One Man's Story

These days I find myself wondering what it was I wanted to know when I first arrived here 3-years ago. I didn’t need a place to live nor did I really need to know any Czech as my girlfriend provided both translation services and a roof over my head. In fact, for a while, I didn’t really want nor need anything. After a few months however I began to yearn for some English speaking company. Not just English speaking but someone who was a native speaker. It took me over a year to find one Irish drinking companion and almost two more years to find another ExPat. I guess I wasn’t trying too hard! With this site I have met more than 20 ExPats in the last two months and that is just great.

No, the issues I struggled with were how to lease an office. Especially when it seemed that in order to lease an office I needed a business license or a company. In fact, to get services at an office like phones, internet and so on, it seemed I needed a company or a business license. So, how do I get a business license or create a company here? Well, I need temporary residence first. So, I hired a lawyer who got me the temporary residence and then a firm to set up a company for me. Then I could lease an office! Of course, then I needed a bank!

What I discovered was the sheer bloody mindedness of the Czech Republic. The forms, the stamps, the people who have small jobs and even smaller minds and feel the need to overcomplicate things. At first I was angry. I shouted and I swore and they looked at me with narrower eyes and went slower just to piss me off even more. Then I developed a more nonchalant attitude. It didn’t take long to make that transition. If only I could talk to a Czech politician……I could tell him a few things that need to get changed afterall, I created a company in the US for $50 after 2 minutes on the internet!

Having built a company I discovered that I needed a Czech client if I was to keep on getting VAT recovery. That was difficult too but I achieved it. I also had to struggle to understand what was deductible and what wasn’t, what a Doklad was and why I always had to get one and just how complex Czech accounting seems to be. No surprise there. I even got my own stamp and started stamping things like crazy – what fun. I had run ins with the bank though since I never could get anyone who could speak English to deal with me and every visit to the branch took at least an hour and half a tree in paperwork. Still does but I hired a Czech and have them go for me now!

After three-years here I am no longer worried about how the system works, the language, or the culture. I love it here. But I also realize that every ExPat has different trials and tribulations on coming to live here. Different to mine and yet similar but hopefully, all will come to love the place like I do.