Doing Business in Mexico A Practical Guide

Learn what you need to know to conduct successful business in Mexico!This book is a primer on all aspects of doing business in Mexico, with practical examples that illustrate the risks and benefits of Mexican business operations. It provides the basic knowledge that all prospective investors and entrepreneurs in Mexico need, especially in the light of NAFTA. One of the authors is the former CEO and chairman of a multinational, multi-billion dollar company headquartered in Mexico City; the other is a CPA and consultant with small-to-medium-sized firms. Doing Business in Mexico: A Practical Guide provides you with comprehensive, basic knowledge of the pros and cons of establishing a business in Mexico, NAFTA and its implications for businesses, and much more.This single volume gives you what you need to know about: the maquila industry--what it is and how NAFTA affects it information about taxes, labor law, and accounting differences between Mexico and the United States basic considerations in beginning a Mexican operation import/export requirements foreign currency exposure United States tax laws applicable to citizens living abroad. . . and includes five appendixes that supply you with: contact information--addresses, telephone numbers, Web sites--of useful government agencies and journals/periodicals in Mexico and Mexican consulates in the United States Spanish-English and English-Spanish business glossaries examples of Mexican financial statements minimum daily wage rates for various occupationsDoing Business in Mexico: A Practical Guide is a must for anyone with an interest in business operations in that country. If you are such a person, this is the one essential volume you cannot afford to miss! Visit the author's Web page at http://www.gusgordon.com

Contents Preface Chapter 1. Introduction to Doing Business in Mexico Why is Mexico Attractive? Risks Chapter 2. Overview of the Maquila Industry and NAFTA The Maquila Program Overview of the NAFTA Summary Chapter 3. Overview of Mexican Taxes, Labor Law, and Fiscal Requirements Income and Other Nonpayroll Taxes (Federal) Labor Law and Taxes Payroll Taxes Required Benefits Other Benefits Fiscal Requirements Summary Chapter 4. Beginning Operations in Mexico: Basic Considerations, Alternatives, and Requirements U.S. Tax and Business Considerations Starting Operations Summary Chapter 5. Import and Export Requisites: A Summary NAFTA Requirements Temporary Imports Under the Maquila Program Subsequent Export of Items Temporarily Imported Reports Required to Be Filed with the Mexican Government Summary Chapter 6. Foreign Currency Risk: A Primer Causes of Exchange Rate Fluctuations Implications of Exchange Rate Changes Recent Peso-Dollar Exchange Rate History Hedging Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Financial Statements Summary Chapter 7. Management and Cultural Issues Research on Cultural Differences Between Mexico and the United States Cultural Issues in Practice Some Final Thoughts on Americans Managing in Mexico Chapter 8. Tax Implications for U.S. Citizens Working in Mexico Overview Specifics Summary Appendix A. Selected Minimum Daily Wage Rates (Amounts in Pesos) Appendix B. Spanish-English Glossary of Financial Terms Appendix C. English-Spanish Glossary of Financial Terms Appendix D. Examples of Mexican Financial Statements Appendix E. Useful Addresses Notes Index Reference Notes Included