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My cousin (24) and I (25) are planning to move from Tennessee to St. John within the next year at a minimum. We want to open some sort of a small business. More than likely a small bar. My cousin is a real estate agent and I know there are some agencies there. Me on the other hand just got out of the Navy and I know there are a limited amount of technical jobs there. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on opening a small business in St. John, or jobs that will keep us with a roof on our heads, or rental rates for apartments/studios. We're both strong minded and pretty inventive, we just don't have the resources to find the answers to all our questions so I figured the best way would be to talk to people that live in that area. Thanks
Posted : July 16, 2004 2:14 pm
Jon,
I don't know much about that, but I would think a better idea is to buy an already established business. You might check around and see if any are for sale.
Teresa
Posted : July 16, 2004 11:51 pm
Hello Jon,
Your real estate agent friend should look into work in that field. What technical field or other field might you be interested in. I would say work for someone else for a few months. Feel out the place, see whats missing, talk to people, learn the bumps and ropes, investigate the cost of rental space for your bar, visit other bars and see whats working and what people like... and plan accordingly for your business idea. There are quite a number of entrepenurial folks on St. John from real estate agencies and private chefs to artist and store owners.
Cost of living on St. John is higher then the sister islands; gas is a little higher, water, groceries. If you choose to shop on St. Thomas a few times a month to stock up on things you have the ferry and taxi/safari to consider. And apartment rates are more and oftentimes availabilities are few. Visit the cost of living section of this site. If you go to the home page by clicking on home page at the top of this page you can choose cost of living and read and look at the tables there. Also you can look in the business section, where you will find a link to the Licensing office and can find information about that end of things.
--Islander
Posted : July 17, 2004 4:15 am
Topic starter
Thanks for the inputs guys. Any advice at all helps alot. I really appreciate it. My cousin is already looking at some of the real estate agencies there. As for me, I'm a licensed electronic technician/ electrician. I really wouldn't mind at all getting a resort job somewhere, at least for the time being. Neither of us are really looking to make a lot of money there, we just want to live the island life for awhile and be able to afford a roof and a living space. Anyways, I really appreciate the help.
Jon
Posted : July 18, 2004 4:48 pm