How to start a restaurant business in Chile ?

"Think business, make money" has recently become the prime motive of the incoming immigrants in Chile. A huge number of foreigners entering Chilean territory are jumping into the business world with a big capital. And therefore, Chilean GDP has already crossed USD 24,000.

Now, how to enter into Chilean business world? 

Let me confine the article on ´Tips to start a restaurant business in Chile: step-by-step´.

Step: 1 If you are still outside Chile, you may enter the country simply as a tourist. Click Chilean Residence Permit Info. to get detailed information on Chilean residence permit. Now-a-days, Chilean immigration offers temporary residence status even if you have a work contract. Get your temporary residence and Chilean ID card with RUT number.

Step: 2 Choose a suitable business location (locally called local). For translation and interpretation and office work you may take my service. My company is fully authorised to do that. Click Translation Service  .Rent the local by a local contador. Get the contract done by a notary public.

Step: 3 Visit local tax office (Impuestos Internos) with your ID card and rental contract to register your business. Business registration is free of cost. You will be required to fill up a form. Every kind of business has a particular code. The codes are available in the link Impuestos Internos.Tax office will process your company set up.

Step: 4 Visit SANIDA (Ministry of Health) office to get your restaurant certified that you are authorised to produce and sell foods. After applying, related officers will visit your proposed restaurant for verification. They will check whether the business complies with the Chilean health rules. If they are satisfied, they will issue a clearence certificate. If not, they will make comment as well as recommendation. Once all the conditions are met, the office will issue the certificate.

Step: 5 The next step is to print sale receipt. The is called Factura. It is always better to employ a local contador to handle this matter. There are lots of printers in every town. When the receipts are printed, they have to be submitted in the tax office with company documents. The office will check the receipts and will register in the system. The officer will sign the last receipt and put a stamp. The office will stamp all of the receipts. Don´t worry; the office will not stamp the receipts one after another. They have a special machine that can stamp hundreds receipts at a time. There are other formalities like preparing buy and sell book.

There is another way of issuing sale receipt. This is called Factura Electronica (Electronic receipt). To prepare this, you need to install a special software in your computer. This software is available with the tax office and this is free of cost.

Step: 6 The next step is to run the business and to keep all the legal documents up-to-date. You must claim a receipt whenever you buy anything for your restaurant. At any time local inspector may visit your business site and may ask for the documents.  If any irregularity is found, there is a heavy penalty for that. The inspectors are authorised to close any business.

Step: 7 If workers are required, the contador may prepare the work contract as per established rules. After preparing the work contract, both the employer and the worker are required to go the notary office physically to sign the contract. Normally work contract is issued initially for one year renewable for the next year or indefinite duration.

You should maintain caution in employing any female worker. If a female worker have pregnancy during her work, the owner must allow her a maternity leave for six months WITH regulay pay.

Chile´s strict regulations have made the country an ideal place for business. Absence of political unrest and so-called terrorism have turned Chile into the top business location among all Latin American and Central American countries.

If you require any more information, you may write to me at: lamithila@gmail.com

Resource: Servicio de Impuestos Internos. Click Impuestos Internos