Starting a Business in Phuket as a Foreigner: Structures, Capital and Work Permits

Start with what you actually need

• If your income comes from abroad and you work remotely for foreign clients, you may not need a Thai company or a work permit. The DTV and other remote-work routes are covered in the remote work guide.
• If you will earn money in Thailand from Thai customers or a Thai business, you generally need a business structure and a work permit.
• If you are an employee of a foreign company posted to Thailand, the employer handles a Non-B visa and work permit.
• A tourist visa or visa-exempt entry never allows any form of work.

The Foreign Business Act in plain terms

The Foreign Business Act limits foreign ownership in many service sectors. Guides describe a Thai limited company where Thai shareholders hold at least 51 percent and foreigners up to 49 percent as the standard structure for restricted activities, such as many restaurants and tourism services. Some activities are open to full foreign ownership, and others need a Foreign Business Licence, with sources quoting about 3 million baht of capital per licensed activity.

Whether your idea is restricted depends on the exact activity, so ask a lawyer to classify it before you design the company.

Work permit numbers that guides quote

• Registered and paid-up capital of about 2 million baht per foreign work permit, with some sources saying 1 million baht if the foreigner has a registered Thai marriage.
• Four Thai full-time employees for each foreign work permit, as an ongoing requirement.
• A Non-B visa first, then the work permit, issued by the employer's company, not by you personally.
• Work permits are tied to the employer and the job, and renew annually.

A company employing its foreign founder generally starts at these figures. Check the current rules with the labour office or a lawyer, because the process and the paperwork have been changing.

Costs and timing

Government registration is quoted at roughly 5,000 to 15,000 baht depending on capital, with one guide giving a flat 5,500 baht for a 1 million baht company. Lawyer and setup fees are quoted much wider, from about 15,000 to 60,000 baht or more. Ongoing costs include accounting, annual filings, VAT registration above the threshold, and social security for staff.

Registration itself can take days, but the full path including the work permit takes longer. Plan for weeks rather than days and for annual compliance.

Risks and honest advice

• Nominee shareholders, where Thai names hold shares on paper while a foreigner controls the business, are a common trap. Guides say the registry began tightening checks on shareholder funding in 2026, and nominee arrangements can create criminal and civil exposure.
• A tourist-visa business, or doing paid work without a permit, risks fines and removal.
• Do not buy a business or sign a lease on the strength of a verbal promise.
• Use a licensed lawyer and an accountant, and not only a registration agent.

Read the legal help guide to find a lawyer, the tax guide for 180-day residency and foreign income, and the documents guide for legalising documents.