Starting a business as a foreigner / Empezando un negocio como extranjero

So the current plan is to live in Bilbao for at least another 15 months, which seems like a good opportunity to start a business. The steps I believe are needed to start a business are:

1. Decide what your business will be (preferably based on the "sweet spot" where your financial capabilities, your skills and the needs of society meet).
2. Sketch your business model (how are you gonna make money? who's gonna pay for whatever it is you are selling?). (Depending on the complexity of the business, you may want to go as far as making a business plan with market research, industry analysis, financial projections and all)
3. Register your economic activities in the incumbent government office.
4. Start getting clients (you'll probably need a beta client to test your business model and tweak your offer).
5. Work
6. Work
7. Work
8. .....

I decided on a business concept, I have an idea of my business model, and I wanted to register to start working here in the Basque Country (in Spain). I went into the Department of Migration and Work website to review the process of registering as an independent worker. 

The first step is taking a course to make a business plan, then there will be an evaluation of the feasibility of my idea; then I can present the plan, along with a resume and application. Then, after 3 months of my application, I have to go back to my home country and wait for the permit.

The office where they provide the business plan format gave me an appointment in 5 weeks. This means that, if you are a foreigner who wants to work independently, you need to consider at least 4 months and a plane ticket before you can start your business. I'll keep you posted in the progress.

;)

UPDATE: I just got a call today (april 5th) and they gave me an earlier date! New appointment is in 9 days, which is about 16 days before the original date. This are good news, things are moving!

UPDATE 2: Had the meeting, they told me I had to go to another department to ask for a visa change. Turns out, I can't start a business in Spain. So plan B now, Internet here I go!

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Mi plan a corto plazo es vivir en Bilbao al menos 15 meses más, lo cual parece una buena oportunidad para iniciar un negocio. Desde mi perspectiva, los pasos necesarios para empezar un negocio son:

1. Decidir cuál va a ser el concepto de tu negocio (de preferencia basado en la conjunción donde se encuentran tus habilidades, tu capacidad económica y una necesidad de la sociedad).
2. Diseñar tu modelo de negocios (¿cómo vas a generar ingresos?, ¿quién va a pagar lo que estás vendiendo?). (Dependiendo de la complejidad del negocio, podrías decidir hacer un plan de negocios, incluyendo hacer una investigación de mercado, análisis de la industria, proyecciones financieras, etc.)
3. Registrar tu actividad económica en la oficina de gobierno pertinente.
4. Conseguir los primeros clientes (posiblemente necesites un cliente de prueba, para comprobar tu modelo de negocios y mejorar tu oferta al mercado).
5. Trabajar
6. Trabajar
7. Trabajar
8. .....

Ya tengo decidido mi concepto de negocio, tengo una idea del modelo de negocios, y decidí empezar a revisar el proceso para registrarme y empezar mis actividades económicas en el País Vasco (en España). Ingresé en el sitio web del Departamento de Migración y Trabajo para averiguar qué tenía que hacer para registrarme como autónomo (trabajador independiente). 

El primer paso es tomar un curso para hacer un plan de negocios, después habrá una evaluación de factibilidad de mi idea; luego puedo presentar el plan, junto con mi currículum y una aplicación. Después de 3 meses, debo volver a mi país y esperar el permiso.

La oficina donde tienen el formato del plan de negocios me dio una cita en 5 semanas. Esto quiere decir que si eres un extranjero que quiere empezar un negocio, necesitas considerar al menos 4 meses y un boleto de avión antes de poder empezar a trabajar. Los mantendré al tanto del progreso.

;)

ACTUALIZACIÓN: Recibí una llamada el día de hoy (abril 5) y me dieron una nueva fecha en 9 días, que son casi 2 semanas antes de la fecha original. Estas son buenas noticias, ¡estamos avanzando!

ACTUALIZACIÓN 2: Tuve la reunión y me dijeron que tenía que ir a otro departamento a pedir un cambio de visa. Resulta que no puedo abrir un negocio en España. Así que ahora continuaremos con el Plan B: Internet, ¡aquí voy!

Things to do in Bilbao

Bilbao is located in the Basque country (in the north of Spain), it has great wine and even better cuisine. If you are around here, don't miss the following:

Places

• The Guggenheim Museum: great architectural work by Frank Ghery; it's quite impressive and it just looks lovely by the river. If you live there, it's a really nice place to go jog. You can also sit at the coffeehouse nextdoor and admire the view.

• Bilbao Fine Arts Museum: I haven't been inside yet, but I intend to go one of this days. From the outside, it looks really nice. It's near a park (complete with water fountains, playground and an ice cream shop).

• Alhóndiga Bilbao: This is a reformed space turned into a sort of community space, it has library, gym, movie theater, workshops, coffeeshop, conference rooms, even 1 hour free wifi. The architecture is fantastic, the pool is in the top floor, you can actually see it from below when you walk in. If you are an architect or city planner, this is a MUST.

• The Calatrava bridge: you just have to walk down the Ria from the Guggenheim to see it, worth the walk ;)

Shopping

If you are looking for fashion, go to Gran Vía and Ercilla Kalea (you'll find the line marked in the map). If you're looking for cool-local-humor tshirts, go to Kukuxumusu.

Food

• If you are there on a Sunday, you must go to Casco Viejo (the Old Quarter) and eat "rabas" (fried squid), and have a glass of wine (the usual is called Rueda) or a glass of beer (they call it a "caña").  I recommend the Gran Café Bilbao, located in Plaza Nueva.

• Another thing to definitely try are the pintxos (called tapas elsewhere in Spain). The two places for designer pintxos I like are the Santa Maria:

And the Gure Toki (also located in the Plaza Nueva)

• If you haven't tried the Spanish Chocolate&Churros, go to either of the places marked on the map, the first one has better chocolate, the second one has better churros; either way, you'll enjoy.

• If you are into pastries, try the traditional "Carolina".

Here's the map:

View Bilbao in a larger map

The best dates to go are the last week of August, to catch the "Big Week" Festival (Aste Nagusia or Semana Grande), it's one week of parties, music, fireworks and fun all over the city. And the 21st of December, when they celebrate Santo Tomás and have a fair with local produce and traditional food and wine in the city center, and the Carnival Weekend (when locals wear a costume, there's a parade, a carnival and parties), which is the last weekend of February or the first one in March.