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Featured Businesses
Many people think that running a bar in Spain is difficult, but in reality, it is NOT, it is much easier in Spain than the UK. We are here to make sure that your investment is the right one for you.
When you instruct us to act as your agents there is absolutely NO cost to you as we earn our commission from the person selling the bar. We will give you our undivided attention and our honest opinion every step of the way and we have many satisfied clients and we would be happy to introduce you to them in order for them to pass on their experiences with the team.
We offer an after sales service like no other, we will spend time with you in your new bar to enable you to familiarise yourselves with the new surroundings, advise and support with suppliers in order to get you the best possible deals.
Our Solicitors and legal team have many years experience in dealing with commercial legalities (including Spanish contracts and opening licences) thus ensuring a problem free purchase. Although there is a fee payable to our Solicitors, one of our sales team would be happy to discuss the cost of this service and any further information you may require.
Our reputation is impeccable and we value all of our clients, regardless of their budget, which is why we are one of the most successful commercial agencies on the Costa del Sol, so why not give one of the team a call and they will be happy to help you find the most suitable business for you.
Leasehold + Freehold Businesses
By far the most popular choice, especially if new to the business, are leases. They are easy to buy and easy to sell on later if required. The term of the lease does vary as in the U.K., usually 5, 10, 15 and 20 year leases are available. In most cases the leases are renewable and this is something that our legal advisors discuss with the landlord and advise you accordingly. Once the monthly rent is agreed, it can only be increased once a year by inflation as set out in the Spanish law for the length of the lease. When the lease expires, this does not mean that you have to pay for another lease, it is merely a paper exercise with the landlord for him to issue you with a new one and this then enables the landlord to increase the rent up to a maximum of 20%, however your legal advisor will negotiate this with him on your behalf. In all our leases the price includes the goodwill plus fixtures and fittings. The rent is usually paid monthly in advance as well as 2 months rent as a returnable deposit.
The freehold is not as popular as the leasehold, mainly because of the expense, however the benefits are that there is no rent to pay, and as a freeholder, you could lease the property taking a one off payment and receive a monthly rent.
License & Legal Paperwork
You are more than welcome to sort these out yourselves, however, what we offer is a package where by our solicitor and ourselves will do all the donkey work (so to speak) for you. Therefore enabling you to concentrate on your business and also be assured that everything is done legally and correctly, the following is required:
N.I.E. NUMBER
FISCAL LICENSE
OPENING LICENSE
REGISTRAION FOR I.V.A.(V.A.T.)
APPLICATION FOR N.H.S
RESIDENCE PERMIT
CONSULAR INSPECTION
FOOD AND HANDLERS CERTIFICATE
SECURITY CERTIFICATE
LIAISON WITH REGIONAL JUNTA(COUNCIL)
LIAISON WITH GUARDIA CIVIL
SANITARY INSPECTION
TECHNICAL INSPECTION
Although it takes time for all this paperwork to be completed, you can open the business while waiting, as long as you have certain documents in place. All license applications are made by your solicitor and the charges for this are set out in the financial section.
Stock
All bars and catering businesses in Spain are FREE HOUSES. So you choose what breweries and suppliers you want to deal with. Beer coolers and fonts are supplied by the breweries and usually, so are glasses/umbrellas/drip mats/ and promotion products. You do not need to keep large amounts of stock as most wholesalers deliver daily, however you should allow yourself approximately £700 for your initial opening stock in an average size business.
Overheads
Compared to the U.K. they are much lower with profits running as high as 70% on drinks and usually higher on food, this is why our clients usually go into the pub/catering business. Most of our clients have never worked in this industry before, but it is much easier and less stressful than being a publican back in the U.K. After all, you have at least got an all year round beer garden and your own opening hours.
Summary
Does this sound good to you and you think that this is just a dream? To most people it does and to most people it is! But for all our clients it’s hard but fun work and very profitable. If you can afford £20,000 or more, then we can turn that dream into reality. Why not contact one of the team on the numbers below to discuss your requirements in more depth and arrange for you to view some bars that may be of interest to you.
Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is in the South of Spain and offers a great variety of attractions, for example: Golf Courses of World-wide renown, Pleasure Boat Harbour’s, Casinos, Excellent Restaurants, Cosy Cafés, typical Spanish Bars and Sport Centers of all kinds with an international atmosphere. All this is backed up by an unique climate, where the temperatures and gentle breezes together with the brilliant blue sky and plentiful days of sunshine, making this area a paradise on the shores of the Mediterranean.
This region is the healthiest part of the world according to the World Health Organization and maintains an average year round temperature of 24°C. The area has numerous beaches and regular local markets, History and Culture is combined with luxury beach resort and fantastic amenities.
This is where it all began: what was once a tiny fishing village has become one of the largest - and most popular - of all the Costa del Sol holiday resorts. And it's not hard to see why. For sheer choice of hotels, bars, discos and beaches, good old 'Torrie' is quite simply hard to beat. There is every kind of café and restaurant imaginable. There are bars in abundance proclaiming their heritage to one nationality of another; Irish, English, Dutch, German you name it Torremolinos is likely to have it. The busy nightclubs pump out the latest music and stay open until dawn or even later.
At first sight Mijas is the Andaluz pueblo blanco par excellence - its ancient white-washed houses clinging to the hillside surrounded by some of the best coastal views in Spain. In fact its beauty- and easy access from the coast- has made it a 'mini resort' in its own right with some 90% of the population now of foreign origin. Keep looking and you may just catch a glimpse of a hand glider wafting over the peak. Mijas is also well positioned for some of the area's championship golf courses-including Los Lagos and Los Olivos- and the panoramic views really are superb!
The coastal region is where most of the facilities for sun and sand tourism are concentrated: hotels, a casino, golf courses. Benalmadena has 9km of shoreline with beautiful beaches and tiny coves. The new Puerto Marina is the place to go for young "party goers". Popular with locals and tourists alike the place has a distinctly international feel to it. The area is crammed with a variety of nightclubs and bars playing the latest music and staying open until sunrise. The marina is surrounded by apartments and offers sports such as diving and sailing. Just to the west of Malaga and Torremolinos.
Arroyo de la Miel, whose name means "river of honey" is the populated area between the mountains and the coast in the region of Benalmadena. This is where most of the area's population and businesses are located and it has a wide range of attractions including a sports complex, bilingual library and the world famous theme park Tivoli World. It is also where the cable car to the mountain peak starts from. Arroyo offers a wide selection of café bars, restaurants, supermarkets, banks and a health clinic. Arroyo de la Miel is only 15 minutes by train from Malaga International Airport or a 10 minute journey by taxi.
Lively, popular and always buzzing- the resort of Fuengirola has come a long way from its days as a simple Spanish fishing village. Today it's a fascinating mix of local Spanish residents and international visitors, many of whom have made their permanent home in the urbanization housing complexes that stretch up into the hills. Lying to the east of Marbella it is a bustling little town during the height of the tourist season. Fuengirola's amazing beach is overlooked by one of the longest promenades in the Mediterranean and takes just a little over 2hrs to walk from one end to the other. The Port (Puerto Deportivo) holds a weekly market which attracts 1000’s of visitors every Sunday throughout the year from 9am to 2pm, except in July & August the time changes to 7pm to 1am due to the heat of the daily temperatures.
Q. We would like to run a bar, but have no experience would this cause a much of a problem?
A. As with running any business, experience is always an advantage, however, many of our clients have purchased a bar/catering business with little or no experience and are running them very successfully. With all our clients we do provide a good back up support, advice and a helping hand if required. We have many first time bars, which we would suggest would be more suitable.
Q. Do we need to speak Spanish?
A. Due to the majority of our businesses being British owned and run, situated in tourist and ex-pat areas, the majority of our customers will be British, therefore whilst learning the language would be an advantage, this is not seen as a necessity and you do tend to pick up the language quite quickly. There is an abundance of language schools and tutors available if you want to learn quickly.
Q. Can I bring my pets to Spain?
A. Yes, don't panic, domestic animals can enter Spain from the U.K. without any quarantine, so it's unlikely you will have to leave them behind. However it is necessary to obtain an international health certificate or pet passport. You can gain more information from your local vet and the U.K. ministry of agriculture. You need to allow approximately one month to organise this.
Q. Where will I live?
A. There are numerous options available; most clients like to rent close to their business due to convenience and cost. The type of accommodation price differs to your requirements and range, from studio apartments designed for two, to villas. We can assist you on finding the right accommodation to meet your requirements. Most of the accommodation offered come furnished with TV's, washing machines etc. some with community pools and parking. We can advise on areas, prices etc. We can also put you in touch with agents who specialise in this field.
There is normally a finders fee payable to the agent of 1 month’s rent
2 month deposit is normally required by the landlord for security
Most long term contracts are normally 11 months renewable
Rent is paid 1 month in advance
Q. Is the cost of living similar to the UK?
A. A recent survey showed that supermarket shopping to be 25% cheaper than in the U.K. Whilst electricity bills are similar, the consumption is far less per household due to the warmer climate and longer days, gas in southern Spain is of the bottled variety and at only 5 pounds per bottle is ½ the price of the U.K. Water is metered and is 50% cheaper than the U.K and many landlords in rented accommodation include this in the rent (please check). Alcohol and tobacco are considerably less with typical savings of up to 75%.
Petrol and diesel is 45% cheaper. The general climate ensures that outlay on clothing is minimal as shorts and t-shirts are worn for 8 months of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Q. What extra costs will we have after the purchase of our Business?
A. This varies considerably depending on the individual. Typical costs include licensing and paperwork (as detailed earlier). Stock - this depends on the type of outlet, for a bar this is very little, as stock can be purchased and delivered daily and also many rep's will give you opening deals. Removal costs can also vary depending on what you bring with you.
Moving to Spain is much easier than you think, some clients leave England with only their suitcase and board the plane. Some drive over with their boots and roof racks full to capacity, catching a ferry to France or northern Spain. This can mean a long journey. Other people use a removal service of a specialist carrier, it is advised to shop around, however, when we moved to Spain we realized that companies based in Spain were much cheaper. Remember that you pay per cubic meter which is around £100, discounts may apply to full house removals, however, which ever way you use to move to Spain, remember most rented accommodation comes fully furnished and why pay to have out dated old furniture and appliances brought to Spain when the purchase of new ones is only a little more than shipping the old ones over? We do realize that personal items and antiques can be irreplaceable. So think long and hard about what you want to bring with you, we can put you in touch with removal companies if you require.
Q. What about medical care?
A. The Spanish National Health Service is free to U.K. senior citizens and the service is excellent however, as in the U.K., non-emergency cases will be placed on a waiting list. Purchasers of businesses in Spain are obliged to join the Spanish N.H.S. Payment for this service are included in monthly national insurance contributions. There are also many types of private medical health care, which many people decide to join. We do however advise people visiting for purchasing businesses in Spain to bring with them an E111 form to cover yourself until all paperwork is completed; these are available in the U.K. from your post office.
Q. Can I open a bank account in Spain?
A. In all Spanish banks there is a full range of services available, deposit accounts, cheque accounts, mortgages, debit/credit cards etc. Almost certainly at least one member of the staff will speak English. All utility accounts such as electricity, water and telephone can be paid direct debit or over the counter. If you like we will help you through the process of opening an account.
Q. What type of education is available for my children?
A. All state education in Spain is free and compulsory for children aged 6 years and above (you do have to purchase books and stationary). Spain is home to many nationalities and most Spanish schools have a large number of non-Spanish pupils. In our experience British children attending Spanish school have a basic understanding of Spanish in 4 months and are fluent within the year. Children will also like to know that school hours are from 9am - 2 pm with plenty of holidays. There are a number of British / International schools in the U.K. with G.C.S.E subjects being taught and exams taken. Nurseries or guarderias as they are known in Spain are plentiful. This is an ideal way to introduce your child to the Spanish language. Hours and costs vary though prices are very low compared to Britain.
Q. Is my driving license valid?
A. Yes, however, once you have applied for residency you have 6 months to register your license with the local transport authority (DGT), there if required, you can obtain a Spanish driving license and this does make life much easier. All U.K. cars must also be registered with your lawyer who can do all this for you.
Q. Can I draw my pension here?
A. Pensions can arrange to have their pension paid in euro cheques directly into their Spanish bank. Banks are not allowed to charge commission on pension cheques. To establish your eligibility get an E 121 form, from the DHSS in the U.K., with this form you register with a local INSS (Institute National de Seguridad Social) office over here. Alternatively contact your financial adviser.
Q. Can I rent a car?
A. There are an abundance of car hire firms who can provide you with a car to suit your requirements. You will need to provide your driving license and passport as identification. For a small car expect to pay 120 euros in summer, or for an 8 Seater, 433 euros. Rates are a little less in the winter.
Q. What about electrical appliances?
A. The electricity current in Spain is 220V, 50HZ, as the rest of Europe. Plugs have two round pins, again like the rest of Europe. Adaptors can be purchased both in England and Spain.
Q. Is siesta just a myth?
A. No, generally Spaniards work Monday to Friday 9am - 2pm and then 4.30pm or 5pm for another 3 or 4 hours, most shops open within these hours and for us British, can be very frustrating. Some larger supermarkets may open all day; some shops in tourist areas may open on Sundays. A lot of government buildings don't open in the afternoon, so it's early rising if you need to get anything done. Spain is the home of the fiesta and there are 14 official holidays in Spain with regional additions, unlike Britain, everything closes and the Spanish party!! These are often bridged into long weekends if the holiday falls near a weekend; all you can do is party along with them.
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