Iloilo is one of the Philippines’ most peaceful, clean, quiet, and wealthy provinces. It is no wonder that many Filipinos and ex-pats have chosen Iloilo as their second home or permanent home. At present, Iloilo City is home to over 484,000 people. If you plan to live in Iloilo City, one of the first practical questions you will ask is what can be your source of living here?
If that is one of your concerns before moving to your dream house, here are some ideas of what thriving businesses can you try:Rental Property Business
If you can secure a lot in Iloilo, you can build either an apartment or a commercial building and have the units leased by residents and companies. When it comes to the property rental business, make sure that your location is accessible and is near the main road, transportation terminals, and other essential establishments. Iloilo is also one of the places where you can find beautiful beaches. So if you’ve come across a foreclosed beachfront property in the Philippines, specifically in Iloilo, you can convert that into a vacation home you can lease to tourists who want to stay by the beach during their vacation in Iloilo.
Vehicle Rental Property
Car rental is another thriving business you can try in Iloilo City. You may start with renting out motorcycles, especially for tourists looking for an efficient yet short-term mode of transportation. Along the way, you can upgrade and start renting private cars and vans. These are helpful for large groups of tourists or for those traveling to Iloilo for business-related purposes.
Food and Beverage
Iloilo is also a food lover’s destination. If you want to earn a decent income here, a good business venture is in the food and beverage sector. You may start a restaurant business or a cafe in Iloilo City featuring favorite local Ilonggo dishes such as Kansi, La Paz Batchoy, Inasal, and Pancit Molo. To cater to the taste of foreigners in the area, you may also include a wide variety of international dishes on your menu.
Tour Agency
If you are familiar with Iloilo and its popular and off-the-beaten-path destinations, why not start a tour agency? The capital for starting a travel and tour agency is not that high, and it can be fun, especially if you love traveling and being on the move. When you start this type of business, there is a lot you can sell to your potential clients. These include airline tickets, tour packages, car rentals, and hotel accommodations. And the best thing is that since you know the place by heart, you can personalize your tours to cater to your client’s taste.
Buy and Sell
If you have connections to the metro and see that there are in-demand items in Iloilo that are few and only found in Metro Manila, why not try a buy-and-sell business? Purchase these items in the metro and sell them in Iloilo City. To maximize your profit, you may also sell items only found in Iloilo to Metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines.
Moving to Iloilo is a big decision, and it’s understandable to look for business ventures to make a living in the city. All that said, may these business ideas help you find a thriving business once you start living in the City of Love, Iloilo! (PN/Cheryl Luis)
