

	Startup Overseas France, Italy, Spain, USA, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and More..

Meet with scores of exhibitors offering advice and support in hundreds of specialist areas, including :

Starting a business in Spain?

Expanding your business in Spain?

Then you've come to the right place first!

Welcome to Business Startup Overseas. It's a brand new event launched specifically to help people like you - people planning to start a business abroad, expand a business internationally or trade overseas.

There’s never been a better time to trade in ‘the global market’ – and this is where you can learn all you need to know to succeed.

One place, hundreds of advisers, thousands of opportunities.

Startup Overseas will run alongside the established Business Startup event. Now in its seventh year, it's the first and undisputedly biggest and most comprehensive event for start-up and growing companies, bringing them together with hundreds of people and organisations which can help them to get going... and to succeed.

At Business Startup Overseas, in one single location you can:

Meet hundreds of public and private organisations which can help you start or expand your business abroad
Seek expert answers to the specific questions you have about your chosen destination and business
Choose from a range of seminars covering everything from banking abroad to web-enabled commerce, and every stop in between
Register for one of our specialist, interactive workshops, each of which explores the specific challenges and opportunities of a particular region
Review your business plans and ideas with enthusiastic experts
Meet the PLUs - 'people like us' who've tried and tested the theory of starting up overseas: learn from their fortunes and failings
Forge valuable new business and personal contacts for your new life
...and it's all FREE!

There's never been a better time to start or expand a business overseas... and there's never been an event like this anywhere in the world to help you.

See you there!

Why Spain? As a well developed, competitive market, you can be sure that anything sold in the UK is likely to sell well in Spain. The Spanish government has been dedicated to relaxing the Spanish market is committed to an extensive privatisation programme. Spain, therefore, can provide many opportunities to the British exporter and businessperson across a wide range of areas. Most Spanish business opportunities stereotypically involve buying a bar or club, and this because many investors wanting to set up will not be fluent in the language. Therefore, they invariably look for a business that will offer a service to tourists who commonly speak English. Most other popular businesses in Spain include buying a property and making it available to guests and tourists. Restaurants are also a popular and lucrative trade. However, this is a rather antiquated and narrow way of thinking. The steady increase of younger people relocating to Spain from other areas of Europe has led to a whole host of new business opportunities. These include estate agencies, furniture shops, English supermarkets/stores, computer repair shops, bookstores, toyshops, and countless more. Additionally, you can capitalise on market gaps with new ventures that have been set up successfully in places like the UK and America, but have yet to be applied or introduced to Spain. If you are shrewd and choose the right market, you could find yourself with little competition. It doesn’t take an Alan Sugar to work out that a flourishing idea popular in America and Northern Europe should be easily marketable or adaptable to Spain. What is the currency and exchange rate? Spain, along with its fellow EU members, uses the Euro. The current exchange rate is: £1 = 1.26 Euros. What is the population? The population of Spain is just over 40 million. How is the weather/climate? As a result of Spain’s geographical position and varying altitudes, the climate is very diverse. However, it can be divided into three areas: Mediterranean Spain has high levels of sunshine, from 6 hours-a-day in the winter to 12 hours-a-day in summer. Winters are mild; much warmer than central Spain. Rain is rare from June to August, though the northern Mediterranean coast is known occasional downpours. Central Spain and the Southern Atlantic coast have a commonly low rainfall, though winter snow can be heavy on the sierras. Summers are very hot, especially from Northern Andalucia to Seville where some of the highest temperatures are recorded. Sunshine levels average 5 hours-a-day in winter and 12 hours-a-day in summer. North and North West Spain can be influenced by depressions from the Atlantic, particularly in the autumn and winter, making this the wettest and cloudiest part of Spain. Sunshine levels average 3 hours-a-day during the winter and 8 hours-a-day in the summer. Summer temperatures are lower than other parts of Spain but with much warm and sunny weather. What is the time difference? The time in Spain is GMT + 1 What are the languages of Spain? The most prominent of the languages of Spain is, unsurprisingly, Spanish, which nearly everyone can speak as either first or second language. Other languages/dialects feature prominently in specific regions: Basque, Catalan, Galician, and Aranese. Spanish is official throughout the country; the rest of these have co-official status in their respective regions. Do I need a visa? Like the rest of the EU, British citizens can visit Spain on production of a valid passport. No further documents are required. Long-Term Stays As of March 1, 2003, British and EU citizens intending to stay in Spain for a continuous period of more than 90 days need not apply for a residence card, and are permitted to live in Spain with a valid passport. Also eligible under this new regulation are: employees, the self-employed, students, and EU nationals dependents on an EU or Spanish national. The Gestor The job of the gestor is unique to Spain. He or she is an agent who can carry out standard bureaucratic procedures for you due to their thorough knowledge of Spanish bureaucracy. The gestor is comparable to a lawyer and, for a usually reasonable fee, will take and complete your paperwork with minimum stress to you. Although you can probably do most of this work, a gestor can be employed if you are struggling for time or are baffled by bureaucratic procedures. However, do not expect immediate results and always request an estimate of costs before employing a gestor's services. It is not uncommon for a gestor to require a deposit. What is the tax? The Spanish fiscal year coincides with the calendar year. Residents are taxed on all areas of earned and unearned income. Married couples may elect to be treated as individuals or as a family unit. Taxable income may come from many areas, some of which are detailed below. This is not an exhaustive list: Contracts of employment Investment income from property Investment income In certain circumstances capital gains and losses Trading income This is an overview of what you will be taxed (in Euros): 24% on income between 0 and 17,360 28% on income between 17,361 and 32,359 37% on income between 32,360 and 52,359 43% on income of 52,360 and over Economic Overview Spain is the eighth largest economy in the world, although is not a member of the Group-of-Eight (G8) industrial nations. Inflation has been a steady 3.5 - 4% over the past few years. Spain has a thriving economy, with its main industries being tourism, metal and metal manufacture, textiles, clothing and apparel, food and drink, chemicals, ship-building, machine tools, automobiles, electronics. Spain’s main exports are: Machinery Chemicals Motor vehicles Electronic devices Foodstuffs Other consumer goods Spain’s main imports are: Fuels Chemicals Industrial equipment Semi-finished goods Foodstuffs The Spanish government official growth forecast for 2008 is 2.7%. Yet, this appears unlikely to be met if the current rates stagnate or decline for the rest of the year. On the positive side, though, the Spanish banking system has been attributed as one of the most robust and well-equipped to handle the worldwide liquidity crisis. This is a result of excellent banking rule and practice. What are the essentials to know? Foreign investors must be aware of the applicable EU Laws. Foreign investors are free to adopt any form of business investment, and may acquire a stake in or take control of a company which has already been set up. Recruitment There are various rules and laws overseeing employment in Spain, but, in general, recruitment does not pose a problem. Spain has a well-educated, talented and dextrous workforce. Recruitment and staffing agencies are very well-established across the nation and are proliferating rapidly. Commercial sections of the various posts in Spain can provide lists of agencies free of charge. Regardless of the 10% unemployment rate, some areas (such as agriculture and construction) have experienced a shortage in workforce. The national minimum wage in Spain is currently 600 Euros a month. Finance and incentives Spain has a admirable banking and financial industry. In fact, it has the largest quantity of banks in the EU. Many of the international banks, accountants and insurance companies have set up in Spain. Spanish banks have an intimate relationship with industry, and the venture capital market is generally dictated by government agencies and private banks. There are various bursaries and other incentives that promote investment in specific industries and regions of Spain, and a plethora of EU incentives and subsidies are also available. Industries using incentives include agriculture, energy, mining, technological research, and development Representatives and communication Dependent on the nature of your business or investment, the Spanish generally enjoy dealing with someone who they can form a good business relationship with. Communication and interpersonal skills are therefore paramount, as well as the ability to be enthused about a product or service. Knowledge of the language is essential, and for this reason it would be advisable to employ a national or a translator. What are the procedures and legalities to setting up? To assume legal recognition and start any economic activity, the following are generally considered prerequisites: Registration of your company name: you must apply for a certificate issued by the Central Commercial Registry confirming that the name you intend to use is not already registered. Apply for your Company Tax Identification Code (CIF) at the tax office. Deposit the capital into a bank account in the company's name: the amount of money will depend on the kind of business you want to create. Deed of Incorporation. The owner(s), when necessary, will need to sign the constitution deed for the business in front of a notary (some one with the legal power to witness and authenticate documents). Pay the transfer tax at the tax office. Deed of Incorporation and CIF will be required. The amount to pay is 1% of the company capital share. Registering the company with the Corporate Registry. This needs to be done once the transfer tax is paid. Deed of Incorporation will be required. Formal Declaration. Needed to start the activity of the company. Filed before the Spanish Tax Office that will contain the tax system for which the company will be liable. The company will be accountable for the Spanish tax on economic activity. It will be requisite to enter the company at the Tax Office for this reason. The Tax Office will ask for your business specifics and credentials: description of company activity, start date of the activity, description of the business premises, etc. Enrol the company at the Social Security General Treasury. The company director will join the autonomous workers' special system. It is essential that your business obtains the libro de matricula. This tome will log personnel registration, as well as the visits that labour inspectors make to your work centre(s)/office(s), etc. The start or resumption of any business activity must be made known to the Regional Work Authorities Office. Application for an opening license at the Spanish Town Council. You will need to present the premises map and its general location, description of the business activity and receipt of local tax payment. Taxation books may be required. Check to see if your business requires this. Declare any foreign investments in Spain. Foreign investments assigned to set up a company in Spain need to be declared to the Spanish Investments Register of the Tax and Economy Ministry. It is advisable that you obtain the services of a lawyer in Spain. It will help bypass any complications, misunderstandings or tedious red-tape. He or she will know the specifics of documentation, paperwork, etc. Employment and recruitment (continued) It is more-than-likely you will need to employ workers for your business venture in Spain. If so, you will need to register with the Social Security General Treasury. Thereafter, you will have 10 working days to enrol their contract with the Spanish Institute of Employment. It is illegal to employ someone without contract or social security; you may even be fined by labour inspectors for unregistered workers. It is important to remember that workers in Spain (Spanish or immigrants) are eligible for all the benefits provided by the labour legislation, such as maternity leave, working conditions, etc. Government sponsorship and subsidies The Spanish government gives incentives to promote: the creation of industrial estates; innovation; advancement in technology; research; development; and job creation. Spanish and foreign-owned companies, as well as individuals willing to set up their own company in Spain, may receive these subsidies. Dependent on the exact nature of your business, there may be a variety of help and bursaries available to you. What if I want to buy into a franchise? Buying into a successful franchise can be a smart financial option for people looking to move to Spain. Franchising in Spain offers a much more reliable way to make money in when compared to setting up you own business. For those not in the know, a franchise is an already formed business idea that you buy into as opposed to starting your own. An example of this is Dominoes Pizza or McDonalds. The benefit of doing this is, simply, buying a brand that instantly attracts customers. Additionally, the on-going franchise fee is partly reinvested in national advertising to continually draw consumers. It is possible, with a franchise in Spain, that you will have access to goods at wholesale prices: with a few franchisees, there is bigger buying power when compared to your low buying power as a single unit operation. Buying a franchise in Spain can give you an essential head start in business. Indeed, you are running your own business - but you won’t be alone. What types of franchise can I expect in Spain? In Spain, you can buy a franchise in almost every area of business conceivable. Naturally, if your grasp on the Spanish language is limited, so will be your choice of franchise. Furthermore, if you are limited to an expatriate area, maybe the franchise of your choice has already been taken. When considering a franchise opportunity in Spain, be careful. Just because a concept is advertised as a franchise it doesn't necessarily guarantee success. Research and check out every facet of the franchise. Indeed, talk to as many of the other franchisees already operating in Spain as you can. What is day-to-day living like in Spain? Overview The price of living can vary substantially depending on the area you work and live. Generally, the cost of living is higher in urban areas such as Madrid or Barcelona than in rural villages and towns. In the cities of Spain, the price of property is high in relation to the costs of living. Many Spaniards spend up to half their income on housing. On the less expensive hand, a cup of coffee or a glass of beer can be bought for one Euro, maybe less. Immediate gratification comes from the cordiality of the people (apart from when shopping!), the beaches of soft sand, long days of sunshine, the breathtaking mountains, vast plains, the nightlife, the wonderful cuisine, the restaurants, markets, and so on. Social Security The Spanish social security system is much like the British one: you pay your contributions every month, and that entitles you to a pension, unemployment benefit, sick pay, maternity pay and the right to receive free healthcare. The amount of pension or benefit you receive depends on the level of contributions you have been paying. Healthcare The Spanish healthcare system is of a very high standard. Most hospitals are contemporary, well-equipped, and the doctors and paediatricians are of an impressive calibre. There are a few differences in policy between the British and Spanish health systems, but overall they are not especially dissimilar. Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the level of nursing care available in Spain. While Spanish nurses are well-trained and skilled, they do not undertake many of the duties practiced by British nurses. Some duties (particularly personal care and feeding) are carried out by a patient's family, instead. All hospitals allow one carer/visitor to be with the patient 24-hours-a-day. Visiting times vary for others. When you make the move to Spain, remember that many medical staff do not speak English. In some tourist towns, a voluntary translation service is available for doctor appointments, but this is not available as-and-when. It is recommended that you find out whether or not such a service exists locally when you first move to Spain. Before moving to Spain, you should make sure you apply for the new European Health Insurance card (EHIC), which replaces the old E111. The emergency phone number in Spain is 112, the equivalent of 999 here in the UK. Dentists Most health centres have a dentist who offers free treatment to people registered with the social security system. You can also find dentists offering emergency treatment in Spanish hospitals. If you have any problems getting an appointment with the dentist at your local health centre, then private dental treatment is readily available, and prices are low compared to the UK. For private dental work, expect to pay approximately 10 Euros for a check-up. Grocery Shopping The majority of Spanish stores are small family-run affairs, although many more hypermarkets and supermarkets have popped up. Hypermarkets tend to reside in the fast-growing Spanish suburbs, while the older city neighbourhoods are attached to their quaint shopping rituals. The Spanish generally don’t believe in queuing, and shoppers often push and shove their way to the front. Sales assistants will not always serve customers in order, so if it is your turn, don’t remain politely British: speak up. Stores, hypermarkets and supermarkets are open without a siesta close from around 1000 until 2200, Monday to Saturday. Most stores are closed on Sunday. Small shops open from 0700 or 0800 until 1300 when they close for siesta. They open again from 1700 until 2000 or 2100. What’s driving like in Spain? Road Tax Road tax in Spain is paid to the local council. Payment is related to the individual vehicle and area. All vehicles are required to undertake a yearly inspection called an ITV, which is similar to an MOT here in the UK. Major towns and cities will have a handful ITV stations that you can take your car to. Speed Limits Autopistas or motorways 120kph Dual carriageways 100kph Country roads 90kph Urban roads 50kph Residential areas 20kph No need to tell you, it is compulsory to wear both front and rear seatbelts. What can I expect from utility bills? Electricity Immediately after buying or renting a property, you should sign a contract with the local electricity company. This will mean visiting the local office in order to register. You need to take with you some identification (passport or residence card) and the contract and bills paid by the previous owner. Power cuts are frequent in many areas of Spain. When it rains heavily, the electricity supply can become very temperamental. If you live in an area where cuts are frequent and you rely on electricity, it may be a good idea to install an emergency generator. You will be billed bi-monthly for electricity. Gas Mains gas is only available in major cities in Spain. When moving into a property with mains gas, you must contact the local gas company to have the gas switched on, the meter read and a supply contract signed. As with electricity, you're billed every two months. Water Water supply is a major concern in Spain. It is controlled by local municipalities, many of which have their own wells. In some municipalities, water distribution is the responsibility of a private company. The cost of connection for a new home can vary from 50 to 300 Euros. There is a standing quarterly charge for a minimum consumption in most areas. Internet Internet usage in Spain is noticeably lower than in the rest of Europe. Around 34% (15 million) of the population are connected to the World Wide Web. The government is encouraging the use of Wi-Fi as a way of connecting rural and poorer areas to the Internet. What’s public transport like? Buses The local bus services in cities run from around 0600 until midnight, when a more expensive night system comes into operation. Most buses don't have a lot of seats, opting instead for maximum standing room. Urban buses are quite slow, although some major cities provide efficient bus lanes. Keep in mind that when waiting at a bus stop, the bus may not always stop for you unless you indicate it to. Metro/Underground There are metro lines in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. They offer a rapid way to get the around the city and are sometimes, unsurprisingly, congested during rush hours. Saver tickets are available, such as a cheap day return, a metro-card allowing three to five days’ unlimited use, and weekly and monthly passes. Taxis Only use taxis that display a special licence. The cabs are of a very high standard and ruled by strict legislation. They display a green light when they are free for business. It is fine to flag them down or they can be found at a taxi rank. They are metered, and gratuity is a customary 10%. What do customs or etiquette should I know? There isn’t a great deal of social blunder to be made in Spain, but here are a few pointers: Time is very relaxed. It is wise for foreigners to be punctual, but Spaniards do not put a great emphasis on time themselves. Do not become overly concerned if the deadline is not attained. Spaniards will meet deadlines and objectives that are viable. Be prepared for disorganised business negotiations. Often, many people will be speaking simultaneously. Business cards should be two-sided; one side written in English, the other in Spanish. Dinner is usually served after 2100, so you may want to take full advantage of the siesta by sleeping or eating. The Spanish dress is more formal than the most of Europe. In Spain, like Italy, it is important to project good taste in clothing. Business attire includes well-made, conservative suits and ties. Avoid flashy colours; it is not popular to stand out.

Banks of Spain

Banco De Espana C/ Alcala, 48 28014 Madrid Tel: +34 91 338 50 00 Email: webmaster@bde.es www.bde.es/homee.htm Banco Sabadell Pl. Sant Roc, 20 08201 Sabadell Barcelona Tel: +34 902 323 555 Email: info@bancsabadell.com www.bancsabadell.es Banesto Tel: + 34 91 767 90 46 Email: non.resident@banesto.es www.banesto.es Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa (BKK) Tel: +34 94 424 36 77 Email: bbktelefono@bbk.es www.bbk.es Caixa Catalunya Tel: +34 902 42 55 42 Email: liniatotal@caixacatalunya.es www.caixacatalunya.es/caixacat/eng/ccpublic/particulars/default.htm Caja Madrid Paseo Castellana 189 28046 Madrid, Spain Tel: +34 917 330 440 www.cajamadrid.es HSBC Bank plc Sucursal en España Torre Picasso Floor 33 Plaza Pablo Ruiz Picasso1 28020 Madrid Tel: 34 91 456 6100 Fax: 34 91 456 6200 Email: contact.hsbc.spain@hsbc.com www.hsbc.com/1/2/about-hsbc/international-network/europe/spain Lloyds Espana Email: Lloyds@lloydstsb.es Tel: + 34 902 024 365 www.lloydstsb.es/ing/index.htm Santander Mesena, 103 28033 Madrid Tel: + 34 91 709 85 20 www.gruposantander.com

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