Expat entrepreneurs: Starting a Business in Thailand

In Thailand, the business form the most popular with foreigners is the private limited company (SARL equivalent in France).

With the exception of U.S. citizens, who benefit from preferential agreements with Thailand, it is impossible to be an immigrant from Western individual entrepreneur in the Land of Smiles. All fall back on the only option remaining consistent, the private company with limited liability.

The reasons for foreigners to set up a limited company in Thailand are varied. For if such enterprises are often created to develop a professional activity which will ensure the main source of income of the creator, he is also to cover a number of non-pecuniary objectives:

– To purchase land in Thailand

– Occupy a Thai partner

– Secure a non-immigrant visa to reside continuously in Thailand

– Help a Thai partner to form a solid work history which will eventually immigrate to the West more easily.

This is a first approach to building business in Thailand: the latter does not make you an expert but will give you a good base to start your thinking.

Foremost

Be aware that starting a business in Thailand can quickly become a legal headache for a farang who does not control additional Thai. It is essential that you get help for a lawyer or a qualified accountant in your efforts. The latter will be able to teach you all the tricks and supplement with and for you all required documents in Thai.

In addition, some activities are strictly forbidden to foreigners in Thailand. See the list of unauthorized activities before engaging your efforts. It would be unfortunate to lose your time.

Finally, note that if a farang can be single largest shareholder and a production company (factory), it may not hold more than 49% of a company selling goods or services. You must therefore involve Thai to your project. However, most Westerners did not want to lose control of their businesses rely on nominees.

Creating a Limited Company in Thailand

To create a Private Limited in Thailand, you must commit yourself to capitalize to the tune of 2,000,000 THB (€ 50,000). 25% of this sum will be given at creation.

Therefore, you will be able to raise 12,500 euros for the starting capital of your Limited. This amount is not blocked in an account and can therefore be used to adjust the investment and corporate spending.

The 25% stake in your company will be deposited on behalf of your company within 90 days of its creation. You will need to justify that these funds come from abroad.

But beware! This does not mean that your company will cost you only 12,500 euros: this minimum capital base, you must add all the administrative costs for the various steps of creating your structure (reserving the name of your company drafting of statutes, general meeting of incorporation, legal registration, tax registration (tax and VAT )….).

– Fee 500 THB 100,000 THB per capital (ie 10,000 THB for a capital of 2,000,000 TH:cool:

– Other administrative costs: about 2,000 – 2,500 THB

– Support the establishment by an expert: 7,000 – 16,000 THB

The company premises

As Private Limited, your company must provide proof of business address (you can not domicile in your home).

The location of your business premises is not trivial since different jurisdictions will determine the land on which you depend.

The price of a local professional varies. You will sign a one year lease and pay a deposit equivalent to two months’ rent.

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Disney has been publishing children’s books and developing English Language Learning materials for more than 70 years.  Drawing upon this knowledge, Disney has created Disney English – an innovative form of English Language Learning that inspires children to learn more effectively.

In developing the program, Disney worked with a world renowned academic advisory board to create a unique learning system called The Disney Immersive Storytelling Approach.  This approach uses all of a child’s innate skills to stimulate their ability to learn.

Position Overview

Disney is looking for exceptional Language Learning Directors (LLDs) to manage all academic operations inside Disney English Language Learning Centers throughout China.  The LLD will be responsible for managing the foreign and local trainers and overall program delivery and ensuring that Disney English is an unforgettable experience in the classroom for all of our young language learners, age 2 to 12.

The LLD reports to the Center Manager with an indirect reporting relationship to the Regional Language Learning Director (RLLD).

Main Responsibilities

• Work with Human Resources to continually identify new local and foreign trainers for the Disney English Center and ensure that new trainers are immersed in the Disney English and broader Walt Disney culture.
• Responsible for thorough on-boarding, professional development of new Trainers and ongoing team building.
• Deliver up to 8 hours per week of ongoing, regularly scheduled classes and additionally substitute for absent trainers based on center needs.
• Responsible for overseeing all local and foreign trainers’ classroom schedules and ensuring an optimal utility of all Trainers based on the number of enrolled children.
• Motivate Center academic staff to continue to develop the classroom training skills required to deliver both an extremely academically effective and engaging learning experience.
• Constantly monitor not only each enrolled child’s progress but also stay current on their and their parents’ satisfaction with the program as well as the aggregate results of the student body for the Center.
• Ensure high quality classroom delivery by auditing classes and reviewing individual Trainer performance, providing timely, constructive and comprehensive feedback to each Trainer.
• Communicate to the academic staff any changes related to the academic delivery or content as well as participation in sales/marketing events.
• Resolve any academic and/or operational complaints related to the delivery or content of the Disney English program that may arise from staff, parents or children.
• Conduct on-going academic staff meetings to focus on professional development and resolution of classroom issues with staff and learners.
• Oversee the placement of all children in the Disney English program in the Center and open new class slots for the sales team if and when demand requires.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team and Center Manager to develop and implement academic and sales events within the Center.
• Oversee the Center realia supplies including the maintenance, cleaning and replenishment of materials on an ongoing basis.
• Assist the Content Development team with future academic content based on the immediate results observed within the classroom.
• Ensure that comprehensive learner records are maintained by each trainer in both print and electronic format through occasional audits and on-going training of formal and informal assessments.

Job Qualifications

• 5 or more years relevant work experience preferred
• Internationally recognized TEFL or TESOL certification
• Exceptional native English pronunciation
• Strong organizational and detail-oriented capabilities
• Proven track record in team leadership and staff management
• Creative, self-motivated problem solver who can perform under pressure
• Strong people skills with the ability to continually hire, train and manage staff
• Bachelors degree required; advanced degrees preferred
• Able to commit to a minimum of a 12 month contract
• Able to stand for extended periods of time, squat and bend.  Frequent lifting of one to five pounds and occasional lifting of up to 40-50 pounds is required.