Micro/real ale bars

I've no idea about that product but it's very difficult to run a business in Spain, combined with high taxes and social security, one mistake people make is opening a business to concentrate on Brits, when most of the population & tourists are Spanish. Some areas completely dead a large part of the year. You value retail business rent on pure footfall all year round, using that ratio a cheap rent with low footfall will be substantially more expensive per client. On the surface sounds a risky venture in this market place. .                      

Hi, thank you for your advice...a micro bar is small bar selling different beers, not for the British lager louts, so we would like at attract a  varied clientele and offer small snacks etc, maybe  tapas menu..we are coming over on 30th April and staying in competa, so really looking forward to having a good look round 😀 

Note Spain is the country with the most bars and restaurants per person in the world: one for every 175 inhabitants. It's a very tough market. Good luck. 

https://www.tellerreport.com/life/2020-06-21-spain--the-country-with-the-most-bars-and-restaurants-in-the-world--asks-to-make-them-a-world-heritage-site.HJ7zBZE2pU.html

You really need to look into this seriously as mentioned in a previous post it is not cheap being self-employed and you would need to speak to the Ayuntamiento to see if you could set up such a business.

Competa has over 20 bars/restaurants and I am sure a microbrewery would be good but don't think about moving if this is going to be your only income and if it will work. Spain is not like living in the UK, it can take months to get the paperwork sorted out.

I do know of someone who wanted to do it about 15 years ago, and needless to say it didn't happen then, times have also changed and maybe now it is possible.

Hope this helps.

In UK when you earn less than 10K National insurance is £3.05 per week from when you start self-employment, about £12 a month. In Spain about 300 Euro a month Social Security, 'if earn nothing', plus you have to pay VAT on all sales, UK not until you earn over 80K. You also need to pay a Gestor to deal with the red tape. UK is a 'tax haven' compared to Spain which is 'not business friendly'. Tax free thresholds are low and employers have to pay 90% of social security payments which is a whopping 39%, plus work contracts tough minimum 4 weeks holiday plus 14 public holidays. Firms don't want to employ people and when they do much kept in the family. Not hard to understand why massive unemployment, as a foreigner, starting a business or seeking work much harder than for Spanish. Beware, the best has to offer is good weather and nice people, but you need to come with money, savings one of the few things not taxed.   Unemployment rate from 20 to 24 years [+]34.7%34.0%35.6%https://countryeconomy.com/labour-force-survey/spain-autonomous-communities/andalusia

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Mostly negative responses to your question and I certainly understand why, however I can just tell you a story of what is going on here in Casares.  There are a couple who moved here not so long ago (true that one is Spanish speaking perfect English and the other is European).  They went to the Ayuntamiento asking about all the empty restaurants/buildings in the area (many businesses died over Covid) and worked an arrangement with them for reduced rent to open shops and bars.  They have already opened two shops here in the Village.  Over the past couple of years there have been many times when alot of tourists were here and only a couple of Spanish restaurants/bars open (boring!!!l).  I have often thought that if there were something really different here that it would be popular.  These two guys are planning on opening a coffee shop and a wine bar because as they say, there is nothing here for tourists (or locals).  I cannot agree more! 

I believe there is a huge lack of interesting bars/restaurants/coffee shops/take aways, etc all around Spain that could probably do quite well with support from the Ayuntamiento.  It seems that many are supportive.

Over the next 2 years it will be very interesting to see how these guys achieve their objectives.  They see a huge opportunity here and so do I but definitely depends on location, competition, costs and how much support you can get.  The usual business questions must be answered but I would not give up on your dream.  Recently I was in Duquesa Port and the only busy place was the Rose & Thistle pub.  Maybe contact them directly and ask a few questions.  

Also, when I was in Cordoba a couple of years ago they had a Jazz bar which was fabulous and I have seen nothing like that anywhere.  It was really busy too.  

Overall Spain, I think, needs to begin supporting people with innovative ideas who want to invest.  Central Government is still putting barriers in people's way but from what I hear around, the Ayuntamiento's can be supportive.  As they say, "more research is needed'.

Good luck.

Nice post Kerri, Casares beautiful. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_V6vK5jPNY

Thank you Kerri for your lovely message and taking the time to reply, so much useful information and caesarea looks beautiful, we certainly won't give up our dream, at the end of the day we just want a little business to pay the bills and enjoy being in Spain, and hopefully give something to wherever we settle x

Thanks David!  Nice video.  And your welcome Sue.  I only wish we had a micro bar as you have described in Casares!!