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As many of you know already, we are fed up with the US economy and looking to move to Costa Rica for a better quality of Life. We are a Husband and Wife with to toddlers. We have a full service SIgn company that has the most up to date machines for digital printing and for making Channel Letters ( Dementional aluminum letters Lighted by LED). Our equipment is worth about 300K if someone was to buy it new. We own everything out right and we are very good at what we do. We take home 10K a month and just get by here in Denver CO. We want to do this In Cost Rica.
Here is the question, Is this a company that can be sustained in Costa Rica? If the answer is yes then where sould we do this at in Costa Rica and what type of residency should we go after? Inversionista, Representante, Permanent. We do need to work at our company due to the Trade knowledge.
This is all for now and look forward to all your replies. Thanks In Advance
The first thing to realize is that Costa Rican culture is different than American in many ways. If you can’t think like a Costa Rican, you will have a very difficult time marketing to them. Would they see value in lighted signs? I don’t know, I’m not Costa Rican.
We see many American ideas start here, only to die due to lack of support from the populace. The American businesses that do well are usually in areas of high numbers of ex-pats.
That said, if you can find an area where you could convince enough people of the value in your product, you could be OK. On the other hand that goes for business anywhere, it’s just easier in your own culture.First off you will need to read the ‘Rules & Regs’ for moving here.
You cannot just apply for permanent residency. No matter which way you decide to go, it will be a considerable cash outlay.
As AlbertoB, write ‘many American ideas start here, only to die due to lack of support from the populace’ and your business is not one that most ex-pat’s require. And those who do, will not want to pay North American prices.
There are changes presently being considered which may require more financial outlay.
Realize, too, that there are many good sign companies here, but most businesses are owned/run by Costa Ricans. There are already ‘trained personnel’ which makes it harder to be considered a ‘specialist’ and be given a work permit.
The economy in Costa Rica is going through it’s own problems.
I have done some of the research on starting a company in COsta Rica. I will look at those links. Can you give me a website for some sign companies in Cost Rica. I am open to bring on a national as a partner.
Very few companies are on the internet. You would need to come here and search them out.
When bringing your equipment into Costa Rica, duty would have to be paid.
The easiest/cheapest way for you to obtain residency is to have another child born here. Then, you and the rest of the immediate family will eventually gain permanent residency, which could still take 1-2 years when you cannot ‘physically’ perform the work.
I would think the demand for signs would be in San Jose, which wouldn’t be the best environment for children. At least as far as I am concerned.I use to speak it but I am rusty now. I am fluent in German. I have lived in Germany for 4 years and am very capable in adjusting to other cultures. I must say that I really like living in other countries. As to having a Child born we are due our 2nd child in July. If we are there and she is born then we can get residency?
Why is San Jose not good for children in your openion?
Yes! You may obtain residency if the child is born here and both of you names are on the birth certificate. You should check out other postings on this subject. Contact Clinic Biblica for more information. The cost I think, is about $1500. plus you would need to be be here for at least a month beforehand, for doctors visits and your wife and baby at least for another 2-3 months after to get passports from both the US and Costa Rica Embassy. Paperwork takes time, here.
Again, you could return to the USA, then move when the legalities are sorted out and you have Permanent residency when you are both permitted, legally, to actually ‘work’ here. The salary you are will earn here will be a fraction of what you will earn where you are presently doing business.
San Jose has a very high crime rate and most people or I should say ex-pats avoid it, unless absolutely necessary. But, of course, you may like it.Like any big city, there are parts of the city – San Jose included – that have a high crime rate, you may not realize this but I live one block from Parque La Sabana in San Jose and I love it…
We know LOTS of people with children that live near San Jose in places like Belen, Escazu and Santa Ana and they seem to enjoy it. Let’s not forget that THE best choice in education for your children is here – There’s no other area in Costa Rica that has this wide choice in education for your children…
And yes! This is where the vast majority of business is done.. . And once you have established yourself and can legally work here, the salary you pay yourself in your own business is of course up to you… My company seems to pay me quite well. 🙂
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comIt’s starting to sound a lot like another anchor baby scheme! LOL 🙂 So if you manage to pull that off and don’t have to worry about obtaining another legal residency status requiring a pension/investment/deposit here goes…
My advice/opinion…. for what’s it’s worth. Make a few trips here first and see what the market is like for the type of business you have up and running in the US. Importing the equipment is going to have a cost as well the customs fees. There might be a good amount of competition which will place you at a disadvantage marketing here. As for the rules and regs….don’t worry… if you’re not doing something right or legal… the competition will drop a dime on you in a minute and have you jumping through hoops when the government folks show up at your door. One thing Tico’s are good at is making sure that the new Gringo on the block trying to cut into their business follows EVERY rule… even if they don’t themselves!
I tend to think that the money you’re making for the type of product you’re selling in the states is going to be much less here. Also the materials may not be as available here. Labor cost, should you hire Tico employees, will be less. Have you given thought to operating your business here and exporting the product to the markets you current serve back home? Production/overhead/labor cost would be much less here while your market price could stay near what it is now, even with transportation cost factored in.
Now may not be the best of times to relocate here with the type of business you’re running… but why not check it out… if nothing else you’ll get a couple of nice “exploratory” vacations out of it!
Location is going to be another big factor. Your business might need to be located near San Jose, while you’ll most likely not want to raise your family there. Perhaps close in some of the areas Scott points to.
Just some some food for thought
Edited on Mar 11, 2009 16:37
I share imx’ skepticism about the local market for the high-end type of sign you produce, but his idea of manufacturing them here for export is intriguing. Remember that you’d be marketing domestically to a total population of around four million. If your business plan was to produce for export, then locating in or nearby San Jose would become less important.
If you want access to the widest variety of educational opportunities, shopping and medical care, the San Jose area is for you. And it might be easiest to transport finished products from a location around San Jose. As for a manufacturing facility, however, I’d think about locating outside the immediate San Jose area where real estate costs would be less, crime would be lower, traffic would be a bit less congested and wages might even be a little less.
Anchor babies…the new wave of residency seekers. Even at 45 with grown children I am reconsidering..lol
Grb1063…. Anchor Babies… Recently it seems to be a common issue/question here. I guess with the growing concerns in the states folks that might not be able to apply for one of the other residency methods are looking for a shortcut. lol Perhaps they just figure it works in the US… why not make it work for them in Costa Rica! Problem is… you still have to find a way to supprt yourself AFTER you manage to bypass the residency issue… and that’s where the fun begins!
But just think about it for a moment… rather than having to wait until you’re old and grey waiting for the kids step up to pick out a nice nursing home for you to live out your days… why not put a child to work for you AT BIRTH providing you with the means to relocate to a wonderful country. I’m jealous…. not really… my dog will do fine! lol
I am not waiting until I am old. I have 10 years full time + 5 part time to preserve a large deferred benefit. We love CR and feel at home already in Montezuma area with several friends. Being fluent by birth and exposure to the latin culture has made it quite easy. A 2nd family is becoming more appealing. Our reasons are to live a leisurely life where your time is spent enjoying your rich outdoor environment, wear little clothing,sharing your expertise, gifts, labor, skills are whatever you have with the community you will likely die in. The health, tax and all other benefits are purely secondary. If you don’t love where you live every day, life is too short not to move.
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