot of people prepared to spend large amounts of money for the love of this sport. Now if we could offer a 50 bird sporting layout to start with, that would be five stands of ten. With five people shooting at each stand, thats 25 people shooting on the range at anyone time. A saftey officer at each stand. As I have said I think ?50 for a fifty bird sporting round is very very reasonable. Thats ?1250.00. Its big money eventually, we aim to start small and grow. We would love to become the Bisley of the DR. It is possible, but we would require a lot of help and support. Imagine 25 shooting in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. Imagine shooting holidays in the DR?, Just a thought. We are sure we could have nice income, along with many other people involved in the running of this business.