business in Bali - will it suit you?

For many the idyllic life would be running a business in Bali.

There are many positives such as the weather and the welcoming people.

However there are also challenges to be overcome:

i) the language
ii) country specific regulations for foreigners doing business
iii) the culture
iv) standards
v) living the expat lifestyle

Language challenges are obvious. If you do not already know the language and do not intend to learn it - the importance of trusted and competent interpreters and translaters cannot be overstated. However it is not as daunting in Bali as other places as there are a number of reputable legal firms with English speaking ex-patriots or local staff to assist with setting up and registering your business in Bali. The issue usually comes into the smaller day to day running of the business when the staff you have employed do not understand the concepts you are trying to portray as they would not even understand them in Bahasa Indonesia.

Some cultural issues are unique to Bali such as the local government regulating presence at religious festivals. Often if your staff do not attend the local temples on certain days you and your staff will incur fines. Although many expats think paying the fine is easy - it is not that simple - other penalties do apply. For this reason seasoned expat business owners choose to employ staff with a range of religions being Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian so that not all staff will be absent on the same day/s.

Another aspect with cultural issues is acceptable behaviour. Even if you can speak the language your behaviour does matter. The Balinese are famous for their welcoming attitude and friendly smiles however they are not so docile as some Westerners like to think. A friendly smile can just as easily mean 'no thanks, I don't like you and don't want to do business with you'. Or they may do business with you but if you do not fit their unspoken rules of behaviour such as business revolving around drinking too much you won't have their respect and they may also discuss how unporfessional you are to others, therefore harming what you think is your good reputation.

Standards - this could relate to everything from freshness and availability of food if you are running a restaurant, to telecommunications where your wi-fi service to guests in your restaurant affects business, to the building standard of your business premises, to international standards in hospitality. The list could go on and on. Many Westerners running businesses in Bali learn to 'chill' and work with the system rather than against it. This is definitely a better way to go to avoid chronic stress from day one particularly if you apply your perfectionist expectations.

Living the expat lifestyle for many is the goal in itself - servants at home, driving you around, doing your shopping and anything else you want them to do. However this is not something that comes easily to many. Running a household with staff could mean managing a driver, cook, a couple of maids, nanny, security guards. Some see this as an invasion of privacy or an offence to one's independence. Others who enjoy it often find the lines grey in other ways such as becoming too familiar or that family members continually ask for money.

Another aspect of the expat lifestyle is that you are treated in many ways like royalty and no-one will say anything against you or even admonish your children when they are being naughty. Often the children can become so spoilt and even bratish that they are uncontrollable with no boundaries set. The domestic staff may be in fear of losing their jobs and not being able to feed their family. Expat children have also been known to play up to this and whether conscious or unconsciously learn to 'bully' the staff. Blackmail to obtain alcohol or other items that the parents may not want available. Or alternatively, the parents are living such a fun life including much socialising involving drinking that the parental example is skewed. Feedback from expats bringing up children have mentioned that the dangers are greater overseas.

The above challenges can be overcome with a conscious effort and commitment - which are staples of any sound busienss practice.