When thinking about starting a company in Costa Rica, there is one fundamental thing that must be done before anything else. It may seem obvious to some, but not followed by all. Before coming down with your bags filled with cash ready to invest your money on a surefire way to make the big bucks, please visit Costa Rica first.
I have met numerous people who have made the big move to Costa Rica thinking this was the place for them, only to find out a few months later, or years, that Costa Rica really wasn’t for them.
Although visiting Costa Rica first isn’t a guarantee that things won’t go bad, it is a smart way to check out the culture and see if you can really see yourself living in Costa Rica for multiple years.
Since it takes 5 years usually to turn a profit with a new company, you will have to keep in mind that this will probably be the same for you. I moved here with the intention of blowing up after a year, and hard the harsh reality of making my first sale a year and a half after first moving in.
When you visit Costa Rica, try to get the tour by a local, and not your Gringo friend that absolutely loves Costa Rica. It is important that you get an honest view from the people who can get you the authentic experience. Also, try to visit small towns in Costa Rica as much as the larger ones. Whatever you do, try to avoid staying in Gringo rich communities such as Escazu, as these places are not an accurate portrait of Costa Rica.
My best advice for you before you move to Costa Rica to start your company is to visit first, and to do it with private transportation so you can shoot a bunch a questions to your driver without feeling like you are bothering everyone else in the van. This is the best way to get info on Costa Rica. After your trip, you will have a much better idea if this is the place for you.
