How to start a business in Taiwan?

Question

I just came home from a 6 month stay with friends who are ESL teachers in Taichung county. I learned a lot of things about Taiwan and about the life of and American in Taiwan. However the one thing that I really noticed was that there were a lot of western style restaurants in Taichung, and while they were decent in taste they lacked the distinctive taste of western food particularly American foods.

So my question is does anyone know what are the steps required for a foreigner to start a business in Taiwan. I was thinking that it would be a interesting career move to open a cafe'/restaurant in Taichung.

I saw on a Taiwanese government site that foreigners can't own land in Taiwan but they can own businesses and homes, and few other major things. Like a school as long as it is for people from your own country or something like that.

Summary How to start a cafe or restaurant in Taichung Taiwan.

Serious answers only please and thank you

Answer 1

I opened an earthquake repair company in Nantou County in 1999. So that you have full ownership you can open what they call a branch office. To do that you need a business license from your home country. This will allow you to work and stay in Taiwan and get you a Five year multiple entry visa. Do your paperwork in Taipei not Taichung. The easiest way to set up is to use an accounting firm again go to Taipei. First I was going to start a corporation after the first meeting the accountant called me up and told me not to start a corporation because my local partners would own 51 percent. So they could take money out of the bank without my permission. There are many restaurants everywhere. I had a friend and his Taiwanese wife start a restaurant and they went broke? A specialty shop like donuts or something like that might make money? The language barrier might be a factor? I found once I hired translators they would try to take over or make money on the side like saying materials cost more than they really did. Good luck.

Regards,

Answer 2

Not sure specifically.  But the American Chamber of Commerce in Taichung might be able to help you a lot more than I ever could:

http://www.amchamtaichung.org/

Good luck and let me know if you get it up and running.

Answer 3

You will have to either have a partner who is an ROC national, or be one yourself.