STARTING A BUSINESS IN THAILAND: A Foreign Entrepreneur's Handbook for 2025
About this ebook
Own a company 100% as a foreigner
One of the most attractive features for foreign investors is the possibility of 100% foreign ownership, such asBoard of Investment (BOI) promotions. However, such opportunities often remain underutilized or misunderstood by foreign investors, meaning significant advantages and benefits are often missed out on. This eBook aims to change this by providing clear and comprehensive insights into the legal and practical aspects of establishing a company in Thailand.
Challenges for foreign investors
While Thailand is renowned for its openness to foreign investment, navigating the business landscape can be a challenge. For example, when full foreign ownership isn't available, joint ventures with local Thai partners may be the only option available. In such a case, having a clear understanding of the local laws to ensure full compliance, especially in relation to issues such as nominee directors etc.
Work permit and visa considerations
Equally important is understanding Thailand's visa and work permit regulations. Not all visas allow employment, and the country’s broad interpretation of “work” mandates that foreigners secure the appropriate visa and permits to avoid legal complications.
By addressing these key considerations, this eBook serves as a comprehensive guide to help you confidently establish and grow your business in Thailand.
About the author
As a lawyer, I have had the privilege of assisting numerous clients in Thailand with setting up their businesses, particularly through the Board of Investment (BOI). The BOI is one of the most advantageous ways for eligible businesses to enter the Thai market, offering benefits such as 100% foreign ownership, relaxed work permit and visa requirements, and tax exemptions.
In 2017, when I founded Belaws—a one-stop service provider for legal and accounting support in Thailand—I had the opportunity to handle my first BOI application on my own. This involved preparing the required three-year business plans, employee charts, presentations, and filing the necessary BOI forms. Although I had often advised clients on BOI applications, I quickly realized the gap between legal advice and the practical, hands-on experience of managing an application, which is often less about law and more about practical execution.
Over the years, my team and I, along with our expert lawyers, have successfully assisted many clients across various industries with their BOI applications. Through this experience, we have gained a practical understanding of what makes a BOI application successful and, conversely, what can cause delays or lead to unsuccessful outcomes. In this e-book, I aim to share our practical insights, which I hope will be valuable to others navigating the BOI process. This is not meant to be an exhaustive guide but rather a reflection of our experiences and real cases we’ve handled.
Vincent Birot
Founder of Belaws
Jonathan Jones is a seasoned SEO copywriter with a focus on legal, financial, and international business content. With a background in crafting strategic content for law firms and consulting companies, Jonathan specializes in translating complex legal frameworks into clear, actionable insights for global audiences.
As the lead writer for Belaws Start a Company in Thailand, Jonathan worked closely with legal experts to develop a practical guide for foreign entrepreneurs navigating Thai business law. His work consistently bridges the gap between technical accuracy and audience engagement, empowering business owners with content that informs, ranks, and converts.
