Bulgaria attracts tourists with its mild climate, close location to European countries and affordable prices. Many, returning home after another vacation, realize that they do not want to leave anymore and begin planning to move to Bulgaria for permanent residence. One of the main problems that our compatriots face in this situation is finding a source of income on the territory of a foreign country.
At first glance, it may seem that there are plenty of opportunities to develop your business in any field. What is especially captivating is the almost complete lack of competition. Moreover, a significant part of the country is in cultural and financial decline and at first glance it may seem that Bulgaria is in desperate need of your investment.
Dozens of options swarm in the minds of emigrants - a coffee shop, a manufacturing facility, a car repair shop, a store, a real estate agency? However, in practice, entrepreneurs will face a number of difficulties.
Production
Many are attracted by the opportunity to produce goods in Bulgaria. Especially those who already have experience in this field. Entrepreneurs are interested in cheap labor, as well as close proximity to the countries of the European Union, which in turn promises a reduction in transport costs.
In practice, you need to be prepared for the fact that cheap labor, in most cases, results in innate laziness of workers, sloppiness and an indifferent attitude to business. For the average Bulgarian, money is not an incentive, while the main thing is peace of mind and peace of mind. The traditional Bulgarian wish to each other is “leka rabota!” (light work) expresses the basic mood of the local population.
If for some reason you are unable to organize sales of products to the EU countries, be prepared to significantly reduce their cost for sale on the Bulgarian market; the low purchasing power of the population significantly affects pricing. Obtaining a permit for production (especially food production) can take up to two or more years. Be especially attentive to quality if your plant is built by Bulgarian craftsmen.
Restaurant business
In summer, Bulgaria welcomes guests on the sea coast, in winter - at ski resorts. The tourist flow contributes to seasonal demand for the restaurant business. Fortunately or unfortunately, the service culture in the country is practically undeveloped, which is why many entrepreneurs find this industry very attractive. Of course, in Bulgaria there are several local popular restaurant chains with a satisfactory level of service and average cuisine. However, their prices are aimed at tourists or locals with above-average incomes.
At first glance, the general development plan is simple: offer guests well-prepared dishes, friendly waiters, a fresh interior, a recognizable brand, cheerful cutlery (although serving food in chipped plates with scratches from knives is considered acceptable here) and the establishment will become popular. However, in practice the situation tends to be somewhat different. A restaurateur should be prepared for some difficulties that are present everywhere.
The owner of the premises can increase the rent as soon as he sees that your business has taken off. In resort areas “out of season” there will be almost no visitors (in winter - at the sea, and in summer - in the mountains). The staff will be sloppy and unfriendly to the guests of your establishment (and sometimes even rude), and even a high salary will not provide motivation. It is also worth considering that Bulgarians are very conservative when it comes to cuisine; bean soup, Shopska salad and fried potatoes are the most popular dishes here.
Coffee shop
Local residents drink coffee several times a day, however, not many people here are familiar with the taste of high-quality coffee. In Bulgaria, as in many southern countries, it is customary to sit for a long time with a cup of coffee at a street cafe table, basking in the sun. People are willing to sip a tiny cup of the bitter-sour drink for an hour or two while chatting with friends or surfing the Internet.
People in Bulgaria love coffee, but when choosing it they are guided solely by cost. The main competitor of a coffee shop is a vending machine. These machines, filled with cheap coffee, are on every corner here. Moreover, the state of many of them, from the point of view of preparing the drink, does not stand up to criticism. A cup of coffee (sometimes even a plastic one) from a vending machine costs 50 stotinki. A cup of coffee in a cafe from 2.50 to 5 levs. It is worth considering that Bulgarians who prefer a coffee shop to a street vending machine expect to receive free wi-fi, access to the toilet, comfortable chairs, an outdoor smoking area, and the opportunity to bask in the sun.
Car services. Repair, washing
Quality auto repair shops in Bulgaria can be counted on one hand. Nevertheless, even the official capital service centers often do their job "to hell" not well enough. Many of them can offer a comfortable waiting area during repairs, but unfortunately, behind the external “luxury” (Bulgarian) façade lies the same Bulgarian negligence and unprofessionalism.
Budget auto repair shops set up in semi-abandoned industrial buildings to save on rent. Of course, there is no waiting area here. In the summer, a couple of plastic chairs and a table can be placed outside for clients - that’s all customer focus. Diagnosis of problems is usually carried out on an intuitive level. Fixing parts with plastic clamps and rough handling of car parts is common. However, here, unlike the “official service”, the client is allowed to observe the work process. It may seem that these conditions are to the advantage of those who are going to open a workshop or car wash, focusing on quality. However, before drawing conclusions, it is worth familiarizing yourself with a number of features that take place in this area of business.
Your main clients will be local residents, since tourists most often arrive in the country by plane. In Bulgaria, we are not used to seeing high-quality repairs, but we are used to paying a very small price for it, and besides, there are few professional craftsmen here. Another important fact is that most of the cars that are in Bulgaria have already been “written off as total” from the EU. Read more about this and buying a peppy car in Bulgaria here. Bulgarians consider timely changes of consumables (filters, oils) wasteful. For example, at the end of its service life, instead of replacing the engine filter, it is simply shaken out and put back. In conclusion, it is worth noting that you will always have competitors who are ready to do it cheaper.
Other types of business
The services of a photographer are in little demand here; mostly people are willing to spend money on a wedding photo shoot. As a rule, holding a wedding ceremony in Bulgaria is chosen by those who want to save money, so not everyone will be able to issue a decent bill to the newlyweds for photo services. With rare exceptions, foreigners come; read about a Japanese wedding ceremony in the mountains of Bulgaria here.
Rent and sale of real estate. Due to the growth of construction in certain regions of Bulgaria (for example, the ski resort of Bansko), an indecently large number of real estate agencies have appeared. Unfortunately, the quality of the buildings leaves much to be desired (savings on materials, criminal negligence of workers), and the management of the complexes is worse (extortion of funds and blackmail, instead of support, searching for opportunities to seize the apartment from the owner). Due to this and many other factors, properties are not actively being sold.
Of course, not everything is so bad in Bulgaria. Of course, despite the difficulties listed above, there are also successful examples of business development. Obviously, with the right amount of effort, you can make any business successful; the only question is the amount of investment. Undoubtedly, the country needs to improve the level of service, produce quality goods and provide qualified services. However, the Bulgarians are not yet ready to pay the bills. In 2007, after the opening of the EU borders, the most active residents left the country in search of a better life; those who remained turned out to be less demanding, ambitious and agree with the standard of living they have.