I am looking to move from the US. Hopefully gain a 2nd citizenship as well... actually that is a primary concern.
For several reasons... a main one being I want my daughter to grow up as a well cultured & diverse individual & I think that living in more than 1 country, especially as a child, is a major step in that goal. I would like her to learn a 2nd & even 3rd language while she is young as well.
The Caribbean is the 1st choice for my girlfriend & a top choice for me as well.
Anyway...
I want to start at least 1 business. It would need to be set up in a very tourist oriented area as that is where the majority of customers would be found. The product works very well & requires a skilled person to produce. I currently own & operate a retail business doing exactly the same thing. I would however, be able to charge at least 50% more if I were in a heavy tourist area... making the average item about $25USD & the cost is currently about $1.50 each... I am able to produce a gross average of about $60USD per hour at current rates... I am hoping to be able to gross about $90-100/hr per person in the Caribbean during peak season.
This would be my primary business & depending on how busy it is would employee at least 1 local... possibly several... with pay being a flat rate for help & commission of 20 - 40% for skilled workers (I can train the right persons in about 2 weeks).
I am seeking help in ruling out competition, finding a location to operate from, setting up to conform to local regulations, & other formalities. I will provide details via private communication.
Is there a noticeable tourist season & non tourist season? Is it so severe that the "tourist" areas close in the off season... or is it just a slow down? If it does close I would like to consider working as a bartender if the opportunity presented itself (I can flip bottles on fire & all that jazz). My girlfriend is an event planner, so an area with a large hotel or somewhere she could start a Caribbean wedding service would be favorable.
The other business I am considering is a private investment company that would solicit clients from around the world. I have a method that has taken me about 2 years to perfect & it has made a profit every month of between 2% & 34%... averaging about 14%, for over 6 months (I know it is not a very long run). That is all on paper as I don't have the required money to open the type of account I need to trade live. All US brokers want at least $25k on deposit to do what I want to do. This is an idea in the "maybe" stage & I may or may not make a serious effort with it. If I do I wouldn't start until after my other business is established & then I would wait for the off season to begin.
Anywhere in the Caribbean would be considered. I notice a lot if not all of you here are in the DR, which is fine as long as the tourist conditions can be found & competition low to non existent. Every time I search for competition I have a hard time finding any... so I am hopeful there isn't any. I would like my daughter to attend local schools & would like an environment where a blond hair, blue eyed child will be safe (relatively speaking). I won't need to live next door to my business but an easy commute would be nice.
Forgive me for being vague, as I know it makes it very difficult to offer me advice. But the USA, well where I live anyway, is becoming saturated with competition; where just a few years ago there were maybe 7 in my entire state there are now 10 in my city alone. I don't want to give anyone any ideas.
I would like as much help as I can get & am willing to pay a consultant fee for help that leads to a successful venture if requested.
I would like to leave as soon as this spring... but with in 2years at the longest.
The other question I mentioned is... my brother is under investigation of a felony crime in which he did not commit. The evidence against him is good though & if he is convicted, will probably not do jail time but will be severely limited in his normal life for the rest of his life. The crime is actually not even a crime in many parts of the world even if he did commit it & where it is a crime the punishment is rarely as severe. I noticed in the DR FAQ that only German citizens need to present a police report from "home"... if I go to the DR would he be able to come too... w/out having to divulge this incident? Again, sorry for the vagueness but it is a sensitive issue & he does not know I am speaking about it. If you could advise to the best of your ability I would appreciate it. He, actually we... are martial arts teachers & would consider opening a martial arts school as well if it is favorable.
Easy naturalization or even "economic" citizenships (for me, my g/f, & my brother) are a priority as well as favorable conditions to open mine & my g/f's businesses. The only other condition that I would favor after everything else (although not a priority) would be somewhere I could bring my gun collection (mostly because I have a lot of time & money invested in it & would hate to sell it or put it in storage.. but will if necessary).
Thank you in advance,
SP