I would like to open a bar in marbella spain what do you think?

I've seen many people over the years opening a bar on the Costa Del Sol. I have friends in the Marbella area who have had a bar. It is hard work. There is no glamour in it, just long hours of working whilst everyone else is enjoying themselves. You stay open until your last customer goes home and if they aren't spending much you are working half the night for little reward. Unless you get the right staff you will be there 7 days a week. Having said that, I've had a few friends who have made it. It really boils down to your expectations. Living in Spain is fantastic but I'm retired.

Lotta work, low pay. Difficult proposition. Are you EU? or American? You may not be legal to stay and work, even if self employed. Make sure you know the laws, before you take the plunge.

Personally, I intend to become independently wealthy before I go move to Spain (or anywhere else in Europe, for that matter). Better get out and get my lotto ticket!... :)

I personally wouldn't recommend it. It's a huge amount of work and with an even greater amount of competition.

We see so many bars in the area closing all the time. It's difficult to make bars work and to make money from it.

I just read conoco's answer... that is VERY good advice.

If you are an American, I'm not sure you can. Keep in mind that most businesses in Spain are very dependent on TOURISTS which means, when the tourists go home, you need to have enough local business to keep going until the next tourist season.

You can expect to plunk at LEAST $200,000 U.S.D. into it, just to get the doors open. You will also need to be able to speak, read and write in SPANISH because Spain isn't like AmeriKa... they don't print the legal and official papers in AmeriKan if you don't speak spanish.

I have some very fond memories of spain from my younger years. I spent 3 years in Spain, playing my guitar on street corners for the 'hat' and playing piano in bars at night for tips and thoroughly enjoyed it.. at 68 years of age, it's the one time period in my life that I like to think about.

I wish you well... but be very careful and get with a local to help you get it started. Let me know... I'll bring my guitar to Spain and play for the lunch crowd... he,he,he...