Glenn, your plan sounds great but be forewarned that operating a business on the island is hard work to make sure it can keep its doors open, never mind being successful. If the owner of the business is not present to 'supervise', you generally will have a larger chance of failure. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule.
I don't want to be negative but so many people have moved here with the wrong impressions of island life and have ended up packing it in and moving back home. When investing in a business, you have much more to loose so please be sure you do your due diligence first!
Thanks, Snoopysmom, Amanda and JZB.
I completely agree about due diligence, BTW there's a world of difference between negativity and good advice! I'm trying to do that diligence now. Few business' will fill your bank acount with untold millions while you sit back on the beach with a drink in hand.
With that said part of my plan includes securing a local lawyer. Is there a firm or individual on Ambergris Caye that would be recommended?
Also has anyone here run a business on the island from a distance (or even on the island)? What are the unique challanges? (please PM me if you don't want to air laundry out in the open, I really am looking for advise.)
Clearly there are many differences between a Butcher Shop, Parasailing, Burger Joint, Resturant, or Resort (some of the current business' for sale from what I can see)but does the operation differ that greatly from the same operations in the States or elsewhere?
Again, thanks for the replies, they really are appreciated. I've read through MANY of the posts here and caught the common themes and cautionary tales for the would be resident in Paradise.