As a Canadian looking to re-locate to Ambergris Caye, my wife and I are considering starting a small business and are trying to pin point a good match of what we can realistically offer and what the community truly needs. We have a multitude of ideas but thought it would be neat to see what people on this message board want to see in San Pedro. Would really appreciate everyone's feedback.

Ambergris Caye needs money. I think you should set up a business that hands out money. Preferably to people who need it, but you can define your market how you see fit.

please give me some money

let me see -you want someone to tell you what to do with your money.It is hard enough to make a decent living here,and you want to take advice from people who either do not live here,lost money here and may have had a failed business.
without a doubt you should try moving here for 6 months and find out if you like it (for 2 people expect to spend 20k usd for this period),and then form your own opinions.
Do not come here under capitalised we have plenty of those already,and they come and go with alacrity.

"Alacrity" Pedro, I'm impressed.

By

everything I do impresses you

I'm not some capitalist trying to move to Ambergris Caye to make a fortune. I'm just looking at ways I could afford to move there and by Belize's labor laws it sounds like the only way I could work there is if I had my own business. So I just want to start something that would make make enough to get by.

My wife and I have been here 4x in 2 years and are coming back in Jan 09. I personally commend you for your question. Just come on down to AC for a few weeks and you will quickly get a sense for what is needed. It is a wonderful place and we hope to call it home in a few years. But to be sure, it is Paradise challenged.

Bob

...maybe a new tee shirt shop.

ha ha ha bill !

how about a british-feel sports bar specializing in jager, poker night, and thin crust pizza? maybe rent out a couple of reasonable rooms too?

LOL seriously, pedro is right(OMG - did i actually say that?). everyone i have spoken to recommends living there at least 6 wks to 6 months before considering the move (to any foreign country).

and not to be a smarty-pants, but you have a loooong line of folks in front of you who also want to move there and start some business to be able to survive. i wish you guys luck, and let us know the decision!!

What is NEEDED is a drug and alcohol detox and recovery facility. Would it be successful? I doubt it.

Most of us know that we are not alcoholics -the reason we know this is that we do not attend meetings (except in various bars)

My wife would of killed for a Starbucks the times we have visited.I despise Starbucks,but they are popular.

No Starbucks allowed I hope, but a Deacon Tattoo parlor franchise is available I believe.

I'll take it ! How much ?

Island Perk is San Pedro's Starbucks...

You could be the Exxon or Shell Oil of Belize:

http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthread...html#Post285236

Better than Starbucks because of Colleen and her crew!

Ice rink (hey, they asked!)
Monorail
Bridge to Mexico
Beach Bar
Casino, floating or fixed
Off Shore oil drilling platform
Dive shop
Golf cart rentals
Internet cafe
McDonalds
Gift shop
Wastepaper basket repair shop
Jiffy Lube Oil change
Church
Pool cleaning business
Real Estate office
Tim Horton's/Wendys
KFC
Bed Bath and Beyond
Computer Dating Service
AMC 18 Stadium/IMAX
Tanning Studio
Money Exchange booth
Taxi Service
Bank
Time Share Sales office
Trinket, blanket and Jewelry sales
Condominium Development

Reaper, you are forgetting the 2 biggest money-makers on the Island:
1. Bicycle Rental.
2. Jet-Ski Rental.

Hey, though You're teasing here I have to say bed bath and beyond would be very much appreciated.

I was thinking the same thing....or a Linens and Things....

Didn't see any para-sailing when I was down....

San Pedro is expensive - a Dollar General Store

Reaper
You forgot to add another hardware store and fresh food stalls.
Now - please take your tongue out of your check. LOL

What we REALLY need is mechanics who actually know how to fix a golf cart and only the parts that are actually needed.

Depending on when you were down there was two para sailing companies one has closed down. There is a Para sailing company at Fido's Dock.

Instead of asking what Ambergris Caye needs. Shouldn't you ask yourself what do I know how to do that can benefit the community and myself. Do you know how many people come down here to start a business that they have never tried before. I am sorry but that is just plain stupid. That is why so many restaurants, bars and stores close down. Don't expect to come down here and magically be able to open up any kind of business if you don't have experience in it. You will have to train your staff and a lot of time you will be the one doing all the work.
Read some of the older posts on this board regarding moving down here...you do need to know what you are getting yourselves into.
Good luck!

purdygrl I disagree. Plenty of people have gone to SP and opened up businesses that they have no experience in doing. And they have been successful. The key is having a good business sense. Has nothing to do with experience.

Some have done quite well flying by the seat of their pants.

How those pants holding up, simon??

And, people have arrived underfunded but enthusiastic and have made a jolly good go of it. Don't let a few sour pusses dampen your dreams.

Same old basic rules of life apply here, you know, don't burn your bridges, always over budget, never assume, be ready to work HARD,and I know there are many more rules... come guys, add to the list.

Leave your sanity at the airport?

Ambergris Caye needs a "Tall Ship" to carry tea from London and Wind Mills from Oklahoma.

Hi SPL I bet those people had experience running or managing at least one type of business and are doing something they love for example Island Perk is successful because Colleen loves coffee and worked hard to make the best type of coffee. But she had both retail and management experience. DandE's Dan and Eileen both managed and ran a company before. Both loved frozen custard so they worked hard to learn the business so are successful plus they were down here for a while and saw a need.
I am not in anyway trying to discourage anyone from coming down and opening a business. I just am advising that they do something that they enjoy.

No one said anything about not doing something they don't love (??)...they replied to your original message that plenty of people have moved down and put in the hard work and dedication required and never been in that business previously in the US.

If you love what you do you never work a day in your life...Quote from me I use it all the time not orginal but so true.Of course opening a snow blowing business in belize would not count ,or a ski shop!!!! Duh..Duh.

A lot of folks make some big $$$ delivering "snow" there...

without a doubt we need a parachute landing site

About time someone with some good judgement posted this!

Reaper my brother soooooooooooooooooooooooo true !! but thats some bad sh*t..Get hooked on that And your toast..

captjeff, you're right on. To this day, I love my business so much that I actually wake up on Saturday mornings and can't wait for Monday to come.....crazy than hell isn't it!

I'm not sure what AC needs, but I'm sure about what it doesn't have... a music (instrument)store.

There's not one place to rent/buy an amp or guitar and/or guitar strings.
The salt air guarantees that any guitar out of its case for 2+ weeks, played or not, is gonna need a new set.

What with most airlines beginning to surcharge all checked bags, lugging instruments is a real hassle now.

For some reason, AC seems to attract a lot of musicians... just a thought

My vote is for health food related or good waterproof gear.

I tend to agree with PedalPusher regarding the music store. When we've been down there it has been specifically to do shows. What ever gear we need we either bring or the venues have to scramble to get a P A etc. One time there were no monitors available. (By the way MANY thanks to Leroy Castillo for the use of his system and his services this year - he provided an awesome PA and his ear for sound was great.)

I am having such a hard time with this because I am so happy with everything that SP has given me. If I could add one thing that I know is needed it is a skateboard park for those budding tweens where they can hang out together, be athletic, and have parents know where they are. Music is good, health food even better but , really , I get all of that now.

I have to agree with the music store also. I brought down a load of strings on my last trip for friends. There is a definite need because as was said before the island seems to be a musician magnet.

Unfortunately it would be out of business in about 3 months. By that time everyone would have bought all their new "toys". After that you would have to support yourself on the sales of picks, strings, sticks and and cables.

There just isn't the population to support that type of store. There may be 15,000 people here but the majority of those are more worried about paying rent than buying guitars, keyboards and drum sets.

I don't know...Dennis Wolfe goes through lots of electronics what with rain storms and breaking waves...but then people do bring him stuff from the old country.

And, there are music stores in Belize City that sell instruments and accessories at reasonable prices.

True, but all of the local musicians on the island couldn't support a store there's just not enough of them. Where I came from they had 1 store supporting a population of 120,000. Every now and then a new one would start up but they never lasted for long and even the existing store wasn't exactly a cash cow. Most people do what I do when I need stuff, order online at cheap prices and have the gear brought down by a friend. If you really need stuff you can always go to the music shops in Belize City.

Must be a music store in Chetumal.

Avocado farmer!

The music shops in Chetumal and Belize City do not sell quality strings to begin with. They all seem to stock the cheap strings that break easily. My wife plays guitar and we have to have strings shipped in and we supply our friends here with them.

Thats why SimonB is correct...it wouldn't work...the store would have to compete with people bringing stuff in from the U.S. and couldn't have a markup large enough to make a go of it.

Since we are talking music, Guitar pics is another thing that was needed by Richard recently and not easily found in case someone happens to want to bring any for local musicians I am sure they would appreciate it.