Starting a business in Thailand — company setup for foreigners
Foreign business ownership in Thailand: Thai Limited Company, BOI, Treaty of Amity (US), plus the practical steps and what drives setup costs.
Foreigners cannot majority-own most Thai companies without either BOI promotion (specific industries) or the US-Thailand Treaty of Amity. The default path is a Thai Limited Company with a minority foreign shareholding and Thai directors; time and cost depend on registered capital and the service you use. Setup requires a physical address and a Thai-national managing director, and VAT registration applies once turnover passes the threshold set by the Revenue Department (check the current figure). Most Pattaya foreigners work through a Thai lawyer or company-setup service; ask for a written fee quote that states what is included.