Do you want to open a small business in Thailand? If so, you are in the right place. Find here a list of top profitable ideas and opportunities for both foreigners and residents in Thailand.
Thailand is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia. The industrial sector and the service sector are the main sectors in the Thai gross domestic product. World Bank recognizes the nation as “one of the great development success stories” in social and development indicators.
Tourism is a major economic factor in the Kingdom of Thailand. Estimates of tourism receipts directly contributing to the Thai GDP of 12 trillion baht. Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand. Additionally, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations for foreigners.
Regardless of, whether you are a resident or non-resident, you can start a business in Thailand. Find here a list of the best businesses in Thailand for your ready reference.
List of 20 Small Business Ideas in Thailand
#1. Baby Related Business
The baby care market in Thailand is expected to increase very fast. The major growth driver is the products used for longer periods by infants. In addition, the parents want the best available products for their baby, therefore disregarding the cost of certain products. If you are living in a country like Thailand, then the success rate will be much higher.
Read: Small Business Ideas for Kids
#2. BrewPub or Beer Cafe
The Brewpub business is a restaurant and microbrewery combination that normally offers craft beer with different customized tastes and flavours to their clients on-premise. Thailand is a perfect location for leisure businesses. Hence, you can consider starting a brewpub business here in this country.
#3. Catering Business
A catering business is a perfect opportunity for Thai people who love to cook. It is a profitable business and ensures a lucrative margin for the owners. Additionally, you can start this business part-time. As your business grows, you can consider giving your full effort.
Catering is a financially profitable and self-rewarding business. However, It is a demanding career. It requires stamina, and ability to work under pressure, and excellent interpersonal skills. Read More…
#4. Delivery Business
Thailand is a developing country. Additionally, service-based industries hold a major position in the country’s GDP. And these days, different types of delivery businesses are gaining immense popularity worldwide. This type of service helps to save time. Regardless, of whether you are a foreigner or a Thai citizen, can consider starting a delivery business there. Read More…
#5. Digital Marketing Agency
Starting a digital marketing agency in Thailand is one of the most lucrative opportunities in the advertising industry. In addition, this is the most trending phenomenon these days. However, starting this business demands adequate knowledge-based experience. And if you don’t have working experience in this field, simply don’t open a digital marketing agency of your own. Because you must know the Trick of the Trade before you accept any work from your clients. Read More…
#6. Driving School
Nowadays, the four-wheeler population is increasing very fast in the city areas of Thailand. Hence, it creates a demand for a good driving school. New car owners always look for the right guidance. Starting a driving school is a self-rewarding and profitable business. You will be making handsome money by helping others with how to drive an automobile. Read More…
#7. Export-Import
Thailand is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Cairns Group of agricultural exporters, and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and has pursued free-trade agreements. In addition, its economy is heavily export-dependent, with exports accounting for more than two-thirds of its gross domestic product (GDP). Hence, you can consider starting an import-export business here.
#8. Graphic Designing
If you are a creative person and know the basics of graphic designing, you can start offering your services in various fields. The increasing need for attractive marketing campaigns and promotions enhances the demand for graphic design services.
Many industries depend on graphic design service providers to develop cost-effective and attractive promotional campaigns, including advertisements, public relations materials, promotional boards, billboards, and other promotional activities. Read More…
#9. Handyman Business
A handyman business is simply providing the services of a small job or task for clients who lack the skill or time to complete the work themselves. The working area of a handyman service business is wide. Generally, this type of work includes maintenance, repair, remodelling, plumbing, refurbishing, and electrical jobs. Read More…
#10. Jewelry Designing Institute
Opening a jewelry designing institute in Thailand is a great business to start. The jewelry designing institute business has enormous market potential because nowadays jewelry designing as a career is flourishing like never before. There is always a demand in the global fashion industry for professionally qualified jewelry designers from across the world.
#11. Making Money Online
Do you want to make money online? Nowadays, you can find a lot of ways to make money online. However, finding a legitimate way for online money-making is a hard job. However, some lucrative opportunity is there to make money online. Read More…
#12. Night Club
Owning and running a nightclub can be a very exciting, luxurious, and lucrative business for an entrepreneur. People want to get socialized with others and they are willing to pay to use a gorgeous venue dedicated to the purpose. Success in the nightclub business is very much possible if done properly; it demands dedication and meticulous attention to every detail of your business. Read More…
#13. Photography
Are you good at photography and passionate about taking pictures? A photographer is a professional who focuses on the art of taking photographs with a camera. A photographer generally works in a freelance capacity and is hired for specific jobs by different clients.
Learn More: How to Start a Photography Business
#14. Rain Water Harvesting
The rainwater harvesting business model is a sustainable way of initiating a profitable venture. Rainwater harvesting is a technically proven system to collect and store rainwater in natural reservoirs or tanks. There are two processes to store rainwater. One is surface runoff harvesting and another is rooftop rainwater harvesting. In an urban area, rainwater flows away as surface runoff. This runoff could be caught and used for recharging aquifers by adopting appropriate methods. Read More…
#15. Open a Retail Business in Thailand
Retail employs more than six million Thai workers. Most are employed by small businesses. The retail industry worldwide is one of the major revenue earners for the economy. Retail business is considered as one of the most low-cost and profitable startup operations. As a report from Forbes suggests, the retail market is expected to grow in the coming days. Read More…
#16. Real Estate Business
The property industry broadly covers the areas of rents, domestic housing, capital market, office space, retail and industrial space. As confidence returns to real estate, the industry faces several fundamental shifts that will shape its future. According to the PWC on the global market outlook, The global investable real estate universe will expand substantially, leading to a huge expansion in opportunity, especially in emerging economies. Read More…
#17. Start a Small Scale Manufacturing Business in Thailand
The most important sub-sector of the industry in Thailand is manufacturing. And the manufacturing sector is pre-dominated by SMEs. You can start a small-scale manufacturing business to earn lucrative revenue. Product manufacturing is one of the most popular business formats globally. However, in general, the manufacturing business demands reasonable capital investment initially. Read More…
#18. Smartphone Related Business
Nowadays smartphone is the most popular electronic gadget in the world. And the numbers are increasing rapidly. Therefore, it has helped to develop internet reachability among people. And also opens several smartphone-related business opportunities in the industry. Some of them are lucrative. Read More…
#19. Travel Agency or Tour Operator
The travel agency business provides services, in making travel arrangements on behalf of your clients. Breaking into this business is a great way to start a service-based business from an office location. You have the opportunity to make money while helping others to visit new places on their holidays or business trips. Read More…
#20. Web Designing
A web designing business demands adequate skill and knowledge. In addition to that, you must have some networking and marketing skills to start this business. However, you can start the business with small start-up capital. Even, you can start the business from home also. Read More…
Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business in Thailand
Can foreigners own businesses in Thailand?
The Thai government does not allow foreigners to own a totally-owned business here in the country. The only exception is foreigners coming from the United States. However, anyone can launch a new business in Thailand by registering the company under a Thai person.
What are the best cities in Thailand to start a business?
The four most popular and business-friendly cities in Thailand are the following:
- Bangkok.
- Pattaya
- Phuket
- Chiang Mai
Is Thailand a good place to start a business?
Presently Thailand is one of the most popular countries in the world for starting a new business. The reasons primarily are the robust economy of the state, cheap labor, and its geostrategic location.
Editorial Team at 99BusinessIdeas is a team of experts led by Rupak Chakrabarty with over 25 years of experience in starting and running small businesses. Started in 2010, 99BusinessIdeas is now one of the largest free small business resources in the industry.