Advice
The driving force behind ThisIsSpain is my desire to give accurate and up-to-date information about expat life. With a country that is changing as fast as Spain, this is not always easy and hence I always value updates and new information. Please do not hesitate to advise me through the contact pages of any additions or errata. ¡Muchas gracias!
If you are looking to start a business of any sort I would recommend that you join Working in Spain and Ecademy (as below) . Both sites are free to register and you should get much information. You can link to me through either of these sites as I am a regular contributor to both
els International Lawyers
One thing I will ALWAYS recommend against is “Bar-room Bill solicitors” who know “everything” about importing a car ….but have an illegal banger themselves. What they do not know about planning permission is not worth knowing…. but they are petrified that their illegal exyension is going to be knocked down. Their knowledge about Spanish mobile rates is unsurpassed …. but they still spend 200 euros per month on a PAYG as they are not able to get a contract phone. We all know these people and many of us know the danger of taking their information. Beware!
I am thus absolutely delighted to confirm that ThisIsSpain has been able to secure the services of els International Lawyers who will give an initial consultation at no cost to any visitor to this site who needs advice on any aspect of Spanish Law – be it Legal, Accounting or Taxation. To make contact with els International Lawyers simply email els International Lawyers direct and mention ThisIsSpain.
In many towns and cities their are expat self-help groups run in the expat langauges, Whether this is a Newcomers’ Club, an Age Concern or a Help Association you can usually be confident of quality information. However, there is NO substitute for professional legal advice from an INDEPENDENT solicitor or gestor. I write independent in capitals as I cannot stress enough that everybody buying a home in Spain MUST MUST MUST take independent legal advice. I enjoy hospital dramas but that does not mean I am qualified to perform open-heart surgery. I love sports TV but I couldn’t score the winning goal. PLEASE do not even THINK about purchasing a house in Spain without using an INDEPENDENT solicitor. Do NOT use the builder’s solicitor, do NOT use the agent’s solicitor but DO use an independent one. Most people would not dream of buying a home in the UK or Scandinavia without a solicitor (where they “know” the rules and speak the language. Why is that when they come to Spain they take the advice of the “Bloke in the Bar” ? After all these years I am getting tired of scraping people off the floor.
Sadly, many expats also fail to make due arrangements for funeral provision, wills, tax planning, divorce and many other matters that we all like to try to forget about. In almost all circumstances, the requirements/arrangements will be VERY DIFFERENT and I urge you to take PROFESSIONAL advice. As a quick “For Instance”, I would recommend this UK Divorce & Family Law Advice Practice for all matters to do with divorce law for expats. Woolleys even have their own specialist department dealing exclusively with expat matters.
Sublime Lifestyle Managaement
Sometimes, however, well you know your city or country you just need something that is a little outside your grasp or you need help in obtaining advice, a product or service. That is where the service of a professional courier service comes in. I can personally recommend Sublime Lifestyle Management. In their own words they say, “We are a lifestyle management and concierge club that is unique in the marketplace. We impress our members with speedy solutions.
Our Mission?
Our mission for members is simple yet priceless. “Time is precious, we save you time”. Our service philosophy is part of our lifestyle. .
Why Choose Sublime Lifestyle Management?
We work with our members to enhance their lifestyles by saving time and money delivering the impossible..
How Do We Do It?
We have a vast network of connections and we use the latest technology. We deliver our services through the knowledge, commitment and integrity of our fully trained graduate lifestyle managers. We supply what can only be described as a fantastic service, from finding a comedian to organising a birthday party, or even VIP entry to the hottest event in town! We provide our members with priority access, lifestyle creativity, superior expertise and the simple convenience of a single call. .
For more details please contact: Sublime Lifestyle Management
Rose & Clavel
Rose & Clavel Anglo-Spanish Chartered Accountants
It can be tempting to go with the cheapest accountant or unregulated gestor to save money, but having reliable, honest and sound advice on tax and financial matters is invaluable. The Spanish tax office is really cracking down and many people are regretting going with accountants who are willing to bend the rules.
I am happy to have found an excellent firm of bi-lingual Chartered Accountants in Nueva Andalucia which is looking to raise the standard of accountancy on the Costa del Sol and protect their clients against fines and penalties. They offer high-quality, professional accountancy services for English and Spanish speaking clients who expect the very best and although not the cheapest firm on the coast, they do offer good value for money.
Services include:
- Business start-up
- Bookkeeping and accounting
- Non-resident compliance
- Corporate tax planning and compliance
- Corporate finance
- Finance department support
If you are confused about any accountancy matters, check out their website www.roseandclavel.com they have lots of really useful articles about subjects like tax in Spain, Self-employment in Spain and Employing people in Spain.
For readers of ThisisSpain, Rose & Clavel are offering a free one-to-one Accountancy Clinic to anyone who wants a review of their accounts and advice or suggestions on any matters which need to be addressed. They will also be running regular seminars to keep you informed of important financial matters. If you’d like to book your Accountancy Clinic, or be put on their mailing list to find out about the seminars please email info@roseandclavel.com
That said, my BIGGEST piece of advice is ALWAYS ……LEARN Spanish. Close your eyes and try to imagine living in the country where you are now and not being able to speak the language of the street, the langauge of business and the language the children are being taught in. Now can you see why I am fanatical about people learning Spanish?
Yes, This Is Spain S.L. who are the owners of www.thisisspain.info are fanatical about encouraging people to learn Spanish if they intend to stay in Spain for more than a holiday. I have reviewed many courses from many centres and have seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly. That said, I believe that this is one Spanish learning opportunity that I can wholly endorse. Please check to see whether it is what you are looking for.
