How to Italy

Talking business opportunities with Italians

"Potresti avvicinarti quando hai un'attimino di tempo che ti devo chiedere una cosa?"

I've been asked this question several times over the last month and while this now strikes me as completely normal, I always found it so strange that I had to pop in and see someone so they could ask me the question that desperately needed an answer yet wasn't urgent enough to require a phone call or email. 

There's no limit to the type of questions that you might be asked. This month I've been asked if I'd be interested in my cv being put forward for consideration for one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it opportunities (hmmmm, let's think about that) and whether I'd like to get my hands on a rather lucrative teaching contract (again, I need to stop for a coffee to really think about the pros and the pros of that one). 

It's in stark contrast to the way things are done in Britain. At the end of March, I wrote an article for The Times (I screamed silently - what about me?) about coming to terms with my brother's suicide and sibling survivors being the forgotten victims. I'm never really sure of effect my words have on others but I've been told it made quite a few people sob. The outcome of all that is that the Samaritans then asked me to speak at their annual conference in September though that's not confirmed. 

Of course, that exchange took place over a couple of emails. Had we both been in Italy, it might have looked rather different:

Samaritans: "Hi, I'm from the Samaritans. We read your article and found it really moving. Do you think you could come to our offices?"

Me: Sure. (this causes lots of head sratching. How should I dress? Is it formal? Are we going for coffee? Am I about to get a job interview on the spot? Do they want my advice?)

On the day I imagine myself rolling up in a blend of smart-casual that nods to the 'yes, I always look this polished even when I'm running around doing errands' to be taken into the office for all of two minutes before being asked 'so, would you be up for speaking at the conference?'. You're always expected to give an answer on the spot before being uncerimoniously despatched seconds later. 

These days I've come to the conclusion that Italians invite you into the office to ask you whether you'd like to accept the offer of a lifetime for no other reason than to see pure joy on your face. The more mega-Watt your smile, the happier they are. 

So the first time an Italian tells you to pop by because they need to ask you a question, don't panic. Just start practising that acceptance speech. 

Starting a business in Italy for Eur1 (and no, there aren't any zeros missing)

Earlier this week I was interviewed on starting a business in Italy by Katie Morell for AmEx OpenForum. As part of that, I was explaining how you should never ever underestimate the amount of time it's going to take you to get things done. What take a two-minute phone call in the UK, can drag on for months over here. If you really are determined to start a business in Italy, then don't let this put you off. But it is somethng you need to be aware of. 

On the upside, I mentioned how things are slowly getting easier because Italy is finally catching up with the rest of of Europe. Of course, much of that has been due to the dire economic situation Italy's found itself in and the reforms that the caretaker prime minister Mario Monti has pushed through as a result (two sentences don't do justice to the situation or the steps that have been taken to reverse Italy's fortunes but I'm not interested in discussing that here). One of those is the società semplificata di responsabilità limitata or, to put it into English, a semplified limited company. 

The beauty of this reform is that you can now launch a start-up for just Eur1 and also bypass all the longwinded, faffy red tape that usually goes hand-in-hand with doing just about anything in Italy. For example, instead of making an appointment to see the notary, you simply send an online notification to the Registro delle Imprese (Companies' Registry Book) of your new venture and hey-ho, you're in business. 

Monti explained this decision on the Italian current affairs show Otto e Mezzo when he was grilled by the journalist Lilli Gruber. He said: "I don't know how many Bill Gates there are in Italy but if there are any, we don't want complicated and time-consuming procedures to prevent the birth of start-ups. 

On a personal note, there is one aspect that miffs me mightily. Monti's governemnt brought in these reforms a month after my 35th birthday, the cut off age for taking advantage of this new law. Since I'm too old (eek) to pay my Eur1 and start a new business, I hope you do. 

Free Italian Legal Advice

We've got the coldest winter in 25 years here in Italy and even Sardinia, which is usually drenched in sunshine, is caught in its clutches. 

So while we've got the heating whacked up to the max (for as long as the gas lasts) and I'm guzzling back lots of hot drinks to keep warm, I thought I'd be the bearer of some, frankly, fabulous news. 

We've teamed up with the bods at Studio Legale Annino, which is a law firm with offices in Milan, Rome, Velletri (RM) and Cagliari, to offer you expert advice for (wait for it)...absolutely nothing. 

See, I told you it was good. 

Every Friday they're going to choose one of your emails to answer and I'll publish the email and the answer here. So if you need legal advice about life or doing business in Italy, get writing. Send a brief email to my yahoo address emma underscore s underscore bird at yahoo dot co dot uk with the subject header: 'howtoitaly/studio legale annino. 

Meanwhile, watch out for my interview with Allison Lyndsay Sutherland, a South African industrial psychologist who works with Studio Legale Annino and is behind the bilingual service to stop foreigners being taken advantage of when they don't speak Italian and don't understand the legal system. 

I look forward to your emails. 

Contacting Us

If you want to touch base via mail, you'll currently get me on [email protected]. Alternatively you can follow me on Twitter @secretsardinia

Mario's currently dealing with the business side, be that starting a business, expanding a business or needing business advice. He's also damn good at writing emails and letters that get results so if your Italian skills aren't up to the job, he's the man for you. Mario's email address is: [email protected]. 

A whirlwind roundup of life in Sardinia

I haven't posted for ages. For three months in fact.

So, here's a quick roundup of what's been happening:

• Summer happened. And the summer was hot. It's hard to concentrate when it's 40°C out. To be fair, summer is still happening. It may be Autumn, but we've still got 25°C.
• I've been busy arguing with kitchen designers who quote ridiculously high prices for kitchens that you don't want in the first place because they didn't listen to what you wanted. Eur13,000 for three cupboards, a sink, an oven, a hob, a dishwater and a fridge/freezer anyone?
• I've been busy finding kitchen designers who actually do listen and are lovely at the same time. Alberto Garau, of Guido Garau in Sassari, is my man of choice. Oh, and he happens to have the biggest chocolate brown eyes ever. Not that that influenced my choice.
• Back in June, I started teaching again on the regional initiative Sardinia Speaks English. Total beginners are always my downfall. That led to taking over another course. I was teaching six hours back-to-back a day so definitely no time for blogging.
• I'd forgotten how much I loved teaching. So, before I had time to realise what I was doing, went and set up my own private language school in Arzachena.
• When I was getting stressed and scratching my head in bemusement, I reread my book on Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese (extremely non-subtle plug). Felt better after that.
• I've also been redoing websites (with the help of Martha from Roam2Rome - she's a star)
• I've been playing waiting games with the bank who wanted us to sign the act for the new appartment before we knew whether or not they'd give us a second mortgage (we've already got one on the whole oh-dear-the-roof-collapsed saga).
• I've been writing lots - articles and that book that I should have finished ages ago.
• I've been trying to find beds in Sardinia that don't come with a 70-day delivery time. I wish I was a carpenter. I could go and cut down the tree and make a bed in less time than that.
• Oh, and I've been trying not to get annoyed that I have to pay Eur300 to clean up the mess that the builders have made in the apartment.

An Ice cream a day...

An ice-cream a day.

That's one of the most common antidotes to the long, hot summers in Sardinia. And who am I to disagree with Italian experts who clearly know more about the subject than me?

Eating gelato, as ice cream is called over here, has been a popular pastime in Italy for hundreds of years. Even the ancient Romans enjoyed a scoop or two of snow and ice mixed with fruit, wine and honey.

It's not difficult to see why:

(photo credit: yud)

But if all those mouthwatering flavours don't tickle your tastebuds, maybe these will:

(photo credit: Lilian33)

And if they don't, there are always these:

(photo credit: Itsamish)

Needless to say, when you're in Sardinia to take part in one of our Absorbing Writing workshops, we'll be finding the time to eat some ice cream.

After six years in Italy, I've finally found my favourite flavour. I wonder what yours will be?

Useful sites for living and working in Italy

As I said yesterday, I've officially become a Twitter addict. I've found it really useful for sharing my favourite links and websites I've discovered.

Here's a round up of some of the urls and news:

* www.lowcostaccounting.it, www.contipronti.it and www.101professionisti.it for low-cost accounting options in Italy

* Craigslist now in Bologna, Tuscany, Genoa, Milan, Campania, Perugia, Rome, Sardinia, Sicily, Turin and Veneto

* www.milanexpat.com - the best links for expatriate life in Milan

* Starting a business in Italy? You'll need these sites: www.agenziaentrate.gov.it & www.inps.it. Try www.actainrete.it & www.formaper.it

* www.casasanruffino.com - fabulous B&B run by two Brits in Le Marche who've realised their dream of living in Italy

* Looking for an English-speaking job in Italy? www.jobsinmilan.com would be a good place to start

* Want to learn Italian but there aren't any courses near you? www.myngle.com has individual and group lessons via Skype and online

* Want to buy property in Sardinia? Start here: www.sardiniapropertyfinder.com, www.preciousvillas.com & www.housearoundsardinia.eu

* Need office space in Italy: www.italycenter.it, www.mbcenter.it, www.pickcenter.com, www.businesscenter.it, www.regus.it

* If you want to export, click on the Italian Trade Commission's website www.ice.gov.it. It has 16 offices in Italy and over 100 worldwide

* www.milanin.com - business networking club in Milan so successful it's now spreading to other Italian cities

* www.girlgeekdinnersitalia.com - informal networking dinners in Milan for women in IT. The driving forces behind the initative includes Sara Rosso, aka Ms Adventures in Italy. Featured in Glamour, Marie Claire and a host of others, I'll have you know.

Two more HowToItaly clients start businesses in Italy

I'll probably regret saying this but it feels like winter is well and truly over.* So much so that I've decided to sit on the veranda, drink in the sea view and warm myself in the sun at the same time.

And I'm not the only one who thinks like this. I was talking to my friend Sally who lives on the other side of the island in Alghero. Like me, she feels like she's on holiday every day.

Here's what Sally had to say:

"You have a holiday feeling all the time. It's like when you go on holiday. That first week before you have time to start worrying about going back to England and back to your boring job, you have this lovely relaxed feeling, the sun is shining and everyone is happy. When you live here, you realise that you don't have to go back.

You can actually live here like the Italians do: going for a espresso, sitting in the sunshine watching the world go by, having a walk after dinner to get an icecream and having a sunbath during your lunch hour. You can make your dream a reality."

And Sally is someone who knows all about making her dream reality. She stopped talking about it and got on and did it. When we did a business consultation with her back in September last year, she was a dive instructor. She's now taken her property background in the UK, combined it with her passion for Sardinia and the result is Sardinia Property Finder. If you want to find a property in north west Sardinia, then Sally's your woman.

She can also take you diving, too.

And then there's Tania.

Tania, another past client, also lives in the Italian sunshine. In her case, Tropea. She was born to Italian parents in Australia but decided she really wanted to return to her origins. Like Sally, Tania decided that the move to Italy was a chance to do something she'd always wanted to do.

After months and months of preparation work, her new business is finally open. This week, she unveilved In Italy Tours. Do make sure you click on the website. Apart from anything else, the photos are just gorgeous.

From having worked with her, I know Tania is a whirlwind of creative and infectious energy. So if you want to have fun but experience what Italy is really all about on your holiday then make sure you book one of her tours.

*As always, in February and March it will rain.

Chance to run your own watersports centre in Italy

There are days when I love being in Sardinia - today is one of them.

I've just come back from an interview with British expat Paul James who co-owns the Cannigione Watersport Centre, which funnily enough is in Cannigione, with his Sardinian wife Andreana Puddu.

Sipping two cappuccinos and an aperitivo with Paul and Andreana in the name of work is a rather enjoyable way to spend a morning. I'm certainly not complaining.

Paul will be featuring in my guide to Sardinia - out later this year - so you can read all about his story then.

But for now I thought you might like to know the following:

The Watersport Centre, which is situated on the beach in Cannigione, is expanding. In order to concentrate on growing the business and open a new fly centre on the premises, Paul and Andreana are looking for young and enthusiastic watersports enthusiasts to bring on board.

So, if you fancy living on an beautiful island in the Med (in this case, Sardinia), running your own watersports business and want to try the dream before you buy, this is the opportunity for you.

Forget the hassle of appying for licenses, Paul and Andreana already have them. They also have 20 years experience in the business which means you'll get two mentors thrown into for free. All you'll need to do is pay the rent.

They are also looking for investors or partners for their new fly centre which should be open this summer.

Oh, and if that isn't enough to convince you, Paul and Andreana throw the best bbqs on the beach ever.

What more could you want?

For more information email [email protected] or call +39 338 3905706.

 

Starting a business in Italy: obtaining finance

Coming up with a winning business idea is the easiest part. Coming up with the cash is far more difficult, especially if you don't have a huge trust fund or money in the bank.

But don't give up before you start. Italy is beginning to wake up to the advantages of micro-credit. In 2006, more than Eur5m of loans were distributed to the country's neo-imprenditori.

The capped limit is Eur15,000 but this depends on the bank, charity or public organisation lending the money. Interest rates vary between three and eight per cent.

What a lot of people don't know, is that these loans are given out to all kinds of companies in Italy- and not just those termed 'ethical'. Businesses awarded micro-credit in the past include an organic catering service using locally-sourced produce and an after-school arts club for children.

The following all lend money:

1. Banca Etica (www.bancaetica.it)
2. Micro.Bo (www.microbo.it)
3. Smoat (+39 055 22384223)
4. Fondo Etico Le Piagge (+39 055 373737)
5. Regione Lazio (www.regione.lazio.it)
6. Progetto Senapa (+39 0875 714454)
7. Agenzia di Sviluppo Integrato (ww.kalat.net)