How is it running a business (retail, restaurant, etc) in Cancun? Specifically, a "brick and mortar" business as opposed to an online one. Does an owner have to worry about "shakedowns" or a "protection" expense. How about the bureaucracy of getting a license or permits.
This question is too vague to answer properly. What kind of business? Where would it be located? Many businesses here have trouble getting proper licenses and permits. Sometimes the trouble with getting permits is due to the owner not doing what it takes to get said permits, sometimes the problem is because the rules are close to impossible to follow. Bureaucracy here has been perfected to an art form. And lots of people here don't like to follow rules, so they don't necessarily try to do the paperwork correctly in the first place. There's blame on both sides. I'm hearing more and more reports from retail business owners that they are being coerced into paying protection money. I hear this a lot with retail businesses in both Cancun and in Playa del Carmen. But it depends partly on the location of the business. I imagine that a business located inside a hotel won't have this problem much. But I personally know several retail business owners here in Cancun who have had their families threatened, they've been coerced into paying. Personally I wouldn't run a retail business in Cancun.
Shakedowns, yes, from various gov't "inspectors" who come by day and night although the bribes are cheap. I have witnessed this on 3 occasions at my Canadian friend's place of business.
Thank you, your information is helpful. I was thinking about a retail store (such as Baby Clothes) or had another idea of small restaurant, in a downtown location (not in a hotel). Your information makes me a little nervous though. I am American, but my wife is mexican and we have 2 small children. Who asks for the "protection," the police or "mafia?"
I have a friend who runs a small gym here, he pays protection money. "They" came to him knowing where his kids go to school, knowing where he lives. "They" in this case is probably Los Zetas, but who knows. I know people who own restaurants who have to pay off health inspectors and the like regularly, so in that case it's govt people looking for a bribe. "They" are a lot of people, they are dis-organized crime.
