Currently located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I'm looking at the prospect of moving (myself and the missus, and the business - web-based) in the next few years. VISA and Mastercard are making online credit card processing more difficult for Canadian-based businesses that utilize third party credit card processors. And hardly a day goes by that VISA has not driven another processor out of business. Merchant account not feasible in Canada as you have to provide a very, very large deposit - and odds of approval are slim for smaller web-based companies like mine. The problem with the IPSP's is that they cannot establish banking relationships in Canada, as required by VISA and Mastercard. I do have one that has gotten around this (in addition to using PayPal as an alternate processor), but others like GloBill and EG Pay had said the same thing - now they, like may others, have closed their doors. Besides, we are looking for a change.

The US and the EU are the options - although the Cook Islands originally appealed to us until I discovered that a dedicated Internet highspeed connection can run you $500-600 per month. The EU is our choice. I have been doing some resesarch on cost of living in a number of EU countries, and come to the conclusion that Canada (and especially Vancouver), compared to the rest of the World, is incredibly cheap to live (relatively and absolutely). So it's a matter of finding a relatively less expensive place to move. Preferably where English and/or French is spoken as first or second language - prefer English, but gf is French-Canadian. One place we have considered is Gibraltar. Looks really nice.

Any thoughts?

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Cheers,

Dan
Founder and CEO

LionsGate Creative
GoodPassRobot
Magelln

As far as nice places to live, New Zealand keeps popping up as a very pleasant place. Don't know anything about the internet access or credit card processing though, but they do speak English as a first or second language.

I really enjoyed visiting Graz, Austria, but I think the taxes, regulations and fees are generally more in the EU than the US. Example, telephone in Graz was $50/month with a per minute charge for local calls. In the US, it is more like $35 with unlimited local calls. There is also that German language thing, but if you are looking for an adventure.......

We were in Vancouver/Seattle area a couple of weeks ago, and that seemed like a nice part of the world. Unusually dry period, so it was less cloudy than normal. Would it be possible to establish a US business and have the credit cards processed just across the border in the US? Might set up a US Mailboxes Etc address?

Where is it easy to setup a VISA/MC merchant account??
--
Rob

SW Montana's Online Community
Modular Model Railroading

New Zealand is nice, but we prefer somewhere in Europe. I would have to incorporate in the US, and have a physical presence there. I do not want to go that route - living one place, and incorporating elsewhere. Too complicated and involved. But thanks! It wouldn't be easy to get a merchant account anywhere, but that was not my aim. Only re-establish in the EU so I can fully use any of the majour IPSP's - most of whom have banking presences in the EU. And as nice as Vancouver is (born and raised here, and spent the past 45 years in Vancouver), time to move on. Want to explore elsewhere. Austria is also nice, and I believe that English is spoken. However, another proviso is that I need to be close to the ocean. That's one reason (of many) why Gibraltar was appealing.

----
Cheers,

Dan
Founder and CEO

LionsGate Creative
GoodPassRobot
Magelln

Move to Monaco - no income tax =)

Monaco is one I considered. I'd have to look into it, but I tend to feel that the cost of living may be one the highest. There are taxes: Value Added Tax (VAT), Profit Tax, and other miscellaneous taxes. I guess I'm going to have compile a list of countries, and compare the pros and cons of each. My primary concern is cost of living, taxes, state of economy, and the logistics of relocation and setting up business. There are, of course, other concerns. But that'll figure in when I compile my list of countries.

----
Cheers,

Dan
Founder and CEO

LionsGate Creative
GoodPassRobot
Magelln

>>>was $50/month<<<

US or NZ $'s ?

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk

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You don't necessarily have to incorporate (INC) in the US. You can persue a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), which is much less expensive. But it is state-bound, meaning that if you move from state to state, you have to re-register your LLC in the new state you move, but it is less expensive than incorporating, and a little bit more flexible.

In terms of broadband Internet access (cable, DSL, radio/wireless, ISDN, and satellite), it is much cheaper in the US, with price ranges between $50.00US - $300.00US per month. Cost of living varies considerably in the US, which is difficult to provide advise based on your unknown desirable living costs.
========================================
Buh Bye!

Cheers,
Me

Both prices were US$
--
Rob

SW Montana's Online Community
Modular Model Railroading

I was referring to US...and that is still the range of price I see...I was replying to dan's issues with incorporation and broadband Internet costs.
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Buh Bye!

Cheers,
Me

I'd go jor Jersey

http://www.jersey.com/

Best of both the 'Brits' and the French.

- wil

>>>Best of both the 'Brits' and the French. <<<

There is a best to France?


(Only joking, cos my grandad is half french).

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk

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Hi,

You may want to try Moneris for your merchant services -- worked fairly well for us.

As for moving, my brother has lived in Grand Cayman for the past couple years and just loves it (no income tax). However, cost of living is very expensive ($1 Caymanian == $1.20 US and things cost about the same as they do in Vancouver -- ouch!).

Cheers,

Alex
--
Gossamer Threads Inc.

Thanks! But for reasons I don't want to go in to, I prefer outside the US - although if I did, I'd look at San Fran as I have a mate in that area (Livermore, although I believe he moved to Pleasanton). But thanks again, as may always be a possibility. Food for thought.

----
Cheers,

Dan
Founder and CEO

LionsGate Creative
GoodPassRobot
Magelln

Hmm, looks interesting, thanks =) Another possibility to add to my list to explore.

----
Cheers,

Dan
Founder and CEO

LionsGate Creative
GoodPassRobot
Magelln

Thanks for both! I'm looking into Moneris - but may wait for the time being as proBilling is working well. But could be valuable link in the near future. The Caymans looks really nice. Yep, tad expensive, but you get what you pay for - paradise =) I did find a beach apartment rental for about $2000 (CDN). Not so bad. My gf does love tropical weather. Definitely going to explore this more. Thanks again, Alex!

----
Cheers,

Dan
Founder and CEO

LionsGate Creative
GoodPassRobot
Magelln

Check out St. Martin and Curacao. Both very nice, modern, low crime, stable gov't. Can buy most western luxury goods.

St. Martin famous for low cost duty free shopping. Has two capitals! Island split down middle - 1/2 dutch, 1/2 french. Just drive to other side..


Curacao is very advanced with Internet hosting companies, offshore processing companies, online casinos, land casinos.
Internet connection - DSL, T-1's fast and inexpensive. Great food, bars, shopping.

Grand Caymen... was there in Dec 1999 and May 2001. Very conservative gov't, very strict on sex (no strip clubs or nudity), drugs, gambling illegal, exclusive, very small. Shopping for wealthy. Bars close at 1am Sat nite so the locals can go to church Sun am, 2am on Fri.
World Class Diving, sunsets, amazing resteraunts, hotels. Not crowded.

Fantastic and beautiful though.


I've been to all three. Please post what you find.

Thanks for the heads up! It's definitely a real pretty part of the World. My gf is drawn to there - bit of a sun worshipper who loves it hot, sunny and exotic. I myself tend to favour cooler clines. I like the idea of Iceland or Sweden. But when I told her that sweaters were year-round gear there, she gave it the thumbs down - maybe global warming will remedy that =) However, a tropical island paradise is still very appealing. Over the next few months, I'm going to cost out the cost of living for a number of locales (including those mentioned here), and compare/contrast them. But the islands you and Alex refer, seem to be out ahead. I'm going to have to look into a Internet merchant account as this will provide greater flexibility in terms of where to locate.

----
Cheers,

Dan
Founder and CEO

LionsGate Creative
GoodPassRobot
Magelln

oh, and DO skip Antigua!
No DSL :)

Much of the carib runs on a phone and internet monopoly by British Telecom's Cabel and Wireless.
A couple of islands brke free, but many are still suffering from high cost and bad service.

There are several webmaster conferences in the Carib through the year. You might consider visiting one of the conferences. For an example, check out Islandgathering.com (Adult Webmasters mainly) which is held yearly in Curacao.

Carib Islands are quite diverse, ranging from a state of definitely lacking in modern facilities and shopping all the way to the other end - very modern.

A good judge of Internet usability is too find the ones with reasonable cost T-1's not supplied by BT/Cable and Wireless, and decent hosting.
Also, the better the local job market...

They are pretty much all gorgeous beyond belief, though!!