warung / restaurant Bali

[Alfred]

dear forum memebers (attention Bert and Roy)

I read in the Bali Update Editor that visitorsnumber for Bali are rising again and it looks like people are comming back again to Bali!
(april 103.000)

We have plans to move to Bali. Currently my mother in law is over here in Holland and she is a realy good cook. So, we discussed the idea to start or take over a warung / small restaurant on Bali so my family from Tegal (Java) can work and live on Bali.

In regard to this we have some questions:

1. is this a good idea?
2. do we need to hire a professional chef to cook (from Bali)
3. do we have to start from scratch of take over a existing restaurant
4. is there a place were we can look for restaurants / warung ect. like adds in newspapers ( is there a online newspaper of bali??) or a website or are there specialised brokers?
5. what place would be recommanded
6. in order to avoid red tape we would like to run the place on name
of my Indonesian family in law. Is that a good idea?

waiting for some answers and are ideas on this!

Alfred.

 

[irma1812]

Alfred, there hasn't been any response on this subject - I think it's because these sort of questions have been asked before in the past. So if I were you please do a search on this site and you might find some answers to your questions.

The trouble is Alfred, there are sooooo many people already doing this kind of business on Bali!

 

[bicg]

Hi Alfred,

I have to agree with Irma, not easy and too much competition.

Right now many go bancrupt, sorry no better advise

Reagrds
Chris

 

[Sanurian]

Alfred

I think both irma and bicg are right. The competition you would face in Bali with your intended venture is huge.

Here in Sanur, I can think of at least six places owned and run by Dutch people. None of them are doing really well. Most people are still struggling (including the locals). The idea that suddenly everything is going to be OK with the "return of tourists" is questionable.

The way I see the trends from the available figures is that maybe overall numbers might increase - but people seem to be staying for shorter lengths of time.

I wish you lots of good luck - you'll need it.
8)

 

[Roy]

Alfred, I don’t like being one to “pop balloons” either, but the advice you are reading here is very, very true.

Over the last three or four years, I’ve heard some amazing statistics relative to success stories on new start up, or take over restaurants. I’ve heard numbers like 70% failure rates. Unfortunately, I have personally known, and held as friends, some of these folks.

As Phil alludes, the one statistic you don’t want to ever believe is that tourist numbers are up significantly. In some areas, this may be true...but keep in mind that these numbers often do not distinguish between domestic and foreign tourists...and, it is always in the best interests of the tourism industry to put on a happy face.

For certain, and each and every one of my good friends in this business will say, unless you are capitalized to the extent that you can afford up to five years without a rupiah worth of profit, don’t even consider a restaurant here.

On that dismal note, I can also say that I know several folks here in Bali who have taken the food and food service industry to new levels. One couple, from the US introduced first rate organic gardening, and that business is doing exceptionally well, another, fish and meat smoking of local products for the restaurant businesses...also very successful, another, a micro brewery...Storm...again, very successful, and another, a catering business. In each of these cases, these folks had been here a while, checking things out, and doing their homework.

The best advice I can give you is the same I’ve given over and over for many years. Come to Bali, get acclimated to the climate, the people, and the way of life here. Network with other expats. Most expats are pretty good, open and honest to share their own stories from which you can peal off what is appropriate for you, or not appropriate for you. It may be that your skills, or what you bring to the table (no pun intended) is better to be in partnership with someone else. Who knows? An open mind is essential. Take your time. Look around. Spend some time in various places in Bali. Look for your niche.

For newly arrived expats, I think patience is the toughest attribute to keep hold on...yet it is without question the most vital ingredient for success here in Bali.

Good luck.

 

[Alfred]

Dear All,

Thanks for your advise! We will consider it all and keep you posted of our plans.

regards,
Alfred.