| ing a new enterprise aiming at the Portuguese market | | | | and that is in it’s self an advantage if one |
| is a difficult task at this point in time. The Portuguese | | | | speaks only one language. |
| economy is struggling; the new Government has raised | | | | There is more to business life in Portugal or the |
| taxes including the rate of VAT to 21%, hoping to | | | | Algarve for that matter, than to open a bar or |
| close the gap in the budget, bringing it in line to comply | | | | Restaurant. |
| with the European directive. | | | | I would challenge anyone who tells me that a Bar or |
| The increasing number of people from different | | | | Restaurant in the Algarve makes good money. I am |
| European countries moving to Portugal opens up new | | | | not trying to talk down or belittle the owners of Bars or |
| opportunities when one looks at the market the foreign | | | | Restaurants. All I try to say; be careful if you are |
| community represents. | | | | considering getting into that line of work. |
| The majority of ex pats do live in the Algarve Region | | | | Yes, there are always the exceptions, and there are |
| of Portugal. So if one is considering staring a business | | | | establishments which are running well. But on the |
| or buying an existing one that’s the place to do | | | | whole this particular trade does not offer a great deal |
| it. | | | | of return on the investment. |
| Let us look at some figures; According to the latest | | | | Most people have a skill or a profession, with which |
| official count there are around 30,000 British people | | | | they earned their money in their home country and it, is |
| living in the Algarve followed by 20,000 Germans and | | | | quite likely, that your “old” skills can be |
| a further 15,000 is made up of smaller groups of | | | | used in your host country. The difficulty is that one |
| people, coming from Holland, Belgian and France. | | | | may have to apply them in a slightly different way. |
| In total the Algarve has a total ex pat population of | | | | Don’t forget it is a different country and what |
| almost 65,000 and that is just the official figure. The | | | | worked in the UK or Germany or Holland may not |
| number of different nationalities living in this melting pot | | | | work here in the same way. |
| of different cultures is believed to be close to 87. | | | | If you are thinking of buying or starting a business, just |
| There is no doubt, that the influx of different people | | | | give us a call and have a chat with us. We are |
| from all over Europe has enriched the Region in more | | | | confident that we can give you some helpful advice or |
| ways than one. It is quite a sizable market to tap into, | | | | even some good ideas, or at least point you in the right |
| providing, one has the right idea how to market ones | | | | direction where to get the information you need. If you |
| services or products. In my opinion, there is a need and | | | | look at our web site you will see that we provide a |
| use for a lot of things. | | | | free information service for anyone with questions on |
| Since almost everyone amongst the foreign residents | | | | just about anything concerning Portugal in general and |
| speaks English the language hurdle is not so serious, | | | | the Algarve in particular. |