Terry Lao, 27, who used to own a sushi takeout shop called Yim Sushi Takeout, had a short experience of being an entrepreneur. But the business lasted just  nine months and he has an IT job in Macao Polytechnic Institute now.

 

At the beginning, Terry just helped his friends to set up a new bar-and-grill business, learning skills such as how to cook, how to decorate the shop, even how to buy suitable chairs and of course, how to create and try new specialties and manage a good control flow. Six months later, he thought he had the ability to have his own shop.

 

According to Macau Daily, the government's Young Entrepreneurs Aid Scheme, launched for the first time in 2013, has now been updated to be more focused as a result of several adjustments. Until now, some requirements remain unchanged, such as the qualification for the applicant to be a permanent resident of Macao  aged between 21 and 44, and owning the applicant company for a period less than two years. Additionally, the maximum loan is MOP300,000, and the repayment period of eight years remains the same. Attracted by the scheme, Terry decided to set up his own shop. He created a menu, practiced culinary skills, hired workers and designed the shop. He said he wanted to run a sushi takeout shop because it was easily approved by the government as it required no open fire and just needed a cheap and small working area.

 

Terry was very satisfied that customers loved his food and service. Some parents would even ask him to take care of their children after school for dinner from time to time. There were some kids helping out on the last day of the shop and enjoyed their last meal.

 

As more and more people knew Yim, the business was getting better and better at first. Terry needed more helpers, but the government did not approve his application for an extra foreign laborer as his shop's space was limited. It was too expensive to hire local people. To make matters  worse, the owner of the property wanted to raise the rent during that time. Terry was then forced to close down the shop.

 

Terry said it was a great experience. Although it failed and he even could not repay the loan of the shop, it is a good lesson for his next business adventure. He encouraged young people to start their own business, and he said the key is to preserve, keep learning, and have a good service attitude. He said that it would threaten the business if customers complained on the Internet. Comparing the job he is doing now with the job as a shop owner, Terry found his current job less stressful and said, "I feel like I'm on a holiday."