I'm already losing hope but here comes my last try: how about to open a restaurant?
- GeorgeR.
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I'm already losing hope but here comes my last try: how about to open a restaurant?
Well, already twice I got mostly pessimistic and discouraging answers about becoming a teacher in Cambodia or starting to work there in some casino. Because I'm just an east-European philosopher who speaks several foreign languages and owns TEFL, Master's at philosophy and 3 sports diplomas, the last thing that I got in mind (after which I'll lose hope about Cambodia) is may I open a restaurant? The problems is that if I sell my apartment in China and some other stuff like a computer, all my money will be around $39 000, I suppose. Is that enough to rent a house there for a year and to start a restaurant (I mean in some provincial town like Kep or Koh-Kong; I'm not a fan of the big cities like capitals or travel resorts).
Omnilogist.
I see you being fleeced
- violet
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If you would be content to lose the money you spend to set up a restaurant, go for it. I am not saying you will fail, but in any business a person is advised to have enough to cover costs for at least twelve months and to be prepared to fail.GeorgeR. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 2:06 amWell, already twice I got mostly pessimistic and discouraging answers about becoming a teacher in Cambodia or starting to work there in some casino. Because I'm just an east-European philosopher who speaks several foreign languages and owns TEFL, Master's at philosophy and 3 sports diplomas, the last thing that I got in mind (after which I'll lose hope about Cambodia) is may I open a restaurant? The problems is that if I sell my apartment in China and some other stuff like a computer, all my money will be around $39 000, I suppose. Is that enough to rent a house there for a year and to start a restaurant (I mean in some provincial town like Kep or Koh-Kong; I'm not a fan of the big cities like capitals or travel resorts).
Do you know how to navigate business ownership as a foreigner in Cambodia on a weekly basis - how to develop and maintain relationships with the local officials etc in order to be largely left to do your thing?
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
- Plutarch
- Plutarch
Forget what you like, to stand a chance you need to be where people are. People in Koh Kong and Kep eat in places you probably can’t afford to rent.
What do you have to offer that will make people visit you frequently? Do you know how to cook and do you have prior experience running a restaurant?
When I go to a restaurant I only care about if the food and service is good. If the owner has 10 different sports and philosophy degrees that’s great but I don’t care.
$39,000 would last you longer in those towns if you didn’t open a restaurant. You’ve chosen the most competitive industry… What next, a hotel?
- GeorgeR.
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I think I am starting to get it: if I'd like to work a normal job (a teacher or even an ordinary servant) there, you guys are thinking it's a bad choice. If I want to develop my own business (like a restaurant that is possible even for people without any education; the world is full of restaurant owners who even didn't graduated in their high school and if you compare their economics with my economics knowledge their is close to zero), then again it's not a good idea.
May I ask you: if Cambodia is such a terrible place to make business and/or even to work as an ordinary worker, how and why are you people still there?!
a) You're stucked there and can't leave it and to find your better place?
b) You're discouraging every expat who is coming there because you're afraid of some more competirion?
c) You're local xenophobic people who strongly believe that Khmers can go everywhere, but the foreigners have to stay away from Cambodia?
d) You're just having fun discouraging people like me, who're trying to find a better life in there?
May I ask you: if Cambodia is such a terrible place to make business and/or even to work as an ordinary worker, how and why are you people still there?!
a) You're stucked there and can't leave it and to find your better place?
b) You're discouraging every expat who is coming there because you're afraid of some more competirion?
c) You're local xenophobic people who strongly believe that Khmers can go everywhere, but the foreigners have to stay away from Cambodia?
d) You're just having fun discouraging people like me, who're trying to find a better life in there?
Omnilogist.
Those people have something that you don’t: the knowledge of how to run a restaurant. It’s a critical component, don’t you think?
They have spent a big chunk of their lives working in restaurants. You’re an English teacher with a philosophy and sports degree.
If you are good at economics then that’s what you should work with. Having a PhD in physics doesn’t make you a good swimmer.
Yeah, that must be it. We don’t want you to open a restaurant because your economics knowledge will help you sell beer for $0.50 and fried rice for $1 faster than anyone of us can count.GeorgeR. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 3:38 amb) You're discouraging every expat who is coming there because you're afraid of some more competirion?
c) You're local xenophobic people who strongly believe that Khmers can go everywhere, but the foreigners have to stay away from Cambodia?
d) You're just having fun discouraging people like me, who're trying to find a better life in there?
It’s not that you can’t cook, or that you’ve never worked a day in a restaurant, or that nearly everybody with the same idea as you has failed.
- GeorgeR.
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Alexandra, let me answer you friendly, because I do respect your time and I hope you're not joking around.
1) As a philosopher who wrote several books and who is reading non-stop economics, psychology and so on, I really do much more about the restaurants than people around me who even don't keep clean in their restaurants, who are even not trying to make ads and who even don't give any discounts... (the list is long). Believe me, in China there are so many low quality restaurants that it is just a proof that a bit more educated person could make it better.
2) I have a partner who is a good cook. Also, I'm going to hire at least 1 manager with experience in the restaurant. So, it's not like one man show, where I'll be the cook, the manager and the waiter.
3) Yes, there are some people who worked long time in restaurants, but also there are people who just set up one without previous experience. And many times it's okay, because they do hire other people who already did the job. So, it's not a necessary condition the owner to be an ex-cook or an ex-waiter in order to own a successful restaurant. Especially if it's something like new fast food thing.
4) I really think that a restaurant (fast food type like sushi, pizza, hot-dog, manty, baozi and so on) is one of the simplest businesses especially if you have the stuff and you're not trying to cook by yourself. Well, if it's so expensive to hire a waiter, I can be the waiter, but surely I'll have a pro cook, so where is the problem?
5) "What do you have to offer that will make people visit you frequently?" -- It's easy. Just something that there is still lacking. For example, long time ago a Chinese opened the first flower shop in Cambodia (at least this is what we know here) and it was a hit. So, imagine that there is still no sushi restaurant in some Cambodian town. The travellers usually like sushi... and you're the first one.
OK. I hope I showed enough of my points and with all due respect. Sorry, if I sound nervous or something but recently the life of the foreigners in China isn't easy -- even after nearly 20 years here I can't get Chinese citizenship and even a Green card! Also, nearly impossible to find a legal job anymore! And as far as so many (not that educated and knowledgeable expats) DO live in Cambodia, I believe that I can do it too, at least as good as they do.
1) As a philosopher who wrote several books and who is reading non-stop economics, psychology and so on, I really do much more about the restaurants than people around me who even don't keep clean in their restaurants, who are even not trying to make ads and who even don't give any discounts... (the list is long). Believe me, in China there are so many low quality restaurants that it is just a proof that a bit more educated person could make it better.
2) I have a partner who is a good cook. Also, I'm going to hire at least 1 manager with experience in the restaurant. So, it's not like one man show, where I'll be the cook, the manager and the waiter.
3) Yes, there are some people who worked long time in restaurants, but also there are people who just set up one without previous experience. And many times it's okay, because they do hire other people who already did the job. So, it's not a necessary condition the owner to be an ex-cook or an ex-waiter in order to own a successful restaurant. Especially if it's something like new fast food thing.
4) I really think that a restaurant (fast food type like sushi, pizza, hot-dog, manty, baozi and so on) is one of the simplest businesses especially if you have the stuff and you're not trying to cook by yourself. Well, if it's so expensive to hire a waiter, I can be the waiter, but surely I'll have a pro cook, so where is the problem?
5) "What do you have to offer that will make people visit you frequently?" -- It's easy. Just something that there is still lacking. For example, long time ago a Chinese opened the first flower shop in Cambodia (at least this is what we know here) and it was a hit. So, imagine that there is still no sushi restaurant in some Cambodian town. The travellers usually like sushi... and you're the first one.
OK. I hope I showed enough of my points and with all due respect. Sorry, if I sound nervous or something but recently the life of the foreigners in China isn't easy -- even after nearly 20 years here I can't get Chinese citizenship and even a Green card! Also, nearly impossible to find a legal job anymore! And as far as so many (not that educated and knowledgeable expats) DO live in Cambodia, I believe that I can do it too, at least as good as they do.
Omnilogist.
- spitthedog
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My wife has mentioned about opening a takeaway in Oi'land.
This is even after the Gypsies sometimes came to the restaurant where she worked and complained about pubes in the takeaways, so they didn't have to pay.
They can't be my hairs, as mine aren't ginger.
Or they'd just walk out without paying.
And most restaurants only do a good trade at the weekends.
Can't help but think we'd be better off using the money to get a mortgage, whilst renting out the house. That would be very low risk, compared to a restaurant.
This is even after the Gypsies sometimes came to the restaurant where she worked and complained about pubes in the takeaways, so they didn't have to pay.
They can't be my hairs, as mine aren't ginger.
Or they'd just walk out without paying.
And most restaurants only do a good trade at the weekends.
Can't help but think we'd be better off using the money to get a mortgage, whilst renting out the house. That would be very low risk, compared to a restaurant.
"I don't care what the people are thinking, i ain't drunk i'm just drinking"
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It’s not a bad idea, it’s just not a particularly good or original idea.
You might be successful for a while, but when locals see you being successful your business will be copied.
I’m sure you know the informal rules of business ‘be first’ - nope you aren’t that, ‘be smarter’ - well you think you are that, but wait until you arrive and you’ll see smart or ‘cheat’ there will be locals able to do things in business that you cannot hence lowering their overheads significantly.
You really should be looking at your current USP, what do you have that others don’t?
Perhaps your connections in China?
There are people here running businesses which help consumers order stuff from China, they organise payment and delivery. These are decent little businesses for now but some are informal and the other ones seem a little chaotic. Perhaps that could be an option.
But you have this whole thing arse-about-face.
Just come here and spend 6 months, get a job teaching in person or online to fund yourself then research yourself.
There will be opportunities, but whilst you may be academic you aren’t being particularly creative. Teaching, casinos or restaurants… you need to come, look, think, and move your thoughts outside the obvious.
You might be successful for a while, but when locals see you being successful your business will be copied.
I’m sure you know the informal rules of business ‘be first’ - nope you aren’t that, ‘be smarter’ - well you think you are that, but wait until you arrive and you’ll see smart or ‘cheat’ there will be locals able to do things in business that you cannot hence lowering their overheads significantly.
You really should be looking at your current USP, what do you have that others don’t?
Perhaps your connections in China?
There are people here running businesses which help consumers order stuff from China, they organise payment and delivery. These are decent little businesses for now but some are informal and the other ones seem a little chaotic. Perhaps that could be an option.
But you have this whole thing arse-about-face.
Just come here and spend 6 months, get a job teaching in person or online to fund yourself then research yourself.
There will be opportunities, but whilst you may be academic you aren’t being particularly creative. Teaching, casinos or restaurants… you need to come, look, think, and move your thoughts outside the obvious.
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- Phuket2006
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i see restaurants going for under $8,000 in Kampot, Kep under $6,000, rents under $500/monthAlexandra wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 3:33 amForget what you like, to stand a chance you need to be where people are. People in Koh Kong and Kep eat in places you probably can’t afford to rent.
What do you have to offer that will make people visit you frequently? Do you know how to cook and do you have prior experience running a restaurant?
When I go to a restaurant I only care about if the food and service is good. If the owner has 10 different sports and philosophy degrees that’s great but I don’t care.
$39,000 would last you longer in those towns if you didn’t open a restaurant. You’ve chosen the most competitive industry… What next, a hotel?
problem is they are usually being resold 6 months down the line>
in Kampot it seems there are more restaurants ( counting those in western run gh's) than could possible be needed >
I'd love to see a well run western restaurant ( other than Italian or seafood) in Kep.
BUT there are not enough westerns living here or western tourists that you would make a profit
Very few ones here i doubt work under the principal that a successful restaurant food costs are under 35%, I'd say they are closer to 60%!
your education, degrees and speaking multiple languages means jack shit> have you ever run a successful restaurant is all that matters
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
May I suggest you start a ''spaghetti '' restaurant or even a sidewalk stall / takeaway selling it. Because its very filling
just like rice Cambodians do like spaghetti especially kids. It's easy and quick to cook and no special kitchen equipment is needed. The kids in my family make a very good spaghetti with a hot chilli sauce, sometimes with a chicken meat other times using pork.. For the first few months you need to be able to hand out free samples to teenage kids , probably outside a school area, to the ones that set the trend and tell everyone on Facebook, they were given some spaghetti and it was so yummy. Consider this as advertising money spent so don't expect any monetary returns.
I have already claimed and registered the trade name GeorgeR Spaghetti, in Cambodia but when you have a successful, profitable spaghetti shop in every town I will sell you the trade name.
just like rice Cambodians do like spaghetti especially kids. It's easy and quick to cook and no special kitchen equipment is needed. The kids in my family make a very good spaghetti with a hot chilli sauce, sometimes with a chicken meat other times using pork.. For the first few months you need to be able to hand out free samples to teenage kids , probably outside a school area, to the ones that set the trend and tell everyone on Facebook, they were given some spaghetti and it was so yummy. Consider this as advertising money spent so don't expect any monetary returns.
I have already claimed and registered the trade name GeorgeR Spaghetti, in Cambodia but when you have a successful, profitable spaghetti shop in every town I will sell you the trade name.
- Stokely
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What's the difference between a philosopher and a cook in Cambodia?
About US$ 12k a year.
About US$ 12k a year.
"Now, then, in order to understand white supremacy we must dismiss the notion that white people can give anybody their freedom." Stokely Carmichael
Restaurants struggle even in the best of times. That said, when there's a threat of a credit freeze, you can always freeze the creditor instead.
If the restaurant in Kep fails, you could make a living teaching semi-literate barangs how to spell and use punctuation.GeorgeR. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 2:06 amWell, already twice I got mostly pessimistic and discouraging answers about becoming a teacher in Cambodia or starting to work there in some casino. Because I'm just an east-European philosopher who speaks several foreign languages and owns TEFL, Master's at philosophy and 3 sports diplomas, the last thing that I got in mind (after which I'll lose hope about Cambodia) is may I open a restaurant? The problems is that if I sell my apartment in China and some other stuff like a computer, all my money will be around $39 000, I suppose. Is that enough to rent a house there for a year and to start a restaurant (I mean in some provincial town like Kep or Koh-Kong; I'm not a fan of the big cities like capitals or travel resorts).
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