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My husband and I sold our restaurant in the states and would love to hear from anyone in the restaurant business in costa rica. We hoped to retire in costa rica but three months after selling our biz we’re already itching to find another. Anybody out there know about the dos and donts? How difficult it is? Liquor licenses? My husband speak spanish real good so that should not be a problem for us
I’m not a restauranteur Sally but last year we did help a client to buy a liquor license in Santa Ana for US$180,000 – Yes! one hundred and eighty thousand dollars…
Like many things, the cost very much depends on the demand in a specific area. Where there are no liquor licenses available, you have to buy one or rent one from another establishment.
Please note that you should NEVER buy a restaurant without the help of an attorney who has experience in this area and NEVER buy a bar or restaurant without confirming in writing with the local municipality that you have the liquor license. Do not listen to a seller who might say that: “Sure you can get a liquor licence (known as a patente in Spanish – easily.
And yes we have an Argentinian friend who who bought a restaurant ‘believing’ he would easily get a patente and was later notified by the municipality that because he was XXX meters away from a local school, they would NOT give him a patente.
His new restaurant lasted for about six months…
Where were you thinking of buying establishing your restaurant?
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comSally, do you know that legally you cannot work here? You can own and manage a restaurant or bar but may not work in it, cook or tend bar in it, yourselves until you have permanent residency, which you may apply for after having a different status for at least 3 years.
If she establishes a public eating/drinking establishment, she’s going to have to obtain the necessary liquor permit(s), licenses, etc. That will come to the attention of the CAJA in short order, as it does when someone builds a home. When the CAJA inspectors arrive to be certain that everyone who is working there is on the employment rolls (having their taxes and social security deducted by the employer and paid), they’ll see who is working in the business. That’s who.
And, should the CAJA inspectors find a non-legal worker, things could get dicey. Remember, tourists are not legally permitted to do any work and temporary residents almost never can (never without a work permit). And when you apply for residency, you pledge that you will obey Costa Rica’s laws. Do the math . . .
They can ‘manage’ it and oversee everyday business,but not take money at a cash desk or clean tables, even. Many Ticos are available to perform such tasks, very inexpensively….
We met a man who had a Tico wife and three children born here, and was still trying to get permanent residency after 5 years. He had a surfing business and employed 20 people. Paid all the required CAJA and INS for them all. He was held by immigration, when we was ‘caught locking up for the night’ because his worker, who usually closed for the night, was throwing up in the bathroom…
After calling his lawyer who was working on his residency status, they released him.So if you own a business, how long can you stay in the country? What type of residency is required to own a business?
You can own a business as a tourist. You are not required to be a legal resident. Please contact me personally, by replying via email, a choice where it says ‘discussion board’ (just above where you reply to a post), or if you click it, ‘via airmail.
Unfortunately, I cannot find the information on this site, for you to read it yourself.costaricafinca is incredibly knowledgeable but please bear in mind that there is NOBODY on this Discussion Forum who is legally qualified to give you advice regarding residency in Costa Rica especially since so many aspects of this may change in the not so distant future with the proposed immigration changes.
We can give you guidelines based o our personal experiences but we can not give you legal advice.
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com
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