Setting up business in Japan can be an uphill struggle

This is the introduction to my latest Guardian column. You can read the whole thing at:
A Desk In The Sun.

Setting up a business in the UK is difficult enough. Move abroad, adding the extra challenges of language, culture and bureaucracy to the mix, and it's enough to make most people go running to the nearest employer.

Of course, some places are tougher than others.

Japan would certainly be one of the last stable, advanced capitalist economies where I'd try to start a business. But it seems there's nowhere in the world that doesn't have some British entrepreneur toiling away… Click here to read more

Finding British expat websites, blogs and forums

The reason I mentioned my need to be proactive in the last posting was as an introduction to my research methods for my book: "The Guardian Essential Guide to Living and Working Abroad". Although it would make my life much easier if I could rely on responses to my Guardian column "A Desk in the Sun", it's not going to give me enough examples of real people who've moved from Britain to live and work overseas.

Being proactive in this case means seeking out the websites, blogs and forums where British expats meet up. (I suppose the other method would be to travel the world to places where Brits have made their lives. My budget won't stretch to that.)

Ideally, I'd like to develop relationships with the people who run the ex-pat websites, blogs and forums. The first of these is with is Kay McMahon, editor of the online British Expat Magazine
www.britishexpat.com.

She's given me permission to cross-post on some of the country-specific forums (or "fora" as she, perhaps, more correctly calls them). I hope this will link me to some of the people I need to speak to for the book. If anybody else wants to collaborate in a similar way. I'd be delighted to hear from them.

Have you got a story to tell about moving abroad?

It's a common belief that the media is inundated with letters and phone calls. Sadly, from my point of view, that just isn't true.

You only need to look at the furore around the Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty which led to maybe 40,000 phone calls. That was a record. But it was still less than 1% of the viewers. If a 'normal' TV programme receives a couple of dozen complaints the producer will be called to meet the network bosses. It's the same with newspapers.

The reason I mention this is that I am trying to find case studies for the book. I want to talk to people who have moved abroad from the UK so that I can share their experiences. It would certainly make my life easier if those people would approach me without my having to chase them. Unfortunately it's unlikely to happen.

If, however, by some chance you've come across this blog you do have a story tell I'd love to hear from you. It's not just the success that are valuable. There's nothing like learning from the mistakes of others.

And that's what the book's supposed to be about, helping people who are thinking of moving abroad to make the right choices.

Incidentally, if you are thinking of moving abroad why not try the quiz on my other site A Desk In The Sun.

Buying a home without planning permission

Some stories never go away. This is one of them. Every few months you hear about a group of foreigners who have bought a house, villa or apartment in Spain only to find it doesn't have planning permission.

I'd be the last to say: "I told you so." There but for the grace of God go I. Buying a home in the Spanish sun is a nightmare. I know. I've done it.

Planning regulations here in Spain seem to be designed for corruption. In many places it's basically down to the local mayor if a place is given permission. There's also a rule that essentially says that if something was built more than seven years ago and nobody's complained or issued a "denuncio" then it's legal. I'm told it's often cheaper to use this method to put in a swimming pool than to go the legal route. Scary.

Although you can never completely eliminate the risk when buying property in Spain, there are sensible precautions:

• Get to know the area where you're thinking of buying a home. Try to see it in a variety of seasons.
• Talk to people who've already bought a place there. They may know the pitfalls.
• Get a good lawyer. Recommendation is the best way - another good reason for meeting locals.
• Use the internet. A Google search may throw up stories of dodgy dealings in the area where you're thinking of buying.
• Join internet discussion forums. You don't even physically need to be in a place to find out from the locals what a place is really like.

Here's the original story from the BBC's website.