What Type of Businesses Does Ambergris Caye Need?
One of the questions that I am asked most frequently: What sort of business do you think Ambergris Caye (or Belize) MOST needs?
It’s incredibly hard to answer – and I’m STILL sure I don’t have all the answers (I updated this post from August, 2021 because it’s still very relevant) There are so many factors that go into opening a business on Ambergris Caye but lemme give it “the old college try”. Or try to outline a bunch of things that the question makes me think about.
I poked fun at a stereotype brand new business owner in this 2018 April Fools Post: Big Dawg Beachside Sports Bar – New Folks & New Business on Ambergris Caye
It’s tricky for SO many reasons – and I’ll try to touch on some of them and ask those who have opened businesses in Belize to add some ideas in the comments. PLEASE DO! And let me know the positives too.
Because there are positives…and those are very easy to picture. Especially as you are shovelling your driveway in Alberta right now.
Opening a small business anywhere is hard. We hear the statistics all the time when people are talking about the US. 20% of small businesses fail within the first year, 30% by the end of the second year. 45% won’t even make it to 5 years. And food-related businesses fare even worse.
These numbers are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally they say “Opening a bar (in the US) carries a high risk, with studies indicating that 60% to 73% of bars and restaurants fail within their first year to five years, often due to poor cash flow management, lack of experience, and improper marketing.”
I’m sure you are picking up what I am laying down – Opening a small business in the US is HARD. Opening one on a tourist-driven island in Central America? I’d wager that it’s even harder.
“Needs” is a very subjective word.
I think we need a fast-easy-to-go lunch spot with sandwiches and salads that you can just grab and take away. But maybe that would be tricky in the off-season? And fresh veggies like lettuce and lunch meats (the cornerstone of a standard salad business) are super expensive. Plus, many Belizeans eat big, hot lunches.
A couple thought that we needed a Line-Dancing Bar/Biscuits and Gravy on the Beach a bunch of years back…that didn’t work.
You might think we need hot yoga studio or a place for great steaks or a Spanish/English learning center or a golf cart Uber (MAN that would be great)…
Ambergris Caye is a quirky, tourism-driven, seasonal market with two big customer bases that sometimes are looking for totally different things (let’s call them “locals” and “visitors” – a big generalization).
It’s also a “living the dream” economy…or at least that’s what I call it…but I’ll get to that.
And one quick fact…foreigners can own businesses in Belize. You need to get the proper work permit – depending on how involved you get in your business (can I suggest very involved?) but permanent residency is not required. There are other things you will want to know: taxes, permits, customs, liquor licenses, minimum wage, etc. but I will let you do your own research on that. Hopefully, it will push you to ask questions, learn the area, patronize lots of other businesses, and ask more questions. This is not time to KNOW IT ALL. It’s time to eat humble pie. Even if you ran a similar spot in the US or Canada – even if it was in a tourist area. Belize is a different country – a different culture – a totally different market.
Seasonality on Ambergris Caye: Historically, for one-third to half the year, things are booming; December thru the late spring (the last week of Dec to the beginning of May is really the sweet spot), tourists are flocking in, primarily from the US. And then things slow significantly for the rest of the year….the months when we can get some rainy weather or potentially a tropical storm. Where folks in the US are headed back to school and work and vacationing goes on the back burner.
It is hard to impress on your what it is like to run a bar in September and October. Your bar – that might be hopping in February…possibly even packed on certain nights – can see ZERO customers on a slow September afternoon. (And you are still paying rent, utilities, payroll, insurance…all the things)
Living the Dream Economy on Ambergris Caye: Visitors come to Belize, find a favorite bar, restaurant, business, and think…this looks easy…and fun…I can do this too! In fact, with a few small tweaks, I could make this even better! They don’t look into many of the details…utilities, taxes, real sales numbers, customer flow, comparables, marketing and competition…nothing. They sometimes don’t have any experience running a bar…they would NEVER think of opening a bar in their hometown but for some reason…it all seems possible in Belize.
(Trust me…I understand this! I moved here after only 2 vacations! And started managing a bar less than a year later)
The dream is hazy and minimal when it comes to details but it goes something like this: Buy a bar, open it to accolades and lots of success, friends and family flock down to visit and enjoy, hire super fun workers who are also your new friends, travel, drop in most evenings and collect the profits.
The owner might find a bar or a small cafe for sale – you can check sites like Buy Business in Belize – for ideas.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. And then the business is often back on the market – and there is usually a buyer, if the price is right. Often sold to the next person with “the dream”.
Not so much supply and demand-driven…businesses don’t fail and then close. More often they falter and are listed for sale. (They can falter for a long time…sometimes the owner has quite a bit of money to put into it) It’s more “Living the Dream” Driven.
So I guess…in fact, I know, that I don’t have a good answer for the question: What sort of business is needed in Belize?
I still would love to see that quick, easy health lunch-takeaway place. But that seems like lots of work…LOTS. And creativity. All small businesses are!
Let me know what YOU think Belize needs…
I’d LOVE to hear it.
And a few of my ideas to make it a success:
- Spend some money on professional help with a logo and a name and a website. In fact, AI is getting pretty damn good at this stuff. If possible, make it about Belize. Merchandise (hats, t-shirts, stickers) can be a big part of your business. Great marketing works.
- Differentiate! If you do open a bar or a cafe, make it different! What’s going to make your spot stand out from the crowd!
- Work your Social Media. I know, I know…it’s a slog for some people. But Instagram, Facebook…it’s all basically free (except for the misery and depression and fake news it inflicts on all of us – but that is another discussion 😉 ) – USE IT. San Pedro runs on Facebook. You’d be surprised how far a consistent feed of pretty pictures and videos can take you.
- Visit in the ON season and the OFF seasons before jumping into anything.
This post is updated from August 2021 but the topic is still as relevant today as it was then!
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I think a well-run, consistent, affordable, honest trash service company would do well. It seems that there isn’t a good place to throw out trash, especially remodeling and construction trash. There is too much trash strewn about.
The sad part is that there really isn’t a NEED for this yet because there is no enforcement against dumping. When major businesses like Clear Water properties and Caribbean Tire can dump their trash along with their construction and demolition debris right out in the open, what is to stop anyone else from copying the behavior? We see it all over the island. Complaining to SPTC and DOE falls on deaf ears. We can (and should) do so much better.
We have been visiting Belize twice a year for 20 years. Your advice should be well needed. Deep pockets may not be a necessity, but, managing your assets in slow season come into play. The business must have local support in and out of season.
This, yes
Good info. Thank you.
How bout a local running a day labor business? Handyman, skilled labor, etc.
This would be a major success, yes. They would just have to advertise consistently and have a website with good search engine optimization.
There are a few entrepreneurs that will pick up trash on a schedule. We have one up on north Ambergris. Main problem is getting the trash off the island. Guess we could fill in the big holes that remain from the quarry digs. ‘Course if we didn’t fill in marshland there would not be big holes in the island. Maybe a recycling business. Amazing how many Belikin bottles I pick up and give to Up North so they can get the deposit credit. Better yet a scoop barge to relocate sargassum to the western waters. Depositing sargassum on Ambergris just kills whatever it is near.
Here’s what we don’t need, we don’t need more restaurants, we don’t need more food choices, we don’t need any more golf cart rental rentals. We don’t need more bars., we don’t need more ice cream shops and we don’t need any more hardware store stores.
Think outside the box.
Thoughts on a boutique style exercise studio?
Barre (mix of Pilates, ballet, and cardio bursts to incredible playlists),Mindful Flow”(yoga, Pilates mix), cardio and strength classes ?
Works on a lot of core and balance with modifications till you build strength.
If you think it wouldn’t work feel free to shoot me down😂
This, no. It’s a beautiful idea for the States. A business in SP would only work if locals support it in the off season. Locals ain’t tryna do no yoga. Great idea for other areas, tho.
How about someplace that fixes eyeglasses? Polish lenses, fix frames…..
A gas station way north?
The best year round business is to become a trustworthy Caretaker for expats homes, and that business would grow as word spreads.
Re: food . I agree with you, scoop! There is no place to buy fresh prepared deli sized large containers of salsa, guacamole, macaroni salad, pastas, or any prepped food to grab and go like in grocery stores in US. A place that makes a nice deli sandwich using fresh homemade bread, with offerings prepped early enough to be ready for sea and fishing excursions or delivered to a dock. I could see the possibilities at Farm House to expand their offerings or someone else might come along and do that.
Someone that can build roads would be great!
I stumbled upon a little shop in Roatan that I immediately thought AC needed. They made cool metal artwork out of discarded appliances- think refrigerator doors cut and painted w/a glossy paint into everything from large pieces of wall art, to cool dive signs, to keychains & jewelry. A unique offering that the island does not yet have which helps solve an environmental problem of how to dispose of used appliances.
Hey Scoop. Was just watching Open Your Eyes and where can I get Howard Young Jr new book? Hopefully I can find it at PGIA.
Fresh N Go on the island is being run by our friends KP and Mandy. It’s a ‘Grab N Go’ type of place that everyone seems to be describing. They are one block from the airport on the main drag. Tell em’ Tim sent ya!
Hi Rebecca, I have Rodolfo’s information about the pottery in Chetumal. He’s going to send pictures of available pots. My email is pa*******@*******al.net