As many know, I often get queries from readers about starting a business in the Philippines for themselves, or helping a family member put together a business and get it off the ground here.

In general, this is a difficult task for a foreigner.  Starting a business anywhere is a significant challenge.  In the Philippines (rated one of the most difficult countries on earth for startups) it is even more daunting.  If the parties involved are not already experienced in starting and running a business the task is even more difficult.

Yet businesses in the Philippines absolutely can succeed.  Some do very well.  And running one’s own business is orders of magnitude better than  trying to find a J.O.B. (Just Over Broke) here in the Philippines for a foreigner.

Many are also interested in the aspect that a business that succeeds and has employees can provide for many members of a family who need work and income.  or even folks in a local community.  Not long ago I read a nice article about a lady who had started a successful restaurant in Manila and was branching out into other locations,  her wait staff and other service employees were almost all ‘imported’ from her tiny town back in her home province.

In addition to the obvious fact she was helping folks with little opportunity find honest work, she found this was a tremendous business asset.  The single employees lived together in company sponsored dormitories and she had the opportunity to train the staff from day one exactly to the methods and standards she wanted  followed.  And as you might imagine, employee loyalty and morale was very high.

So, if you do decide you want to start a business … or, if you already have a business and want to expand it, like the lady I mentioned above … one of the strategies you should look into is franchising.

Like all business strategies, franchising has its own set of pros and cons, but while I have seen many a foreigner owned/managed independent restaurant struggling or even shuttered after 6 months of floundering, have you ever visited the Philippines and seen, for example, a Jollibee without a line at the counter?

I just recently became aware of a good source for franchising information here in the Philippines.  I have good reason to believe the owner and his staff are highly reputable, but as with all things, caveat emptor.  I thought I would pass it along as a useful Philippines business resource … is there interest in more pointers like this one?

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