Expatriates prepare to begin small household businesses
It was only a few days ago that the government made a licensing announcement that is expected to help regulate home businesses in Qatar.
The government, in a bid to encourage small households to make extra income, agreed to legalise such businesses by licensing them on a yearly basis.
The move was widely appreciated and now, it seems people are starting to prepare to take things forward.
The Peninsula reported that many expatriates were quite happy with the move and were looking to apply for licenses.
“We’ve been thinking of doing a business for sometime but didn’t know the path. The decision by the Ministry has given us hope and confidence,” a Sri Lankan expatriate planning to start a catering business was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
In order to get a licence to run a small business at home, the applicant should be at least 18 and a resident of the house. The annual licensing fee is QR1,020 and the licence holder can engage only in direct sales to the public from home.
Only one business will be allowed to be registered per house, under one licence. The licence holder will not be allowed to recruit any employee from abroad.
The license holder should have a house contract and civil defence certificate for cooking at home.
It is widely hoped that the new norms would help promote small scale businesses, especially in the field of cooking, baking and handicrafts, among others.
Do you think this is a good move?
Its a good way of controlling and monitoring the small businesses - however, I can't see many signing up if they have to pay for a license and get civil defence certification
I don't think, it is that much good move to sell direct to customers. It will create security issues of housewives, while husbands absence. And the residential place will be filled with public and problem will generated by neighbors. There is possibility of miss using the license for catering service and mess facilities and create headache for Baladiya to investigation of food Poisson complaints. It will open new opportunities for expat to do hotel business without Baladiya problem. Letter on it will be uncontrolled.
It will be slightly better to sell indirectly. Either through shops or dealers. But the license must strictly avoid items like , Porotta, curry, rise etc.
Cooking, Tailoring and Laundry are the main areas that may start from homes, but there are no other meaningful business categories.
What all the business we can do how to get all those details?
Yes , a very good move.
Yes indeed this is a good move...