AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Employment Buying local business.

He is nuts...;) He just wouldn't listen:)

I tried to warn him, lol.

Everything has a budget center.

Whats wrong with jumping out of planes, I like jumping out of planes.

It always amazes me when someone comes here, buys a business that is loosing money, then change the name and opens the doors thinking they will be successful in a property that has not done well and is only leased.
What do people think they are buying? Goodwill? Inventory? For instance; The Stained Glass Pub was a successful restaurant for sometime - until the owners split up and went back to the states. The building set empty for over a year and finally was sold (I was told for about half the asking price). The new owner promptly changed the name and the menu. It was a disaster. The same location has gone through any number of owners since then, always with a name change.
I would challenge any prospective buyer to ask around and find out what you are actually buying.
A recent littler operation was a fellow who ran a good restaurant, but not making money, solicited for partners to open a new restaurant. He got two new partners then started selling out his 50% to one of them until he was completely out of the business. So, what dud these new people buy?
I've been watching to see when someone would recommend our favorite Caribbean tale; Don't Stop the Carnival. DO NOT ATTEMPT A BUSINES HERE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS.
The culture here is very different from most of the US. There seems to be no shame in being caught stealing or lying. I have seen people caught red-handed stealing - getting fired - and coming back in two weeks asking for a job. The USA has entitlement programs - there are special ideas of entitlement here.
Don't get me wrong - I love it here - I just live in reality and know when I 'loan' someone something I have 'given' it to them.

I'll take that challange!! I'm asking what folks here think of the following.

Parasail Business
Resturant Casa Picassa
Scuba Dive Center
Unique Coffee Shop
Printing Business
Burger Joint

Are some of the current business' for sale. Which ones are the winners and which are the losers?

Here's a more complete list, but any feedback on the above would be helpful and interesting.

http://www.businessesforsale.com/search/Businesses-for-sale-in-Belize

Why buy a parasail business? Just start your own. Fuel, boat and parachute maintenance will bankrupt you. Sun and salt is bad for canopies.

Casa Picasa was well known because of the couple that ran it and the excellent food. It's been out of business for a few years now. A new owner would have to put a lot of effort into bringing it back to it's glory days. But then all restaurants are a lot of work. Triple the work in San Pedro.

Scuba dive center. Way too much competition. And fuel, employee costs and boat maintenance are killers.

Coffee shop. How much money does that make?

Printing business. I don't know how much is needed on the island, or who does it.

Burger joint. There's already Legends. Unless that's the one. And again, it's a restaurant. LOTS of work.

Some people have come to San Pedro with pretty good ideas and have worked hard to make it work. Many have left with broken dreams and bank accounts.

There are still pirates in Belize, they just don't have wooden ships and steel cannons any more.

But if you do have the right business venture or set up, San Pedro is a pretty magical place.IMHO

The printing business and Legends are probably the 2 best choices in my opinion.

ARRR! So, tell me, why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"

I looked at the lsit of places for sale. I'm with Simon. Printing or burgers. I'd probably pick printing, paper doesn't go bad.

arrgghh matey.