Nicole - 4-3-2007 at 04:59 PM
Hola fellow Nomads!
I am sitting here in the cold, white far north wondering if you have ever had an idea for a business - either retail or service-oriented - that you
would like to see in Baja Sur... It might be something not found there currently or something that could be "improved" upon. It should, of course, be
something that is legal and not involving sex of any sort. 
Having said
that, I am sure to have a few replies from you jokesters out there - and you know who you are!!! But seriously though, any and all insight you would
like to share would be most gratefully appreciated.
Presently at the brainstorming stage, we are an adaptable, trainable, energetic team who are looking for a way to better serve the people of Baja Sur,
resident and tourist. Our preferred location to settle would be the Eastcape or the Todos Santos area. Because I know some of you will wonder, we are
a young couple with one small child who have worked most recently as a teacher/medical transcriptionist and a land planner. Our personal interests are
home renovations, gardening, and artfully-designed liveable interiors. We do not currently own property in Baja but are planning to buy in the near
future and will apply for the necessary FM then. We do not require a ton of cash to live, love trying to speak Spanish and our preference would be for
an idea that could work for the months of Oct. or Nov. to April of each year. Please don't be limited by our current occupations in proposing ideas as
we have lots of different skills and abilities.
Thanks in advance for any and all input and ideas!!!
Cheers, Nicole.
[Edited on 4-4-2007 by Nicole]
[Edited on 4-4-2007 by Nicole]
bajaguy - 4-3-2007 at 05:30 PM
How about a Trader Joe's???????????....
woody with a view - 4-3-2007 at 05:31 PM
buckle yer seatbelt, nicole. here they come!
bancoduo - 4-3-2007 at 06:10 PM
Drug smuggling can be very lucrative and fulfilling, but you must do your homework
Don Alley - 4-3-2007 at 06:18 PM
You have at least two major limitations. One is that as foreigners, employment and business opportunities are limited by the immigration and aduana
folks.
The second is that you seem to want to be part-time residents; it's got to be difficult to earn a living anywhere if you are only there between Oct
and April. I think if you want to make a living here, move down full time, and find some way to finance a business: Restaurant, bed and breakfast,
boutique hotel. There are many impersonal, borig hotels wharehousing guests in Baja, small places with personality can be killer.
Maybe books, periodicals, videos, but import duties make retailing gringo goods tough.
But, anyway, Loreto needs a Burger King.
I'm going to get it for that.
David K - 4-3-2007 at 06:36 PM
Good luck to you!
It is Mexico, and unlike here (in the U.S. anyway) the Mexican government ACTUALLY protects its workforce from foreignors who come to their country to
make money WITHOUT using the local labor pool, first.
If you have something to offer that cannot be provided by the locals then you have a shot.
I suggest you talk with the (Canadian) owners of IGNACIO SPRINGS Bed & Breakfast, in San Ignacio.
History and natural beauty is BIG in Baja... the locals aren't doing a lot to protect or preserve this beauty as they have shown by bulldozing through
ancient mission sites and cactus forests to plant short term crops or build golf courses, condos, etc.
Osprey - 4-3-2007 at 06:52 PM
You might find a tiny bit of competition but anything where you can come and go, no cash outlay, no licenses or permits, no credentials, no schooling,
no professional training -- any personal services to gringos such as soothing toes, fingers, feet, massage, incense, mysticism, Yoga, Ti chi, etc.
etc. Mexico does not want you working in jobs Mexicans can do. This way you won't be doing that -- Mexicans just don't do that kind of thing unless
they work for gringos.
Dave - 4-3-2007 at 07:37 PM
OK, I'm gonna start a new business.
Telling gringos everything* they need to know on how NOT to become part time business owners in Mexico.
*And I do mean everything. For a meager 10% of what you would normally invest I'll save you 90%.
Guaranteed!!! 
Kimpatsu_Hekigan - 4-3-2007 at 08:00 PM
To get an idea of the legalities involved with starting a business in Mexico, see this page from Rolly Brook's informative website:
http://www.rollybrook.com/starting_a_business.htm
Good luck! You'll need it...
-- K.H.
David K - 4-3-2007 at 08:09 PM
That is a GREAT link, thanks...
ncampion - 4-3-2007 at 09:35 PM
What's the problem with sex?????