Starting a business in Poland ( English language services )

I want to start my own English language services (teaching, skype lessons etc), editing/proofreading/copyediting, general English-y things in Krakow or Warsaw.

I'm currently contracted to Berlitz in Krakow and in the process of getting my work permit with them, but as you must have heard - the pay is **** and I'm looking for greener pastures.

It seems a better deal to start up my own independent contracting business so I can tutor on the side and do editing as well (editing is my one true passion haha) as I'm under the impression that leaving Berlitz would nullify both my Work and Residence permits when they're all sorted.

I've come across various forums on here and I just want to confirm the steps.

- Tax office for the NIP 7 form doings
- Bank account
- Register my address
- Get an accountant for ZUS nonsense
- Urzad Miasta for CEIDG-1 forms
- Take my REGON, PESEL, Passport, NIP to the ZUS office
- Tax office again to upgrade my NIP to a business one

The business would be just me, independent contracting basically anything English that comes my way.

What say you?
Yes it is a good plan, no it is not, I'm an idiot, the usual.

Good luck, Abby! Sounds like a very useful service, desparately need in PL ^^

Learn a little Polish while you're at it though. Remember, the most important language worldwide isn't English, German, French, Mandarin or even in this case, Polish; it's the language your CUSTOMER/CLIENT speaks:-)

I had a freelance translation and interpreting service myself many years ago.
Again, hope you can make a go of it! If you'd like any tips etc.. marekzgerson@yahoo

Well, you're in Krakow, can't you gauge the local market better than most of us? I'm not being sarcastic, just sayin'.

It sounds like you have good business and organisational ability, summarise well and probably would be great at proofreading and so forth, in fact someone might even contact you via the forum and ask you to do some proofreading for them, you never know. But that said, my pure guess is that Krakow has attracted a larger than average number of English-speaking professionals and the market might already be saturated. There are certainly plenty begging for work here in Wro, just check Gumtree etc.

It might be a case of right place, right time, and a lucky break, but until that point if it comes I'm sure you are well aware it would not to be wise to give up the day job, as it were.

Krakow is not the place to do this IMHO

Its full of Native speakers, Proofreaders etc etc etc and as such the pay it low I teach about 40km outside krakow and earn double the going rate in krakow

any native speakers arrive in krakow and never leave the centre smaller towns are crying out for native speakers so they pay better supply and demand and all that

I agree. The big, popular cities, Kraków, Wrocław and Warsaw, are swarming with native English speakers that are desperate to give private lessons and proof-read for peanuts. Unless you have some very serious qualifications, which you don't ("no teaching experience, no diploma, no other work skills"), you don't stand a chance at all. You wouldn't be able to earn enough to pay the costs of running your business, never mind enough to live off.

Sorry, Abby, but Poland is definitely not the place for you, as I've told you before. You simply don't have what it takes to survive here, and you were foolish to come. It's time to cut your losses, go back to the States and further your education.

So how are you going to solve it?

Work permits are specific to a single position in a single company (in a single region). A residency permit is not tied to your employer.

I was chatting to a guy in krk a few weeks back he was English came here with his polish girlfriend he charges 20pln an hour has no qualifications and used to work on a production line in the uk.

these people spoil it for real native speakers with qualifications and skills

It's the same here in the States for English teachers from other non-English speaking countries who often speak English as poorly as, worse than or only slightly better than the students whom they are supposedly "teaching":-) It merely sullies the reputation of the entire ESL industry, making it a dumping ground for quacks and buffoons, almost as much as the medical fieldLOL

I attended government co-financed German language course in Munich and 2 out of 3 teachers were Polish. They simply graduated German philology in Poland, went to Germany and didn't know what to do there, so they passed some certificates or graduated philology again in German university and now can teach German to foreigners up to B1 level. (and higher levels in private schools) I find it strange, but that is the same going for the lowest price. After saying that I am satisfied with my teachers.

Warsaw is the best place to star up such a business, big market and many foreigners. I began my own company 2 years ago and it is great. I stared with virtual office where I registerd my official adress on a city center but a i'm working with students at home or in schools. If anyone need a good aress of virtual office I can give you one :)