Category: Expat Lifestyle

Done deal.

This week I agreed to rent a restaurant on the Ecuador coast… why?

Ecuadorians love to eat, and they love to spend.

They also like to try new things, and Ecuador lacks a lot.

But if you want to try new dishes or you want to order any kind of food at home then visit at food near me now for delicious and healthy food. Check over here.

Some of what you do need is to be registered with the SRI, the IRS of Ecuador, and a “permiso sanitario” which is given by the “Direccion de Salud” in the city where you will open the restaurant which certifies you are preparing food in the mandated way, accurate menu prices to bring customers and you’ll also need a quick “permiso” from the local Fire Department.

For instance, I’m still waiting for someone to put an authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Ecuador. Anyone who’s been to Vietnam knows they have some of the best food in Asia for which many people checks Shahnaz Indian Cuisine. Or how about Hawaiian? Man I’d kill for some Kalua Pork down here.The Mediterranean Dish is a good choice of customer so you can provide Mediterranean food dish.

Jimmy John Success is very big examples of entrepreneur who are making bank in Ecuador in the restaurant/bar business are all over the place. From large custom industrial applications to small business water softening, Robert B. Hill Co has your water treatment needs covered. We custom design and build our water softeners systems to treat water efficiently and effectively to keep your operations running smoothly. We have designed and installed custom water treatment for many industries including hospitals, schools, multi-housing buildings, food production, hotels, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, circuit board production, medical, and more as they know The Health Benefits of Ozonated Water.

There’s “Crepes and Waffles”, a Colombian restaurant chain, that is always packed in Quito. “The Magic Bean” in Quito that specializes in American/style pancakes as well.

There’s the Gelato ice cream store in the center of the old town in Cuenca, that was highlighted recently in a local paper reported as having sales of over $1000 a day.

Or the fast-food-Sushi chain in Guayaquil that was reported as selling over $1500 a day.

And the list goes on.

Not to mention, you can “legally” pay your employees $300 a month, and the licenses needed are far more lax than in the States.

Liquor license? Hah. You can buy beer here on every street corner from the mom and pops.

Some of what you do need is to be registered with the SRI, the IRS of Ecuador, and a “permiso sanitario” which is given by the “Direccion de Salud” in the city where you will open the restaurant which certifies you are preparing food in the mandated way.

You’ll also need a quick “permiso” from the local fire watch services options.

One interesting thing I’ve noted here in Ecuador is that Ecuadorians don’t like Pizza very much. Most eat it maybe once a year, if not less, proving that you still should adapt your menu to Ecuadorian tastes, like KFC does.

Bread? Not much. Ecuadorians tend to prefer rice with every meal.

Some of the most successful restaurants in Ecuador mix their menu, blending Ecuadorian dishes with new ones.

Another key ingredient for any restaurant to succeed is “foot traffic” or to be somewhere with a constant flow of people walking right outside.

By far, the two best places on the coast that provide a “constant” flow of year-round foot traffic are Manta and Montanita.

And that’s where I rented the bar-restaurant-hostel… right in the center of Montanita a few yards from the beach right on the main walk way.

Can’t say I don’t practice what I preach.

But actually, the place has three levels, the top two are accommodations, the bottom level has the bar-restaurant, and I’m not interested in ruinning the bar-restaurant part of the business, too hands-on for me… although it could be VERY profitable…

So I’m looking to sub-lease it out.

It’d be great to work with a fellow “insider”. And we’re right on the verge of entering the high season, in late December through April.

So if this type of business ever interested you, this is a great, cheap way to get your foot in the door.

Its a full sized restaurant with an outer veranda great for also putting more tables, right on the main strip, where EVERYBODY in Montanita who walks to the beach has to pass.

It comes with a fully equipped bar and kitchen. One year contract, $1000 a month. And if an “Insider” subleases from me I won’t charge any deposit. The price is reasonable, if you rent a small “locale” shop on the main strip in Montanita you’re looking at paying around $800/month rent, but this is a full sized restaurant, with a hostel above you run by me, meaning more potential customers for your restaurant.

Write me here if interested, first come first serve.

Hasta pronto, Domenick…hey, if you liked this, you’ll love my weekly Foreign Investor’s newsletter for insider tips and opportunities in Ecuador…subscribe below(unsubscribe at any time):

 

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Are you someone who recently moved to a new country, then dreads the sight of other “gringos” (foreigners) in your where-abouts?

You´re worried the “genuine-ness” of the area will diminish with outside influence…or that the prices will rise.

This is more common than you think. And a trait I often see in some, not all, new “gringo” arrivals.

I´ve found Ecuadorians really don´t mind the sight of Gringos… at worst they´re indifferent.

This is purely a “gringo” thing.

Trust me, you´ll get over it after about 2 or 3 years abroad and then you won´t even think about such a petty thing anymore.

Actually, you´ll start to come around and believe like me, the more the marrier. Would you rather be at a party with 6 people at it, or 60?

So I say, heck, come on down, people are people, doesn´t matter where they were born.

If you find yourself to be a “gringo hater”, just give it time, you´ll come around.

I´ve found all over the world, even in places with hoards of foreign tourists, like bangkok, if you want to get off the beaten track and see the “real” Bangkok all it takes is about a 5 minute walk outside the tourist zone (khao San Road) and a left turn down an alley and I guarantee you´ll be the only foreigner around, if that´s what you want.

In the mean time, let´s stop worrying about such petty things.

If you liked this you’d love my weekly Ecuador Insider’s newsletter where I reveal everything a savvy investor must know before they invest in Ecuador, sign up below (you can unsubscribe at any time):

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Recently I had the fortune to dine at the recently-inaugurated Magnolia Cafe in Cuenca…

The good:

The desserts are exquisite, the apple pie and the cheesecake are some of, if not the best I’ve had in Ecuador. All the bread used in the cafe is baked in-house, and has a wide variety. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly owner and WIFI is available. The prices are not too low and not too high, reasonable.

The bad:

You have to walk down a lot of stairs from the old town in Cuenca to get there, and then back up again. Other than that, the food is great and I do recommend a visit.

Magnolia Cafe
Address in Cuenca…
Ave 3 Noviembre 1.48 y Plaza del Otorongo
email: magnoliacaffe AT yahoo.com

If you’d like an honest review of your expat-friendly business in Ecuador, contact us.

And to get notified of all the latest property deals in Ecuador NO ONE else knows about, as soon as they become available, sign up for the weekly Ecuador Insider’s Newsletter below (you can unsubscribe at ANY time):

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Like everything, there are positives and negatives to life in Ecuador.

3 Positives:

1. The food. The food is natural, cheap and delicious… especially if you like seafood!

2. The mild weather. Although being on the Equator, Ecuador has a very mild 75-79 degree coastal climate, at night you will even have to use blankets. Which is refreshing if you have ever lived in a place like the Dominican Republic where the heat and humidity are almost suffocating.

3. The welcoming people. Thankfully, foreigners still have a good rep among locals in Ecuador and we are treated quite kindly compared to other destinations like Rio, Brazil where I found a bit of negativity towards foreigners, particularly foreign men, due to the thriving sex tourism industry.

Negatives:

1. Bureaucracy. Any type of legal or commercial process often takes an extraordinarily long process to complete, it’s the new government’s way of employing more people I guess.

2. High prices on many items. Due to the high import tariffs on many items, brand name clothes, technology and shoes are all quite expensive, often double that you’d pay in the States.

3. Traffic in the big cities. Due to poor city planning, traffic is a big issue in the big cities like Quito and Guayaquil, where during rush hour you’ll often find yourself at a stand still, anywhere in the city!

There you have it, a short list of some of the biggest pluses and minuses that came to mind first… All in all, I love Ecuador.

And to get notified of all the latest property deals in Ecuador NO ONE else knows about, as soon as they become available, sign up for the weekly Ecuador Insider’s Newsletter below (you can unsubscribe at ANY time):

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