Anyone open a brick and mortar business after moving abroad?
Posted by theytookallthecash@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 6 comments
Hi everyone. My family and I have been planning a move to Lithuania for about the past year. We are very close to leaving, so I am starting to envision my future there. Before I go further, Lithuania is a very business-friendly country with a visa I'd qualify for if I open a shop. I also qualify for Permanent Residency via descent, which I'm in the process of applying for now. I anticipate I will have that, hopefully, by 2027. In other words, the doors are open to running a brick and mortar business there.
I'm wondering if anyone has done the same in their new country? What was it like? In the US, opening a business simultaneously feels very hard and very easy, but it's the only landscape I know, so I don't have much to compare it to. It's always been a dream of mine, I don't have a dream to be a digital nomad working virtually forever.
I'd love to hear some stories. Thank you 😄
theytookallthecash@reddit (OP)
I see there's 3 comments here but I can only see one, bummer :(!
antizana@reddit
Depends a lot on your language abilities - local regulations and policies, taxes, restrictions. Business culture may be very very different - how people work, how you as a foreigner would be treated, ie maybe locals don’t follow the rules but your competitors send the authorities to inspect you. Things that should be possible based on a government website may not be possible and are potentially much more complicated. In some places, nothing moves unless you have local connections in the right places. You may potentially be disadvantaged in the legal system if it comes to a business dispute etc
theytookallthecash@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the insights! I hadn't considered some of that stuff, so I appreciate it.
RoundAd4247@reddit
Are you EU citizens and fluent in Lithuanian?
___itachi__uchiha___@reddit
I haven’t done it myself but I’ve heard dealing with local regulations and paperwork can be the biggest hurdle abroad.
goldenvisa6387@reddit
That’s an exciting move—Lithuania has been getting a lot of attention for being business-friendly. I haven’t personally opened a brick-and-mortar there, but I’ve seen a few patterns from people who’ve done it in other countries. The biggest difference compared to the US is usually bureaucracy and local systems. In some places it’s actually easier to register a company, but things like permits, inspections, or dealing with local authorities can take longer and require more patience. Another big factor is understanding the local market. What works in the US doesn’t always translate directly—pricing, customer expectations, and even location strategy can be very different. A lot of people underestimate how important it is to spend time learning local habits before committing fully. On the practical side, things like banking, accounting, and tax setup can feel unfamiliar at first, especially as a foreigner. Having good local support (accountant/lawyer) makes a huge difference early on. The upside is that in smaller or growing markets, there can be less competition and more opportunity if you position things right. But it usually takes a bit longer to get established compared to what people expect. If it’s something you’ve wanted to do long-term, it’s definitely worth exploring—just go in prepared for a learning curve during the first year.