[mister36]

i'm originally from the UK and have been floating around HK for a few months looking for something to do, and the other day it hit me.

i have no idea how i would do this, but i want to open a small takeaway stand in mong kok, so what i need to know is what are the requirements for doing this?

i've been in some roach infested cafe's around HK, so i'm guessing health and safety arent big issues here, but what about licenses, taxes, wages and most importantly of all...property?

i looked on a few sites at shop prices in Mong kok and my eyes almost fell out of my nose.
$280,000 a month?
I've seen shops bigger than what they're offering in prime locations like Camden market for a £1500 a month.

surely the people selling fish balls or peanut butter waffles cant be paying that much for rent, can they?

idealy, i'd need nowhere no bigger than 200 sq.ft

would it be cheaper to do it out of a van?

[KnowItAll]

>> surely the people selling fish balls or peanut butter waffles cant
>> be paying that much for rent, can they?

Many of them own the property. $280K is overpriced ... more than SOHO / LKF to be honest. Its probably a "f'off ... we cant be bothered to deal with you" response from the agent or landlord.

[mister36]

i saw an ad for a place in Mong kok in a mall opening called tokyo town for just under $1000 a month which i thought was reasonable. only 105 sq.ft.

what's your advice though? get a chinese person to do the dirty work for me as the chances of them getting ripped off or fobbed off are less?

[Mr Scott]

I'm guessing it's difficult as a lot of those places seem to come and go rather quickly in Mong Kok. There was an excellent Taiwanese snack bar on Dundas but I think it's a shop selling bird vomit now. The ones you mentioned always seem to have people lining up.

[wtbhotia]

dont forget to calculate protection money for the traids in your montly budget as your bound to get asked in mongkok.

if u plan on getting a stall that is on ground level, expect to pay ridiculous prices, i have seen 90 sqft going for 90K per month rent. Mongkok rents for shops are one of the highest in HK.

[Lammarite]

Forget Mongkok- Sheung wan could do with something decent and cheap!

[hktraveller]

Originally Posted by Lammarite

Forget Mongkok- Sheung wan could do with something decent and cheap!

When I see your non exisiting experience in this field, I am sure there will be many things you would be going to learn the hard way. Hong Kong is a shark pool.

[Lammarite]

Originally Posted by hktraveller

When I see your non exisiting experience in this field, I am sure there will be many things you would be going to learn the hard way. Hong Kong is a shark pool.

Please explain.

[hktraveller]

Originally Posted by Lammarite

Please explain.

Money is the only thing that counts and there is no mercy. So much different than back home.
Protection money that has already beeen mentioned is one of the things.
I know from experience that you meet problems, obstacles and even threats you could not think of having been around for just a few months.
I still learn (on a daily basis) and get trapped after 20 years around.

[Lammarite]

OK- sounds similar to many cities, but not sure why you're having a go at me when I only suggested he do something in Sheung Wan.