Cyprus-Forum.com

[Peter.Symphony.X]

Hi all,
Please advise on procedures for opening a company and a cafe in Cyprus.
I'm not a EU citizen. Please, if known, post links or cost of licenses and Health requirements.

Thank You!

[Sotos]

Why all British that come to Cyprus want to open a cafe/bar? You must be the 3rd or 4th posting in this forum with this intention. There are many cafes in Cyprus competition will be too much for you.

[andri_cy]

especially with all the cypriots that want their coffee made the "right" way LOL

[mrterrific]

Sotos,

I'm not a EU citizen

Kind of suggests OP isn't British.

[twinkle]

Oh dear, not another Cafe??? This country is overrun with retired golfers drinking coffee ... Enough! For example there are 5 cafes in Larnaca in the space of 100 sq.m. and they're not even on the sea front. They are in town!

[Peter.Symphony.X]

It is hard to find a good espresso in cyprus. They give either a Nescafe espresso or Nescafe instant coffee. I know at least two that do not know how to use the espresso machine and the others do not know how to make a long and short espresso. Only Starbucks comes close. Did not mean to start a coffee shop discussion

[andri_cy]

well you have to think about wether people would come just for the better espresso.

[pammie467153]

hi all. been reading all the past messages, very interesting and much of it confirms the conclusions that I have been reaching in my own research regarding opening up a 'cafe'. I am British and have run into so many brick walls and red tape that sometimes I feel like giving up...but I won't. There are cafes all over the island, true. Also restaurants and any and every other eating/catering establishment inbetween, but has anyone noticed how all the menus are the same? Different cafe, different decor, same menu. Perhaps Peter would like to offer something (dare I say) different? and perhaps if someone helped him with advice instead of criticising his attempts, we may even be pleased that we were instrumental in helping. The brick walls I have been facing mostly boil down to either no one willing to offer assistance in getting the right advice from the right people, or being told that unless I pay silly amounts of money to the 'right' people i will not be allowed to open. The second biggest obstacle has been down right racism. I have been told both directly and indirectly that only 'nationals' will be allowed to open this sort of business and that I am trying to steal anothers' living. Strikes me as being rather juvenile. I am allowed and encouraged to spend as much money as possible, but attempt to make money, even a small amount in relation to what I have spent here, and BANG, another brick wall. And Stotos, do all British who come to cyprus want to open a cafe? I suspect quite a few do, maybe its because they are bored with the same menus. Also, how many Cypriots have made a living moving to Britain or elsewhere and opened a food related business? life is too short for any of us to make things more difficult for each other no matter where they were born or where they choose to live. So come on everyone help both Peter and myself, remember what comes around goes around. I am sure all of you have been glad that someone helped you at one time or another.

[NeverSayGoodbye]

Its true most places cant make a good espresso,cappucino,..etc.
How much are you willing to invest? if you dont mind me asking that is.
Would you be aiming at locals or tourists?

[Hazza]

Have to admit, when I first came to Cyprus, it was with the intention of opening up a snackbar, but we had ideas of how to make it original, how to make it different to everything else here in Larnaca. The ideas are still there, its just waiting for the right opportunity. Point I'm making here is be original if you want to enter that field, do something that will draw your clients in on a regular basis.