Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHAT MISTAKES HAVE YOU MADE THAT WERE BIG LESSONS FOR YOU ABOUT
DOING BUSINESS HERE?
No deal is a deal until the dollars are paid. Contracts can't really protect you. Also, if
you can understand that many folks are out for short-term gain instead of long-term
partnerships, it will help with strategies for dealing with local partners, suppliers, or
clients.
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE PLEASANT THINGS OR ADVANTAGES YOU HAVE
EXPERIENCED BY HAVING YOUR OWN BUSINESS IN BEIJING?
To do well, my business requires me to have city and food knowledge, which means
constant exploring and research, and which for me is the most enjoyable part. I don't
have regular work hours, so that means I don't need to deal with Beijing traffic. Fur-
thermore, Beijing is an energetic city, and the people are really curious and willing to
try something new, so that makes doing business here exciting.
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OR DISADVANTAGES?
There is a lot of red tape and paperwork involved, and you need to be able to work
patiently and under lots of uncertain conditions and deadlines. That said, the oppor-
tunities are exciting for an entrepreneur.
WHAT IS GENERALLY THE BIGGEST HEADACHE ONCE YOUR BUSINESS IS UP AND
RUNNING?
HR is the biggest, most constant challenge. It can be difficult in Beijing to find and
keep talent. For many expats, Beijing is still considered a transitional city, so they
come and go within a year or two. Locals tend job-hop. It's also hard to find people
with the magic combination of being bilingual and having the skills we search for.
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT DOING BUSINESS HERE?
It almost seems like there is no limit to what you can do here. Business ideas don't
just stay as ideas, they turn into reality.
