Starting a business in Goa - Help please?

Hello, My name is Jason.
I am a youngish person looking to start a business of some sort in Goa North or South. I wish to start a restaurant, or even a small bar or cafe. My desire came to do this after a few week stay in Goa this year.
I was wondering if there is any foreigners who are doing business in Goa who could perhaps please give me a little advise? Or if anyone has any contacts doing something like this that they could set me up with?
I wish to find out information such as: appropriate business visas; getting past all the red tape; how to meet strict government requirements; what kind of money would be needed to start a small restaurant; which areas are suitable; what niche is good to step in to; is it a safe thing to do in India as a reasonably young person?

I would greatly appreciate help from any expats working in Goa or anyone who can set me up with someone.

Thanks,
Jason Smith

Hi JasonSmithSouthIndia,

I have joined this site, but have been using the site for many years.

I just thought I would tell you my experience of opening a restaurant in South Goa.

I had been going to Goa for a few years and always dreamed of opening up a bar/restaurant and one day this dream came true. A friend who i had met in Goa helped me find a bar/restaurant, he done all the paperwork put together a lease, offically signed by the courts etc. I did not get a business visa as i was going to be a silent business partner and just chill in the sun.
The place we rented had no restaurant and only beach huts, so we had to buy everything.
I got a website made in the Uk so we could take bookings for the beach huts, the business did really well, but the locals were not too impressed. Unfortunately alot of beach areas in South Goa are all family beaches (old fishing vilages) and they had been running their restaurants for many years, and did not like a new busisness coming along with their new ideas. Even though my business partner was Indian, he was not Goan and they saw this the same as being foreign. He got threaterned on many occassions, and after our first season there, we decided to pull away from the business. We shipped everything we had previously brought up to Dehraudun where my now husband lives.
It was a hard decision to make to pull away, especially as the lease was for 3years and i had invested alot of money, but there was no way i was going to pay the landlord rent after my partner was getting threaterned, it just wasnt worth it.
There are many foreign people who have done very well with setting up a business in Goa, it can be done but i wont be easy, I would say if you are going to go ahead and do this, try and get an Indian to help you, (if you know any) that way there is less chance of being ripped off.
I hope this helps, if you need anymore information about how much we paid for rent etc, please do ask.

Regards

Just curious. What beach was it? Agonda?

Angie is 100% correct. You've got no chance. Forget it! Just enjoy your holidays.

it was Patnem

Surprised it was Patnem, because when I was last there, there was a British girl of Indian decent who ran a restaurant. The Home is run by Brits. The Oceanic Hotel is run by Brits. I was offered a place on the beach to rent if I wanted.

In Patnem most of the people were nice and I didn't get any vibe like what happened to you. In Agonda though, I know that some of the people there don't want their beach to become another Palolem, full of tourists and huts. I heard the family that owns the Sunset Hotel and restaurant there burned down some shacks that were made by some British girls because it ruined their view! And then theirs that shell of a big 4-5* hotel that was abandoned because the locals fought against it.

The fact is that if you were to ask a cross section of foreigners who run buisnesses in Goa whether they would recommend a "newcomer" to try to do so, the vast majority (at leasy 90%) would say "NO WAY", adn would be able to back it up with many many reasons why not.

hi Amanda2193,

Most of the restaurant owner were ok to me, but some would not even say hello. Its all the stuff that happens in the background that no-one knows about.
All restuarant owners are all very nice to tourists, but when it comes to the business side its a different story.
Some of the other bar owners even made a fuss when i was standing in my own bar getting myself a drink.
The Oceanic and Home are well established places and have done really well for themselves, but i bet they had some problems to start with. Me personally i wasnt prepared to put up with all that, so thats why we left. My business partner had worked in Goa for many years and had alot of contacts so this did make it slightly easier for us. If we had of had none of that and were starting from scratch then i would have never invested any money in Goa. It all certainly opened my eyes up and now i see Goa alot differntly.

hey, i agree angie, i currently have a cafe/ bar in palolem beach.. setting it up was a bit of a nightmare. so much politics. if you're prepared to battle it out, go for it! its a great lifestyle if you can pull it off - but definitely get yourself a local indian partner. business visa will be tricky - i don't have one and this is a risk i take, but luckily i have a very good relationship with my business partner. hope that helps..

Hello Jason, i am in process of moving to goa end of this month or starting of january 2012, if you are still having your plans open do let me know.

No response from OP for over two months - maybe he is not interested in doing business in Goa anymore.

Cheers!

Hi White / Anjie,
What kind of Politics? Am quite surprised to hear Angie's experience...very sad.
And now am wondering what kind of challenges are in store if I plan to start a small resort. Or are the restaurants targeted.
Though I am an Indian but not a Goan. Some encouragement from Mr.SJWhite.
Anyways thanks for the info....

Because this thread is now attracting potential entrepreneurs soliciting members to join them in business ventures we are now closing the thread. India Mike is primarily for the exchange of travel information and some posts are becoming under the category of Classified Ad which we now no longer carry.