Moving to Italy presents numerous work or business opportunities. For instance, you can easily start a catering business such as a Bed and Breakfast establishment, run an oil and wine producing business, or even teach lessons in English or your native language. The possibilities are endless but here a few important points to consider if you decide to engage in the aforementioned business activities.

Photo from archer10(Dennis)

So what do you need to open a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) in Italy? A B&B is basically a small lodging business that provides overnight accommodation and breakfast for travelers passing through your part of the country. Most B&Bs are run in private homes which have at least 3 bedrooms that can be used for commercial purposes. To run a B&B business in Italy you will require at most 3 bedrooms furnished with beds, closets, lamps, and other necessary furnishings of a decent bedroom.

The legal requirements to run this business vary from one region to another but the March 29, 2001 Reform of National Tourism Law 135 regulations apply in all parts of the country. Remember to consult your local Comune authorities for further instructions on starting a B&B business in your region.

Alternatively, you may opt to teach English or your native language in Italy as an additional income generating activity. The first thing you will need to do is learn Italian. You will then be required to get a Teaching English as a Foreign language (TEFL) certificate or a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). You will then need to get a work visa before you can apply for available teaching jobs in Italy. EU citizens can live and work in Italy but if you are from a non-EU country you will need to have stayed in Italy for more than 3 months to get a work visa.

If you plan on starting an oil or wine producing business, make sure to have all the required knowledge and skilled staff in such matters besides having an ample supply of olives and grapes. Olive oil production involves intricate procedures in crushing the olives, extracting the oil, and filtration to produce extra virgin oil. You will need experts in the field and establish the business by obtaining the necessary Italian tax code, a local bank account, VAT registration and approval by the local tribunal. You must be registered at the Registrar of companies. For environmental conservation purposes, your products must be produced according Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 requirements. You should also follow the right labeling requirements before you put your products out in the market.