Comments on: How about Starting a Business in Italy?

By: Alex Roe

Alex Roe — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:43:10 +0000

Thanks for the mention on your new blog!

If you’ve got lots of space, you’ve got lots of potential too. Depends on your budget, but putting in a largish kitchen for cookery courses might be a good idea, as may be some form of function room. I don’t know how far you are from Perugia, but you may well be aware of the international journalism festival there, and Umbria jazz, of course. This means that there is potential, but I’ve no idea how many B&B etcs are in your area.

It may be a good idea to plan things in stages – but have a direction to head for.

If you need someone with business experience in Italy who could act as a consultant, give me a shout, as I know someone who’s already in the trade in Italy and is not too far from you. Good with business plans too.

Cheers,

Alex

By: Clare

Clare — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:25:50 +0000

That was very quick of you – thanks! Yes, I agree the Agriturismo thing is wearing a bit thin with foreigners. The buildings are huge, I’ve got a lot of space but must keep to a low/practical budget. And a pool is a must, obviously.
Will be in touch if there are any further developments…
I’ve just started a blog (I’m VERY new to all this) at http://makingithappen365.blogspot.com/ so pop in if you have a spare moment from YOUR blog!
Clare

By: Alex Roe

Alex Roe — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:13:17 +0000

Hi Clare,

Agriturismo are still popular with Italians, but I’m not so sure whether foreign tourists go for them – I suspect because of language problems. I’d say to go for the B&B option – this is a section of the market which is growing as people seem to be taking shorter holidays. You could always go down the Agriturismo route at a later date. Plus for setting up a B&B you may need fewer permissions than if you go down the Agriturismo path which will mean setting up a type of restaurant.

If you can, I’d set aside some space for a local good shop, and somewhere to do wine tastings and the like – these can be a reasonable source of extra income. Apartment lets might be an alternative to a B&B, perhaps you could do both, but I’ve no idea how big the building is.

Don’t forget to budget for a website and a blog – good for marketing.

Best,

Alex

By: Clare

Clare — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:58:12 +0000

Hi Alex, loved the blog, just what I’m in need of really. I live near Perugia and am wanting to renovate my father-in-law’s property to create a B & B service or A Country House. We don’t have TOO MUCH to invest though. Are Country Houses (Agriturismi) still popular with foreign tourists or are they beginning to want something less costly? Thanks Clare

By: Alex Roe

Alex Roe — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:20:10 +0000

Hi Valerie,

I suspect that the ‘Culture’ tag won’t be enough. You’d need to open another pIVA under another category, I imagine, but am not 100% certain.

This is not something I’m well up on – you really need to speak to a commercialista, but you could try by starting with the local chamber of commerce – camera di commercio for your area of Italy. There are also, as I imagine you know, US and UK chambers of commerce in Italy’s larger cities.

How’s your Italian? If it’s OK, then a commercialista in your location should be able to advise you. There are commercialista who speak English in Italy – and you will find some here: http://insidersabroad.dirxion.com/English_Yellow_Pages.asp?SkinId=7.3.5.2&Language=enu

Just search for ‘accountant’ in the city of your choice.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Alex