What business for me in Taiwan?

Work Working in Taiwan
1

Hi guys :slight_smile:

I was formerly known as “Majimekun” on this forum but I had to create a new account because of some technical glitch on the forum.

Anyway, I’m a french guy, speaking good japanese and english as well.

I’ve been doing freelance web design/development during the last 10 years but, honestly, I’m trying to move away from it.

I would like to find a new business idea that will allow me to navigate endlessly between Japan and Taiwan so that I never have to go back to France ever (the country sucks way too much).

I’m, planning a first trip to Taiwan before the winter in order to discover the country, see what’s possible to do there, expand my network.

Now, the question : considered that I’m very good at web design/development, I speak/write/read French/English/Japanese, I know Tokyo and Osaka like the back of my hand, the japanese way of thinking has no secret for me, I’m fond of technology/science/fashion (although I have no background in such fields), I look fairly good and younger than my age (I’m 40) … in your opinion, what kind of profitable personal business could I envision in Taiwan?

I’m sorry if the question comes as a naive one but I believe that inspiration can come from any source.

Thanks in advance for your opinions :slight_smile:

Cheers

2

translation?

3

Hi John :slight_smile:

Isn’t the translation business over-crowded?
I also know by experience that it’s not a well paid activity.
Lastly, I’m afraid I’d be good enough at translating only from English to French.

Thanks anyway for your input :slight_smile:

4

That’s true, it’s not well-paid and the business is kind of overcrowded. But if you spend some time looking for agencies and clients, you can probably still find work, even in English to French. And I like translation because it gives the flexibility to be my own boss and have time to do other things, like study Chinese literature.

Good luck!

5

Not at all. I think it’s a good question. Looking forward to reading more replies myself.

6

[quote=“franck.friends”]Hi guys :slight_smile:

I was formerly known as “Majimekun” on this forum but I had to create a new account because of some technical glitch on the forum.

Anyway, I’m a french guy, speaking good japanese and english as well.

I’ve been doing freelance web design/development during the last 10 years but, honestly, I’m trying to move away from it.

I would like to find a new business idea that will allow me to navigate endlessly between Japan and Taiwan so that I never have to go back to France ever (the country sucks way too much).

I’m, planning a first trip to Taiwan before the winter in order to discover the country, see what’s possible to do there, expand my network.

Now, the question : considered that I’m very good at web design/development, I speak/write/read French/English/Japanese, I know Tokyo and Osaka like the back of my hand, the japanese way of thinking has no secret for me, I’m fond of technology/science/fashion (although I have no background in such fields), I look fairly good and younger than my age (I’m 40) … in your opinion, what kind of profitable personal business could I envision in Taiwan?

I’m sorry if the question comes as a naive one but I believe that inspiration can come from any source.

Thanks in advance for your opinions :slight_smile:

Cheers[/quote]

Stupid suggestions but, hey, we can all dream, can’t we?

  1. In Japan, freelance web and graphical design for companies looking to add a bit of French into their products.
  2. In Taiwan, do the same but mix it up with French-Japanese style.

Unique but the market is totally questionable.

7

Thanks PigBloodCake :slight_smile:
You know what?
I’ve spent the last 3 months in Japan (I’m now back in France) and, during my short stay over there, I’ve contacted like +300 japanese web agencies and freelances, introducing my services to them (website design/development in French/English).
I didn’t get a single positive response.
So yeah, the market is really “questionable” :slight_smile:

8

[quote=“franck.friends”]Thanks PigBloodCake :slight_smile:
You know what?
I’ve spent the last 3 months in Japan (I’m now back in France) and, during my short stay over there, I’ve contacted like +300 japanese web agencies and freelances, introducing my services to them (website design/development in French/English).
I didn’t get a single positive response.
So yeah, the market is really “questionable” :slight_smile:[/quote]

One reason you don’t get a response is probably because there is so much local talent that would work for less money.
It would be the same in TW. You need to find something that very few locals can do. Do you have any hobbies that you can make part of your work?

9

Don’t you think that professionals who can create websites/visuals that efficiently target the french visitors are rare in Japan/Taiwan?

My hobbies are frisbee and MTB cycling … I doubt I could ever make money from these :slight_smile:

10

This thread continued at viewtopic.php?f=189&t=102184&start=12 a long time ago… :slight_smile:

11

[quote=“franck.friends”]Don’t you think that professionals who can create websites/visuals that efficiently target the french visitors are rare in Japan/Taiwan?

My hobbies are frisbee and MTB cycling … I doubt I could ever make money from these :slight_smile:[/quote]

Hmmm…I think that companies might consider the following:

  1. they can hire (or already have) local professionals that can create effective websites/visuals
  2. they have a marketing team that can provide direction to the website design team
  3. any company that has a desire to market their products in France would probably already have a local branch office in France (even if it is only 1 or 2 employees)
  4. there probably aren’t enough French visitors in Japan/Taiwan to warrant such a marketing investment

If you really like frisbee and MTB cycling, perhaps you could look for ways to promote the sports in Japan/Taiwan. And in the process of promoting the sport, you might be able to sell imported products or even come up with an idea for a product related to those hobbies. I’m sure that a person who has enough creativity to design websites/visuals would be able to come up with some ideas for products that would be useful. :thumbsup:

12

France is a part of the EU and Schengen, so is there not any other Schengen country that you would like to be in?

As for web design what about contacting companies in France? Am I right by saying that web designs are done online or does it require you to actually be in an office?

Translation, especially between two European languages, have limited demand and its either you do it for nothing, or you have to be professionally accredited. Chinese to English or back has higher demand due to a bigger market in China, but due to the fact that most agencies don’t care about quality, there are far too many incompetent locals who will do it for next to nothing. Also, google translate can now do a passable job of translating between european languages, just not between non European and European languages.

If you have artistic talents, you might want to pursue that avenue. Due to the whole performance driven mentality of Taiwanese families and that families usually expect their kids to do a “high paying” job, there are not many people in Taiwan with artistic talents. So there is something few locals can do that you can benefit. In fact because you’re from France, they’ll be interested in any artistic talents you have to offer.