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nellyjohn

Dec 28, 2003, 7:17 AM

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HOW TO OPEN A RESTARAUNT IN MEXICO

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WE ARE LOOKING TO OPEN A SMALL AMERICAN TYPE RESTAURANT IN MEXICO WITH A MEXICAN PARTNER BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING OUR FM3 IS THERE A INCOME REQUIRMENT WHEN OPENING A BUSINESS IN GETTING YOUR FM3 SO WE CAN WORK THERE ALSO WE PLAN ON HIRING ABOUT 5 MEXICAN NATIONALS TO WORK THERE ALONG WITH OUR MEXICAN PARTNER. WE ARE DOING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE BUSINESS NOW BUT WE ARE WORRIED IF WE INVEST THIS MONEY WHAT IF THEY WONT GIVE US OUR FM3 TO WORK THERE. WE ARE GOING TO INVEST ABOUT 10,000 TO 13,000 USD. I KNOW THATS NOT ALOT BUT ITS ALOT TO US. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR US THAT CAN HELP US OUT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS BY TWO DIFFERENT LAWYERS WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ANYMORE. WE HAVE ABOUT 40,000 IN THE BANK IN THE US BUT NOT A MONTHY INCOME RIGHT NOW JUST OUR SAVINGS THERE AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE 1000 MONTH INCOME REQUIRMENT FOR FM3. ALSO DOES ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT BRINGING SOME RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT AND FOOD FROM LAREDO OR MCALLEN WHAT IS THE REQUIRMENT FOR THAT ASLO. PLEASE HELP ANYBODY WE ARE IN SALTILLO MEXICO IF THAT MAKES ANY DIFFERENT.

Carron

Dec 28, 2003, 10:32 AM

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Re: [nellyjohn] HOW TO OPEN A RESTARAUNT IN MEXICO

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Please don't write in CAPITAL letters. It is very difficult to read and therefore difficult to answer.

nellyjohn

Dec 28, 2003, 1:58 PM

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Re: [Carron] HOW TO OPEN A RESTARAUNT IN MEXICO

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I'm sorry it was my first post i'm new to this and i didnt know.

Esteban

Dec 28, 2003, 3:25 PM

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Re: [nellyjohn] HOW TO OPEN A RESTARAUNT IN MEXICO

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Why are you taking on a Mexican partner? Why don't you use restaurant equipment from Mexico....custom stainless restaurant stuff can be made VERY cheaply in Mexico if you don't want to use existing equipment?

Have you been in the restaurant business before? Where will this restaurant be located? What do you mean by an "American style" restaurant? Have you done any market research? How much capital will you have to sustain the time it takes to become successful....say a year? How do you know the 10 to 13 grand will cover your startup expenses? How many tables? How many square meters? Do you have a building already? More info please...more details and maybe someone in the know will have the resources to answer your questions or can at least lead you to where you need to go. Buena Suerte!

Carol Schmidt

Dec 28, 2003, 7:27 PM

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Re: [nellyjohn] HOW TO OPEN A RESTARAUNT IN MEXICO

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I don't know the answers to any of your questions myself but I do know that there is a whole lot of information on MexConnect about opening businesses and the legal aspects of hiring Mexican employees. Jennifer Rose has done several posts on the requirements for minimum wage, holidays, Christmas bonuses, difficulties in firing someone, etc.

Most restaurants fail, in the US and in Mexico too, from what I can see. Some great restaurants in San Miguel have gone under and I couldn't for the life of me see why. I hope you have a great deal of restaurant expertise before you invest so much of your savings!

I think you need actual legal information on your questions about an FM3 with working permit when you don't have a monthly income. Work permits are definitely not automatic, and I haven't heard of any way around the monthly income requirement. Perhaps you could set up your finances so that it showed something like $1100 (whatever the requirement is for your area) monthly income. I think you have to show proof of three months reliable income that is going to continue, and here in San Miguel that income has to be verified by the US Consulate before the paperwork is handed in for an FM3.

If you're thinking about San Miguel I could give you the name of a woman who helps many of us gringos with our FM3s and perhaps she could give you some leads for accurate info if she doesn't know herself. Whatever area you are thinking about, that is where to find someone who has some accurate knowledge about the restaurant business there plus your other questions. Read everything that applies on MexConnect first so you know what questions to ask! Good luck with your search.

Carol Schmidt