Menu
Expat.com
Search
Magazine
Search

Opening a hostel in the DR

ed.nyc.dr
#1
Hello.  I am thinking of moving to Punta Cana in September and opening up a backpacker’s hostel.  It will have probably 3 rooms with 6 bunk beds each, one private room to rent, and a room for me.  Do I need resedencia or a cedula to do this? 

I am thinking the process would involve finding a real estate broker to show me houses, and then finding a lawyer to make sure I can convert the house into a business. 

Does anyone know if Ikea will deliver all the way to Punta Cana?  I'll need to get those bunk beds one way or another.  Will it be easy to find someone to assemble them?  Sadly I'm not very handy.

Is it a pain to get a driver's license? 

Does anyone have advice?

Thank you!!
See also
planner
#2
Welcome to the forums.  Technically you can own a business without residency but you can't work in it! 

You will need the  Corporation first,  then research what areas this will be allowed in!  Not sure how a hostel is classified.

Yes Ikea will deliver but you may want to consider having them built for you!  You can have your own design and it will likely be less costly and better quality.

You need residencia honey to get a driver's license.

The Dominican Republic expat guide

Comprehensive and free

Read it now
Dominican Republic
ed.nyc.dr
#3
Thank you Planner!!

What do you mean I need the corporation first?

And with Ikea, I can find a design online from another source and they'll build them for me?

Thanks!
planner
#4
If you want to run a business and do it properly you get a corp.  That is the process. You can't just walk in here and open a hostel!  Dude that isn't going to fly.
ed.nyc.dr
#5
I guess I don't know as much as I thought I did.  How do I go about doing that?  Do I get a lawyer first?  Thank you.
Tripp789
#6
Ed, you picked a great place to ask your questions.  There are a lot of knowledgeable people like Planner here that can help.
Take your time and research a lot. Every time I visit the DR I’m amazed at the number of Failed Dominican Dreams” rotting roadside throughout the country.  Most presumably started by people who didn’t research enough.
I’d recommend visiting for a month or two and  staying in working hostels. One I can suggest is Dan and Mantys Guest House in Las Terrenas.  Both are wonderful people and run a great place.

Good luck!
1 member reacted to this post
ed.nyc.dr
#7
Thank you Tripp!

Essential services for your expat journey

Choose the best health insurance
Choose the best health insurance
Protect your health and get easy access to treatment for expats in Dominican Republic.
Plan your international move
Plan your international move
Facilitate your move to the Dominican Republic by getting a quote from our top rated movers.
Open a bank account that suits you
Open a bank account that suits you
Discover the best international banks to manage your money securely.
Send money overseas at the best rate
Send money overseas at the best rate
For fast, safe and secure money transfers to and from the Dominican Republic.
Other discussions on formalities in Dominican Republic
Ask your questionOther discussions about formalities in Dominican Republic

Further reading

Getting married in the Dominican Republic
If you are wondering what it's like to get married in the Dominican Republic, this article is for you. 
Citizenship in the Dominican Republic
Suppose you got tired of renewing your residence permit. In that case, you simply want to commit to the ...
Traveling to the Dominican Republic
Before traveling to the Dominican Republic, whether for tourism, to work, to study, or to settle down, it is best ...
Death in the Dominican Republic
What customs and procedures are common when dealing with death in the Dominican Republic? Find more about it in ...
Birth in the Dominican Republic
This article provides some information about the culture and the customs of Dominicans when giving birth and ...
Divorce in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic offers a number of types of divorce, the most common of which are divorce by mutual consent ...
Education in the Dominican Republic
This article will cover the Dominican Republic's educational system, including public schools attended by 80% ...
Living and accommodation on the South Coast of the Dominican Republic
Along the south coast of the Dominican Republic, going from East to West, you will find the sugar town of La ...