Since
I’ve been writing for Escape From America I’ve gotten lots of e-mails from
people wanting to “get out of Dodge”...i.e., leave the United States. Many
of them haven’t reached retirement age and have asked if they can get work
here on Margarita Island - often they don’t include any information about
their skills, present employment, trade, no other information, just
“can I get a job there?” Naturally, I couldn’t answer their questions.
Most foreigners couldn’t live on a local salary as wages are low compared
with the U.S., Canada, Europe, etc. A hotel manager may make the equivalent
of $250 a month and a really good salesman might earn about $350 a month.
Consequently, the best way to get a good paying job here is to create one!
It’s
reasonably easy to start a small business here on Margarita, even with
the bureaucracy involved. In most cases much easier than in the U.S.
No OSHA, very
limited involvement with things like Workman’s Comp., Liability Insurance,
Employees Medical Insurance, Fire Insurance, Fire Marshal inspections,
City Ordinances, Zoning, City Council, State Taxes, Federal Taxes, County
Taxes, Tax Taxes and on and on.
Even here,
you have to go through the process of forming a company, getting a tax
number, business permit, lease, etc. For example, if you wanted to open
a bar you would need all the above plus a liquor license. Some businesses
such as taxis must have liability insurance in case someone is accidentally
injured. Most businesses don’t need this.
The basic steps
to starting a business are:
1. Lawyer
for Corporation papers, lease or purchase papers, etc.
2. Accountant
for bookkeeping, tax filings.
3. Translator/agent
to help expedite the paperwork and explain the procedures.
Set-up prices
vary with business type and complexity. (a work-at-home internet business
would be simple, a tour bus more complicated.)
The simplest
business is a service business. You might be able to create a job booking
clients for existing tourist businesses here. There are lots of hotels,
jeep tours, fishing/diving/sailing charters looking for more clients, and
this could be done over the internet as well. An American friend runs a
U.S. company from here via computer and phone. He’s an Executive Recruiter
“a.k.a. a Headhunter” and is always looking for recruiters. The recruiters
can make excellent money. If you’re interested in checking out this job
option write to:margaritajobopportunity@yahoo.com
and I’ll put you in touch with him.
I’ve met other
‘expats’ on the island who own businesses that they created themselves.
One buys and renovates apartments that need “TLC”. He started with one
he bought for $14,000. He spent a few thousand for paint, appliances, tile,
and sold it a nice profit, set back a portion of that money to live on,
and invested the rest in another apartment. Makes a nice living and does
it at his own pace. Another runs a sail boat rigging business that does
well because Margarita Island is a favored destination for cruisers because
of the lower prices and absence of hurricanes. Boaters always need something!
He
buys wholesale in the states, ships it here and sells at retail plus shipping
charges. His wife, also an expat, runs a restaurant that caters to cruisers.
They’ve been here for over 10 years and love it! They traveled the world
on their boat and decided that Margarita Island was the place they wanted
to stay.
One guy came
here 15 years ago, opened a disco. It became very successful and made lots
of money. The disco is closed now but he won’t have to work again if he
doesn’t want to. A young single European in his 30’s leased a huge house
(6 or 8 bedrooms and baths) installed wireless internet in all the rooms
and rents the rooms to European friends who come here seeking an alternative
to their country or possible investments. He makes enough money to live
rent-free and has money to spare for parties. His parties attract the ladies,
so his accommodations are very popular with young guys like himself. I
jokingly call him “Hef” because of his playboy lifestyle.
One expat has
a sailboat offering island dinner cruises for $100 per person. Another
runs Sportfishing excursions. Another does Jeep Tours. Many foreigners
have opened Ethnic restaurants. I could go on, but you should get the picture
by now. Many businesses on Margarita have foreign owners or are owned by
Latins who are not “Margaritenos”. (as the locals are called)
Let’s assume
you’re desperate to escape the escalating prices and bureaucracy in the
U.S. or elsewhere, but don’t have a lot of money to start. You might consider
something as simple as a food cart selling hot dogs, corn dogs, sandwiches,
stuffed baked potatoes or something similar...most food stands here just
sell Arepas. A stainless steel cart will cost between $200 used and
up to $1,000 for a really nice new one. Your permit will be a few dollars,
and possibly a couple of hundred for legal work and accounting. Add the
cost of stock, location rental (could be flat rate or percentage of sales)
and you’re looking at a couple of thousand dollars to set you up to make
a living in Paradise! One of the most successful restaurateurs in Mexico
started just this way...ever heard of Senor Frogs and Carlos & Charlie’s?
If you’re not
into food sales, maybe a spray tanning booth on the beach or an “Olde Time”
photo shop, or a ‘banana boat’...none of these types of businesses are
here, and Margarita Island is a major tourist destination. A fun business
I think might work would be to offer a cruise on a large yacht - weekend
or couple of nights around the island - including snorkeling, diving, beach
picnic, etc. With fuel prices so high up north, larger 40 to 50 foot older
yachts can be bought for pennies on the dollar these days. Labor and fuel
is so inexpensive here that maintaining and running the yacht should not
be a problem. (Before you run out and buy a boat to use for this, check
with me for more information).
The “fields
are fertile” and just waiting for someone to plant an idea for goods or
services. Anyone can own a business or property here. You do not have to
be a resident. However, there are many advantages to having a resident
visa. The visa is easier to obtain if you own some sort of business, because
naturally the government wants you to hire Venezuelans to work for you,
but this is not an iron-clad requirement. To hire a bi-lingual employee,
simply run an ad in the local paper and you’ll get dozens of replies.
One caveat
is the lack of motivated people here. Sometimes it seems like work is a
sideline, not a profession. Even native Venezuelans here freely admit that
the people are lazy and don’t work hard. I personally find this usually
true, but it isn’t difficult to find a hard-working person that wants to
get ahead, it’s just a little harder to pick them out. Due to this fact,
many foreigners are very successful in business here on the island. When
you find business doing well you can attribute its success in large part
to providing good service and customer satisfaction.
Another item...don’t
believe all the bad press you hear about Venezuela in the U.S. media. Most
news seems to be ‘sanitized’ and slanted against any country that does
not agree with the current American government. President Chavez
tells the Bush Administration to keep their noses out of Venezuela and
I have to admire him for that. Being a true southerner, I like to quote
Robert E. Lee, but General William Tecumseh Sherman said it best... "I
hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors
and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they
are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast.”
As for myself, I’ve been here about 2 years. Do I like it? Yes, absolutely.
There is very little not to like. I’m making a living here with a small
consulting business, a condo rental and a few investments. I don’t work
hard - actually don’t really have to, and still make enough to live quite
well. There is no way I could survive in the U.S. by working a little and
enjoying life a lot.
For more information
about living and working on a Caribbean island at a pace that won’t kill
you before your time, check out my website www.retirecaribbean.com
Margarita
Island, Venezuela
Copyright 1996 -
EscapeArtist.com
Inc. All Rights Reserved