Running your own pub on tropical Phuket, a dream or nightmare?

During a busy year, more than four million travellers arrive in Phuket in the south of Thailand. Usually most of the first-time visitors are impressed by the seemingly worry-free island life and a few like it so much that they are willing to make the big step setting up a new life on Phuket. However, these adventurers will also soon realise that there almost aren’t any job opportunities for them on the island.

Besides teaching English one of the other few options is to start up your own business and still many foreigners are convinced that running a bar is the easiest way of making a living. Many people only dream about living a laid-back life as bar owner while spending a lot of time on the beach and in the evening having a good time with the many customers. But can a dream scenario like this ever become reality?

The first research I did to make sure if owning a bar could be lucrative was to gather as much as info possible about the possibilities. I had discussions with property agents, pub owners and even several girls working in bars. Finally I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t worth to try.

 Better think twice before starting a pub on Phuket!

As a newcomer to Phuket I was rather naïve in the beginning and wasn’t aware of the numerous pitfalls that bar owners would have to confront. However, I heard so many stories about foreigners having lost huge amounts of money all because of the lack of experience and certain knowledge. To start with, ‘being the owner of a pub’ is a misnomer as you’ll have to lease the property at most likely very uncomfortable terms.

It is simply very hard to earn sufficient income from a pub year-round and in fact the majority of those who try to establish a bar fail or give up within a period of two years or even less. Even if you succeed in making a decent living, your official working status will most likely be illegal. Thai law does not protect foreigners owning a little business.

All these facts concerned me but they surely were not my most serious concern. The most significant factor making the decision not to start a bar was the present owners’ lifestyles. I’ve met and became acquainted with several bar owners and when I realised how they lived, I had absolutely no doubt! This was not the kind of lifestyle I was looking for. Brief online guide to living on Phuket.

Don’t let me be misunderstood as I really can enjoy nightlife while washing away a few cold beers. But having to spend each night at the same old pub as a job isn’t exactly great fun. In addition, the job running a bar often goes hand in hand with obvious health-related issues. Phuket nightlife guide.

Until this day I’m still very satisfied making that important decision not getting involved in the bar business scene on Phuket. By now I consider some pub owners to be good friends but not even for one second I envied their way of life. Isn’t it ironic that many of the foreigners starting a pub have travelled to Phuket, settling down trying to achieve a more relaxed and enjoyable way of living their live. Phuket provides the paradisiacal living environment they’ve always dreamed of and making money by running a bar is the way of realising their plans. Forget it! The real problem is that all the hard work trying to successfully run their business excludes them from experiencing the relaxation they were looking for…