Local Partners
Licensing specialists in Phuket
Licensing specialists in Phuket who secure the permits a business actually needs to trade legally, from food and alcohol to hotel and tourism licenses.
The permit that matters depends entirely on the business. A restaurant needs a food establishment license from the local municipality and, to serve alcohol, an excise license; a hotel needs a license under the Hotel Act; a tour operator needs a TAT license. Buying a business whose license is tied to the seller personally, rather than the company, is a common and expensive trap in Phuket.
Before you close, confirm every operating license transfers with the business or can be reissued in your company name. A bar without a valid alcohol license, or a hotel running on a guesthouse permit, is worth far less than the asking price suggests, and putting it right after the fact can take months.
Common questions
- Does a business license transfer with the sale?
- Not always. Many Thai operating licenses are tied to a person or a specific company, so confirm each one either transfers or can be reissued in your name before you pay. A license that cannot move is a price negotiation, or a dealbreaker.
- What license does a restaurant need in Phuket?
- A food establishment license from the local municipality, plus an excise (alcohol) license to serve drinks. Larger venues may also need entertainment and building-use permits. Check they are current and cover the exact space you are buying.