A structured site for locating the best information about Andalucia, and Southern Spain. Many people turn to self-employment or starting a business to make a living, although this path is strewn with pitfalls for the unwary. Many foreigners don't do sufficient homework before moving and setting up a business in Spain. While hoping for the best, you should prepare for the worst case scenario and be sure that you have a contingency plan in place, including sufficient emergency funds to last until you have established your business in Spain.
Most foreigners find Spain a frustrating but challenging country in which to do business.
The bureaucracy associated with starting a business is frightening at first. For foreigners, the red tape is almost impenetrable, particularly if you don't speak the language, as you will be inundated with official documents and must be able to understand them. It's only when you come up against the full force of Spanish bureaucracy that you understand what it really means to be a foreigner in Spain. Patience and tolerance are the watchwords but the good news is that things are improving and regulations and procedures have become less complicated since Spain became a full member of the EU on January 1st 1993. In addition to problems with the Spanish authorities, assorted crooks and swindlers are fairly common, particularly on the Costa del Sol in Spain.