Supporting Expat-Led Businesses in Asia: Bridging the Financial Advice Gap
2nd May 2025
Expat entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly important role on the global stage. They aren’t just filling jobs abroad, they’re creating them. In the United States, for example, immigrants represent 21.7% of all business owners despite being only 13.6% of the population. Similar trends can be seen worldwide as expats start and grow companies abroad.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Asia, where a thriving community of “expat-preneurs” (I know, I hate it too!) has emerged in recent years. Business hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong have made it easy to set up shop, to the point that Hong Kong’s startup founders are about half local and half foreign – a strikingly diverse mix that speaks to Asia’s draw for international talent. Southeast Asia as a whole is witnessing an expatriate entrepreneur scene expanding across the region, fuelled by booming economies and relatively straightforward visa rules in certain countries.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Asia, where a thriving community of “expat-preneurs” (I know, I hate it too!) has emerged in recent years. Business hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong have made it easy to set up shop, to the point that Hong Kong’s startup founders are about half local and half foreign – a strikingly diverse mix that speaks to Asia’s draw for international talent. Southeast Asia as a whole is witnessing an expatriate entrepreneur scene expanding across the region, fuelled by booming economies and relatively straightforward visa rules in certain countries.
Yet for all this growth and excitement, expat-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Asia often face an uphill battle, especially when it comes to financial management. Running a business is hard enough on home turf; doing it in a foreign environment adds extra layers of complexity.
As an expat business owner, you might be juggling multiple currencies, unfamiliar tax regimes, and a financial system that doesn’t always cater to newcomers. SMEs already comprise over 95% of all enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region, but they operate in an environment where support can be scarce. In fact, the International Finance Corporation estimates a $2.4 trillion funding gap for SMEs in Asia (part of a $5.2 trillion global SME financing gap). This statistic is staggering - it underscores how difficult it can be for a small business to get the credit and capital it needs in emerging markets. Many expat entrepreneurs find this out the hard way when local banks demand onerous collateral or simply won’t lend to foreign-led start-ups.
Beyond funding, there’s the day-to-day financial management that can make or break a business. Cashflow is king for any SME, but forecasting and managing cashflow in a volatile environment can be tricky. It’s not just about balancing invoices, currency fluctuations or unexpected local costs can throw off your plans. I’ve heard more than a few British and other foreign business owners in Asia joke that they’ve become their own finance department overnight. In truth, it’s a serious concern: without robust financial modelling and cashflow analysis, it’s easy for a thriving business to run into liquidity issues. And unlike back in the UK, you might not have easy access to a network of seasoned mentors or a local Business Hub offering free advice on budgeting and planning. The gap in high-quality financial consulting is very real for expat businesses operating in regions where the advisory industry is still developing. In well-regulated markets like the UK, small businesses can turn to qualified advisers, transparent banking services, and government-supported programs. In contrast, many expat entrepreneurs in Asia find themselves navigating a Wild West of financial advice - an environment where regulation is light and it’s hard to tell genuine expertise from salesmanship.
As an expat business owner, you might be juggling multiple currencies, unfamiliar tax regimes, and a financial system that doesn’t always cater to newcomers. SMEs already comprise over 95% of all enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region, but they operate in an environment where support can be scarce. In fact, the International Finance Corporation estimates a $2.4 trillion funding gap for SMEs in Asia (part of a $5.2 trillion global SME financing gap). This statistic is staggering - it underscores how difficult it can be for a small business to get the credit and capital it needs in emerging markets. Many expat entrepreneurs find this out the hard way when local banks demand onerous collateral or simply won’t lend to foreign-led start-ups.
Beyond funding, there’s the day-to-day financial management that can make or break a business. Cashflow is king for any SME, but forecasting and managing cashflow in a volatile environment can be tricky. It’s not just about balancing invoices, currency fluctuations or unexpected local costs can throw off your plans. I’ve heard more than a few British and other foreign business owners in Asia joke that they’ve become their own finance department overnight. In truth, it’s a serious concern: without robust financial modelling and cashflow analysis, it’s easy for a thriving business to run into liquidity issues. And unlike back in the UK, you might not have easy access to a network of seasoned mentors or a local Business Hub offering free advice on budgeting and planning. The gap in high-quality financial consulting is very real for expat businesses operating in regions where the advisory industry is still developing. In well-regulated markets like the UK, small businesses can turn to qualified advisers, transparent banking services, and government-supported programs. In contrast, many expat entrepreneurs in Asia find themselves navigating a Wild West of financial advice - an environment where regulation is light and it’s hard to tell genuine expertise from salesmanship.
This is exactly the gap Brigantia Private Wealth Management aims to fill. When I founded Brigantia, it was clear that expats needed the same level of trustworthy advice for their businesses as they expect for their personal finances back home. Our mission has always been to make sure our expat clients have access to the same calibre of well-reasoned financial guidance they’d get in the UK, even if they’re running a company in Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. In practice, that means offering business consulting services tailored for expat-led SMEs, not as a replacement to our individual financial planning, but as a valuable addition to it. We know that an entrepreneur’s personal wealth and business health are intertwined, especially for owner-managed companies. By supporting the business, we’re supporting the individual’s broader financial goals too.
So what kind of help might you need? For starters, strategic planning tools like financial modelling and detailed cashflow analysis can give clarity and confidence in your decision-making. We roll up our sleeves with clients to create financial models that test assumptions and map out “what ifs,” so you’re not flying blind. We also look at treasury management and retained profit strategies - essentially, how to handle any cash your business is holding on to. Should it be kept as a buffer in local currency, invested for growth, or perhaps used to fund expansion? These are important questions, especially in Asia where interest rates, inflation, and currency risks can all impact the value of idle cash. Too many expat-run businesses simply leave earnings in a savings account (or under a mattress) because they aren’t aware of better options or worry about local banks. By crafting a treasury strategy, we ensure your hard-earned profits work for you without taking on unnecessary risk.
Another area we focus on is employee benefits and staff financial well-being. Hiring and retaining good people is tough everywhere, but it can be even more challenging when you’re an outsider trying to build a team in a new country. In places like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, talented employees often have their pick of employers, so how do you make your SME stand out?
Beyond a competitive salary, offering the right benefits is key. We help business owners design employee benefit packages that strike the right balance between cost and value. That might involve setting up a simple pension scheme, arranging health insurance, or even providing extra perks like wellness programs. We often advise expat entrepreneurs to consider financial education for their staff as part of the benefits package - it’s an element many overlook. By hosting workshops or one-on-one sessions to help employees plan their personal finances, you’re not just doing a good deed; you’re also building loyalty. We’ve found that staff really appreciate when their company helps them sort out things like budgeting, saving, or understanding investment basics. It makes them feel valued and, ultimately, more invested in the business’s success.
So what kind of help might you need? For starters, strategic planning tools like financial modelling and detailed cashflow analysis can give clarity and confidence in your decision-making. We roll up our sleeves with clients to create financial models that test assumptions and map out “what ifs,” so you’re not flying blind. We also look at treasury management and retained profit strategies - essentially, how to handle any cash your business is holding on to. Should it be kept as a buffer in local currency, invested for growth, or perhaps used to fund expansion? These are important questions, especially in Asia where interest rates, inflation, and currency risks can all impact the value of idle cash. Too many expat-run businesses simply leave earnings in a savings account (or under a mattress) because they aren’t aware of better options or worry about local banks. By crafting a treasury strategy, we ensure your hard-earned profits work for you without taking on unnecessary risk.
Another area we focus on is employee benefits and staff financial well-being. Hiring and retaining good people is tough everywhere, but it can be even more challenging when you’re an outsider trying to build a team in a new country. In places like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, talented employees often have their pick of employers, so how do you make your SME stand out?
Beyond a competitive salary, offering the right benefits is key. We help business owners design employee benefit packages that strike the right balance between cost and value. That might involve setting up a simple pension scheme, arranging health insurance, or even providing extra perks like wellness programs. We often advise expat entrepreneurs to consider financial education for their staff as part of the benefits package - it’s an element many overlook. By hosting workshops or one-on-one sessions to help employees plan their personal finances, you’re not just doing a good deed; you’re also building loyalty. We’ve found that staff really appreciate when their company helps them sort out things like budgeting, saving, or understanding investment basics. It makes them feel valued and, ultimately, more invested in the business’s success.
Hand-in-hand with taking care of your team is taking care of your business’s future. Here we get into continuity and risk management. Small expat-led companies are often heavily reliant on one or two key people - often the founder themselves. Have you ever paused to consider what would happen to the business if you fell seriously ill, or even just needed to return home unexpectedly? It’s not a fun scenario to think about, but it’s crucial. We guide business owners through business continuity and contingency planning. This can include arranging appropriate insurance (like key person cover) or setting up a succession plan so that, if life throws a curveball, there’s a financial safety net and a plan for who takes the reins. It’s about making sure an unexpected event doesn’t derail all your hard work. As part of this, we look at risk assessment across the business – identifying where you might be exposed and how to mitigate those risks proactively. After all, emerging markets can be dynamic and fast-growing, but they can also be less predictable than back home. Having a Plan B (and C) is simply good stewardship.
What ties all these services together, from financial modelling to employee benefits consulting, is that they can be delivered on your terms. Some clients want ongoing support, almost like having a part-time CFO or financial director on call. Others might just need project-based help: say, a one-off deep dive into their cashflow, or advice on setting up a new employee pension scheme this quarter. We’re flexible in how we work with businesses, because one size definitely does not fit all. The common thread is that we bring an external perspective grounded in solid expertise, so you can make informed decisions with confidence. And we do it with the same philosophy that guides all of Brigantia’s work: being professional and clear, but also personable and understanding. We know that as an expat entrepreneur you’re wearing many hats - founder, CEO, maybe even head of HR - and our role is to ease the financial side of things so you can focus on growing your business. It’s a partnership approach. We’re not here to sell you fancy jargon or impose cookie-cutter solutions; we’re here to listen, advise, and craft strategies that genuinely fit your situation.
Being an expat business owner in Asia is an adventure. It’s rewarding, and it’s also full of challenges that your peers back home might never have to consider. But with the right support, you don’t have to navigate those challenges alone. At Brigantia, we take pride in standing beside our clients on this journey. We handle the boring but important financial details, helping you turn potential pitfalls into springboards for success. In markets where trustworthy advice can be hard to come by, our goal is to give you a steady hand - the same level of advice and planning you’d expect in London, delivered here in Asia, with all the local nuance in mind.
Thank you for reading, and I hope these insights resonate with your experiences. If you’re an expat running an SME in Asia, or considering starting one, remember that solid financial planning is just as critical for your business as it is for your personal wealth. And if you ever feel that the support you need is lacking, know that there are options out there. We’re passionate about helping expat-led businesses thrive, and we’re always happy to have a chat about your goals and challenges.
Until next time, take care and keep thriving.
What ties all these services together, from financial modelling to employee benefits consulting, is that they can be delivered on your terms. Some clients want ongoing support, almost like having a part-time CFO or financial director on call. Others might just need project-based help: say, a one-off deep dive into their cashflow, or advice on setting up a new employee pension scheme this quarter. We’re flexible in how we work with businesses, because one size definitely does not fit all. The common thread is that we bring an external perspective grounded in solid expertise, so you can make informed decisions with confidence. And we do it with the same philosophy that guides all of Brigantia’s work: being professional and clear, but also personable and understanding. We know that as an expat entrepreneur you’re wearing many hats - founder, CEO, maybe even head of HR - and our role is to ease the financial side of things so you can focus on growing your business. It’s a partnership approach. We’re not here to sell you fancy jargon or impose cookie-cutter solutions; we’re here to listen, advise, and craft strategies that genuinely fit your situation.
Being an expat business owner in Asia is an adventure. It’s rewarding, and it’s also full of challenges that your peers back home might never have to consider. But with the right support, you don’t have to navigate those challenges alone. At Brigantia, we take pride in standing beside our clients on this journey. We handle the boring but important financial details, helping you turn potential pitfalls into springboards for success. In markets where trustworthy advice can be hard to come by, our goal is to give you a steady hand - the same level of advice and planning you’d expect in London, delivered here in Asia, with all the local nuance in mind.
Thank you for reading, and I hope these insights resonate with your experiences. If you’re an expat running an SME in Asia, or considering starting one, remember that solid financial planning is just as critical for your business as it is for your personal wealth. And if you ever feel that the support you need is lacking, know that there are options out there. We’re passionate about helping expat-led businesses thrive, and we’re always happy to have a chat about your goals and challenges.
Until next time, take care and keep thriving.