To start a business in Chiang Mai

I want to start a small restaurant in chiang mai (foreign ownership). What are the legal formalities? Can someone help?
-@anoopsathyan

I don't know what kind of food you'll serve in the restaurant, but foreign ownership will be a big problem.

So legally, you say there cannot be a business registered under a non-thai national?

You normally need to work with a local partner who owns 51%, even if you control the company. There are exceptions, but they normally don't apply to what you are planning.

https://mybusiness-asia.com/foreign-own … -thailand/

@anoopsathyan

Bumping this as the legal landscape for foreign ownership has seen some updates going into 2026. While the 51/49% Thai-Foreign shareholding rule remains the baseline, the enforcement on 'nominee' structures has become much stricter recently.

For anyone starting a restaurant now: don't just focus on the DBD registration. In 2026, your 'digital storefront' is just as critical for the initial VAT and Business License applications. Authorities often look for a professional online presence to verify the legitimacy of the business.

I’ve put together a specialized guide on setting up a [link moderated]presence specifically for new expat businesses to help navigate these requirements.

Hope this helps anyone still stumbling on this thread!