Starting A Business In Malta

Hi Nikki,

I am happy to welcome you on Expat.com

Maybe these three topics will help you in your search :

- starting a business in malta?

- To those who want to start a self-employed activity/a business

- starting a business in Malta - social security costs

Why have you chosen Malta please?

Thanks,

Priscilla 

Hiya Priscilla.... thanks for the warm welcome.. and as for your question "why Malta"..... where do I begin? 

My husband and I have seen a lot of Europe and always resolved to retire away from cold British winters.  Of all the places we have visited Malta is the one that feels like it is the absolute "right" place for us.

We live in a town but both grew up in a rural location.   We both know that although we love cities for brief visits and change of scene, we both like a quieter environment.   Our times in Malta have confirmed that it is peaceful and "laid back" and could offer the simple lifestyle we love, but also has the possibilities for spending time in some "hustle and bustle".

We also both have career histories which we think would "fit well" in Malta.  I am a freelance writer (in the past I have been best known for writing and performing comic verse).  I am now working for an international nutrition and well-being organisation but am lucky enough to be able do this from anywhere that has a computer and internet access.    Additionally, I am able to teach "English+"  (not just conversation but structure and grammar and the nuances of the language) and would hope that I would be able to continue this with local students once we move to Malta.

My husband has two skills which might be "usable" on the Island.   His first is his specialist knowledge of "older" cars.  He currently works in a prestigious environment sourcing parts for beautiful ex-racing cars from days gone by but has an extensive network of contacts and, given the fact that are a good number of wonderful "older" cars on the Maltese roads, he would like to set up a business sourcing parts/spares for owners within Malta.

He is also very well known in the world of "retro computing" and is an expert at IT - whether that is resurrecting an old computer from days gone by, or installing and upgrading the latest software... again something that might be of use to people on the island.

Then.... with the wonderful climate (even the "rainy season" doesn't put us off.. we've survived English floods!!!); the amazing scenery; the friendliness of the Maltese community; and the fact that I am keen to learn Maltese but can fall back on English if necessary to "get by" in the early days of our repatriation.... well...... Malta really does have it all.........

Sorry for rambling.. but it was a small question which, to me, has so many answers it was hard to keep this reply short!

Really looking foward to getting to know the Maltese members of the forum!

Take care

Nx

Hi Nikki,

Welcome to the forum, I think Priscilla has gave you a great start with the links she has provided.

We currently live in Mellieha and my wife is about to embark on her own business venture.

The way you described your husband was almost identical to me (weird I know), I have a love of old cars and currently own a 1958 Vauxhall Victor F series I, and love trying to source parts for it to the annoyance of my wife Susan 

I also have worked in IT for the last 25 years and love anything IT related.

When are you planning to make the move across?

Kind regards

Ken

You might be on to something there Nikki as there is demand for spares and parts for old/classic cars. My brother-in-law has his own garage and has had to resort to making some spares recently for an old US Jeep (Willy) he is restoring. Hubby's contacts might just about help him out in a start up......but starting your own business is still tough - go for it.

Mike

Hiya Mike 

That's the impression we get with the Island.  I know a lot of people have "older cars" for day-to-day running and keeping it on the road matters, but also.. if the "olders" are looked after they can make quite a lucrative amount of money....
Primarily it would be a business.. but most importantly it would be a labour of love.. Lovely Husband ("LH") and I have a passion for old cars.... show me a walnut dash or chrome wing mirrors and I'm a gonna..... if we could help people keep theirs on the road.. and then make sure that when the time came to sell them that they went to fellow enthusiasts.. then we would be very happy indeedy.......  x

My experience of the classic car market in Malta is different. I had restored a few classic cars before arriving in Malta but sold them  and decided to buy in Malta.
I found the classic car market similar to the housing market, plenty of cars but at inflated prices.
I dabbled with  a Mini Moke and found lots of places for spares and lots of " off the radar businesses"  in private garages back yards etc selling spares for most types of classics.
Setting up  a business against places that don't have any overheads is always going to be a struggle.
I sold the Moke in the end as I like to use my classics but the roads are pretty hard on an old car with small wheels!

Terry

Hmmm this makes me think it's time for a spot of clarification about what we want to do when we move to Malta.....

We don't want to buy and sell classic cars.... we want to provide the parts to keep them on the road, or to keep them in good order so they are very "sell-able" when the owners decide to part company with them.   

Lovely Husband is a prestige/classic parts specialist not a "used car salesman"..... he has years of experience and wouldn't just be sourcing parts for motors on Malta - his experience is sourcing and having bespoke parts made all over the globe.   The "older motors" on Malta provide a good opportunity but would not be the entire basis of the business.

Sorry if I gave the idea that we were looking to set up a "buy em cheap, rip 'em off, flog for 'em for our own profit".. operation.   Absolutely not his or my style - at all! 

i think that you missed out on this sentence from Terry:

"found lots of places for spares and lots of " off the radar businesses"  in private garages back yards etc selling spares for most types of classics."

i see nowhere that he suggested that you'll be selling cars

Perhaps I misinterepreted the "back yard selling spares" part of the reply.... I obviously created the impression that might be the basis of our business..... or it could be that this is the  general impression that "car parts" has within Malta
On our last visit we did speak to some prestige owners who seemed to think there was an opening for the "bespoke" service we want to offer...but if the forum is a more general indication perhaps we just need to rethink our relocation.... the beauty of the island and the friendliness of the locals is one thing.. but if our idea just makes people think "back yard spares" it might not be the right destination for us.... (Scicily is option 2....).

Sorry , I didn't mean to put you off the Idea.
I was just giving you my experience in the second hand classic car spares market in Malta.
Malta is a small island and there are not a lot of expensive unrestored cars about.
Most have been either kept on the road or are already restored, plus the Maltese mentality is to go the bloke who sells the cheapest. So most parts are obtained from "someone who knows someone".
You need to sell  a lots of classic car bits to make a living from  a genuine business  was my point.

Terry