small BUSINESS in Moscow, RUSSIA?! малый БИЗНЕС в Москве, РОССИЯ?!

Summary

The video follows an American expat family in Russia, celebrating their one-year anniversary of moving to Moscow. They explore local small businesses, focusing on a Shawarma fast-food joint and a fashion boutique. The Shawarma place, popular among university students, offers a traditional Russian barbecue taste. The fashion business, recently acquired by a couple, showcases their design process, from sketch to sewing, and discusses the cost of rent and labor in Moscow. The video also touches on the topic of taxes and regulations for small businesses in Russia.

Takeaways

• 🌨️ The video starts with a picturesque scene of snowfall, setting a serene tone for the content.
• 🎥 The narrator shares that it's been a year since they moved from America to Russia, indicating a significant life change.
• 🏬 The video features a regional shopping mall in Moscow, showcasing local small businesses similar to those in America.
• 🍗 A focus on a Shawarma fast food restaurant is highlighted, emphasizing the cultural aspect of traditional Russian grilling methods.
• 👗 The script introduces a fashion business, discussing the process from design to production, including handmade tailoring.
• 💼 The video contrasts the business expenses in Florida and Moscow, particularly focusing on rent and payroll.
• 👕 The fashion business segment also touches on the importance of fabric selection, with a mention of sourcing from Italy.
• 📈 The script mentions the business's growth, having recently expanded by purchasing an existing business, indicating entrepreneurial activity.
• 💰 There's a discussion on the tax regime in Russia, suggesting it may be more favorable for small businesses compared to the U.S.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The video ends with a family scene, bringing a personal touch and showing the integration of the narrator's family into Russian life.

Q & A

What is the occasion being celebrated in the video?

The occasion being celebrated is the one-year anniversary of the speaker's family moving from America to Russia.

What type of food does the speaker mention trying at a small business in Moscow?

The speaker mentions trying 'Sharma', which is traditional fast food in Russia, similar to a shawarma or kebab.

What is unique about the way the Sharma is prepared in the small business featured in the video?

The Sharma is prepared on a charcoal grill, which is said to give it a more natural and traditional Russian barbecue taste compared to electric grills.

What is the significance of the location where the Sharma place is situated?

The Sharma place is located near a big university for engineers, which was historically significant in the development of rockets during the Soviet Union era.

What is the speaker's background in relation to small businesses?

The speaker has been a small business owner in Florida for the past 20 years.

What is the main expense for the speaker's small business in Florida?

The main expense for the speaker's small business in Florida is payroll.

What is the rent for the fashion business featured in the video?

The rent for the fashion business is 163,000 rubles a month for a 160 square meters space in a central area of Moscow.

How does the fashion business create their clothing models?

The fashion business creates their clothing models by hand, using a special constructor who cuts the cloth and sews it to ensure a good fit.

What is the process for creating the clothing designs in the fashion business?

The process involves preparing sketches, creating experimental samples, fitting them on models, correcting them, and then producing different sizes as per the design.

What is the significance of the Hermitage mentioned in the video?

The Hermitage is a huge museum in St. Petersburg, often referred to as the 'Queen of Russia' in contrast to Moscow, which is seen as the 'King'.

What is the tax regime like for small businesses in Russia as discussed in the video?

The tax regime for small businesses in Russia is favorable, allowing businesses with not very big turnovers to pay only six percent of all turnover without having to declare expenses.

Outlines

00:00

🌨️ First Anniversary in Russia and Shawarma Discovery

The narrator is on their way to a meeting in Russia on the one-year anniversary of moving from America. They describe the snowfall and wish to share the beauty with the viewer. They mention a video about small businesses in Moscow, Russia, and compare their own small business experience in Florida with the local scene. They visit a Shawarma place popular among university students, discussing its traditional Russian barbecue method and the convenience it offers. The video also includes customer testimonials and the business's tradition of offering free tea.

05:02

👗 Exploring Fashion Business in Moscow

The video introduces a couple, Elena and her husband, who have been in the fashion business for three months after buying it from a young couple. They discuss the business's location, rent, and the process of creating clothing from design to production. They showcase their handmade approach, their Constructor who does all the cutting by hand, and their collaboration with model agencies for photoshoots. They also talk about the importance of matching fabrics with threads and buttons, and the challenges of finding the right materials.

10:03

🎨 Behind the Scenes of a Fashion Design Studio

The video takes a deeper look into the fashion business, focusing on the design and production process. The studio has over 300 templates for various clothing items, all made by hand. They discuss the use of Italian wool for their current collection and the importance of creating a good fit. The studio also has a room for sewing samples and urgent orders, with a focus on the necessity of ironing in the production process. The video highlights the business's regulatory environment, which is less strict compared to the narrator's experience in Florida.

15:04

🧵 Sewing and Production in a Fashion Business

This segment continues the exploration of the fashion business, focusing on the sewing and production aspects. The business uses professional yet affordable sewing machines for making samples and urgent orders. They discuss the importance of having matching threads and accessories, which requires careful selection and sometimes buying from different suppliers. The video also touches on the business's tax regime, which is favorable for small businesses, allowing them to pay a flat rate without declaring expenses.

20:04

🛍️ Showcasing Fashion Collections and Exploring Tax Regimes

The video concludes with a look at the business's showroom, where new collections are displayed, and special client days are held. The narrator and the business owners discuss the fashion industry's tax regulations, which are more lenient in Russia, allowing small businesses to pay a simple percentage of their turnover. The video ends with a light-hearted moment where the narrator's son, Kristoff, is picked up from school, and they enjoy Shawarma takeout together.

25:06

🚂 Off to a New Adventure

The video script ends with a teaser for upcoming content, hinting at a train journey and inviting viewers to stay tuned for more. The narrator encourages viewers to engage with the channel by liking, subscribing, and sharing the video to find out what happens next.

Keywords

💡Snow

Snow is a form of precipitation consisting of ice crystals that fall to the ground. In the video, the speaker mentions 'the snow is floating perfectly to the ground,' which sets a serene and picturesque scene, possibly in Russia, indicating the environmental conditions and contributing to the atmosphere of the video.

💡Anniversary

An anniversary is the annual recurrence of a date marking a significant event. The speaker reflects on 'the one year anniversary of my family and I moving out of America, and to this wonderful place, called Russia,' which is a key moment in their life story and a central theme of the video, highlighting a significant life transition.

💡Small Business

A small business is a company managed on a smaller scale with limited resources. The video explores 'small businesses in Moscow,' comparing them to those in America, particularly focusing on the experiences of the speaker who has been 'a small business owner in Florida for the past 20 years.' This keyword is central to the video's exploration of entrepreneurship and economic activity.

💡Shawarma

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern meat preparation, typically consisting of lamb, chicken, turkey, or beef. In the script, 'Sharma' is mentioned as 'traditional fast food for Russia,' indicating cultural culinary practices and the local food scene, which is part of the video's exploration of Russian life and business.

💡Payroll

Payroll refers to the sum of all financial records of salary payments, tax, bonuses, and deductions. The video discusses 'payroll' as a significant expense for small businesses, with the speaker noting it as their 'biggest expense' in Florida, drawing a comparison with business costs in Russia.

💡Synthesis

In the context of the video, 'Synthesis' refers to a health product that increases the number of healthy stem cells and restores blood fluidity. It is described as a unique product available in Russia, Europe, and the USA, and is used as an example of a product that can improve health, illustrating the video's theme of health and wellness.

💡Fashion Business

A fashion business involves the design, manufacture, and retail of clothing and accessories. The video features a 'fashion business' in Moscow, where the owners discuss their operations, including design, production, and sales, showcasing a specific type of small business and its processes.

💡Regulation

Regulation refers to the rules and directives made and maintained by an authority. The video contrasts business regulations in Florida and Russia, with the speaker mentioning 'surprise visits' by the state in Florida to ensure compliance, while in Russia, such visits are 'not that often,' highlighting differences in business environments.

💡Tax

Tax is a financial charge levied by a government on workers and businesses to fund public expenditures. The video discusses the tax regime in Russia, where 'if you have not very big turnover, as per the year you can pay only six percent of all turnover,' contrasting it with the end-of-year taxes in America, which are described as 'very expensive.'

💡Marketplace

A marketplace is a place where goods and services are bought and sold. In the video, the fashion business owners mention working with 'marketplaces,' indicating a sales channel for their products and reflecting on the distribution methods used by small businesses.

Highlights

The narrator is on their way to a meeting in Russia, admiring the snowfall and reflecting on their one-year anniversary of moving from America.

The video features a visit to a regional shopping mall in Moscow, Russia, to explore small businesses similar to those in America.

The narrator, a former small business owner in Florida, compares the experiences of running a business in the U.S. and Russia.

A customer shares his positive experience with a traditional Russian fast-food place known for its charcoal-grilled chicken.

The video showcases the unique preparation and cooking methods of the Russian barbecue, called shashlik, which differs from gas grilling.

The narrator discusses the concept of minimum wage and payroll expenses in the context of running a small business in Russia.

A fashion business owner in Moscow explains the process of designing, cutting, and sewing clothes by hand.

The fashion business owners discuss the importance of using high-quality materials, such as Italian wool, for their clothing line.

The video highlights the role of a skilled constructor in ensuring the perfect fit of handmade clothes.

The narrator inquires about the business's collaboration with model agencies for photoshoots and marketing.

The fashion business owners demonstrate their use of traditional tools and methods, such as paper patterns and hand sewing.

The video provides insight into the costs associated with renting a business space in a central area of Moscow.

The narrator compares the regulatory environment for small businesses in Florida and Moscow, noting differences in inspections and fines.

The fashion business owners discuss the process of selecting matching threads, buttons, and zippers for their clothing designs.

The video touches on the topic of payroll expenses and the minimum wage regulations for employees in Russia.

The narrator and the fashion business owners compare the tax regulations and financial obligations for small businesses in Russia and the U.S.

The video concludes with a look at the fashion business's showroom and their approach to client interactions and special events.

The narrator shares a personal anecdote about bringing fast food from a local restaurant to enjoy with their family.

Transcripts

I'm on my way to a meeting

the snow is floating perfectly to the

ground I wish you could see it I wish

you could tell it's probably not clear

in this video

and today

is the one year anniversary

of my family and I

moving out of America

and to this wonderful place

called Russia

[Music]

all right

Alex Alex

this is the order we have coming up

which is what we're going to be trying

here with the owner

very fashionable my lady

a fun day we're having

Seattle's favorite episode

[Music]

videos

hello welcome to expat American I am the

expat American here with Mrs expat

American and our production crew in the

back behind us is a regional shopping

mall in Moscow Russia where they have

their own small businesses just like you

might find in America I myself have been

a small business owner in Florida for

the past 20 years and this video we want

to look at small businesses in Moscow

is

wait I'm supposed to get the door for

you

I have a small business in Florida my

biggest expense is payroll

Florida

would that be the case here as well

so you are one of the customers one of

the clients of this place yeah from from

this from the beginning when it's open

because uh I don't know what did you

what did you speak about uh Sharma is

like traditional fast food for Russia uh

and it's a big university Here For

Engineers which was uh it was developed

Rockets was developed here in in the

last uh when Soviet Union was

uh wasn't departured

so uh it's a lot of like small places

where you can buy Sharma uh and the big

benefit here because uh mainly uh

chicken and other stuff is made on like

electric grill grill uh here like the

big benefit it's make on like uh on

charcoal on coal and the taste of uh

meat it's like it's most mostly

different

more natural yeah more more natural more

like traditional Russian barbecue

Russian Grill which called shastling

because it's not making gas it's not

it's all mostly made on coal so it's it

is more delicious more natural

yeah you can mostly you can take it with

you like to like go into the fall from

University for work and other stuff Alex

I understand you're a customer of this

place because we are right down the

street from your University where we

filmed that video about your University

yes uh yes I've been here a few times

it's very convenient when I'm late to

class or trying to get home quickly I

just come by here get my Shawarma it's

very tasty very good they make it pretty

quick and uh it's convenient

so here is the road where the clients

the customers there will leave their

comments and they would write something

how they're grateful how they like the

food how tasty it was and I've just

heard that they have a tradition since

this place was open they would give a

free tea for every customer here is the

um it's called shash League like shish

kebab it's does it have like different

meat types yeah like chicken and beef

and lamb

foreign

[Music]

this place and doing some prize

inspections and is there a minimum wage

um

foreign

[Music]

[Applause]

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healthy

okay

guys tell us your names and tell us what

your business is and how old is it my

name is Elena here is my husband

it's okay

and we are in a fashion business for

about three months now wow and how old

is this business is it three months old

no this business has been

um existing for about three years oh wow

okay we have bought it from a young

couple okay good well you want to show

us around yes

in Florida my small business is second

biggest expense is the mortgage I.E the

rent

um we're in our first room here they

want to show us and for you guys is that

the case in Russia or in Moscow what is

your rent like what is your mortgage

like we are renting this place uh it is

a 160 square meters and we pay for that

163

000 rubles a month

interesting yeah it's it's not expensive

as per the area because this is very

Central Area it's not far from the metro

station and it's downtown okay very good

so what do you want to show us in this

room what do we do here here as soon as

the sketch uh the design is ready we do

a

preparation for them

and then we do the experimental sample

this is really interesting so it's

you're literally like a tailor cutting

the cloth and sewing it and actually we

have a very special

um Constructor

who does all the cuts because she does

everything in hands she does not do in

computer that's why our models fit very

well it's a handmade clothes yes and uh

we do a sample and then we try it and we

correct it and after the model is set up

we do uh different sizes as per the the

design which should be and then we give

the order to the

sewing Factory do you work like with

model agency like where do you get the

models for the clothes uh you mean for

the for the photo sessions what a

session yes we do this is a staff can

explain about that

after we make our models

we take pictures from catalogs

just on Monday we have this

um

video backstage backstage

here is our intellectual property here

we have more than 300 templates it was

made right here by our specialists and

here we have templates for dresses for

beautiful jackets for long sleeve

T-shirts trousers coats and everything

wow

by hand and from paper

very interesting so these are like like

blueprints for a building but but paper

cuts of how the clothes will be so what

are these uh these giant Fabrics here

for

uh actually those Fabrics are for the

current collection we bought those from

Italy uh this is a Italian wool for

colds very soft very nice and keeping

form very well we already have a two

coats made from this fabric

wow nice different colors yeah yeah and

what's with the cute picture

um

there was nothing here

this is

[Music]

what who do you think is in this picture

um

another girl is actually a very famous

painting

wow

[Music]

who made these pictures in

um with the order from the famous French

tomato he uh

there were two pictures if I remember

that correct it was four different

children

[Music]

[Music]

read this picture

uh images

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

if you don't know the Hermitage is a

huge Museum in St Petersburg uh which is

like the if Moscow is the king of Russia

St Petersburg is their Queen

to come to our second room here in this

small business now again my small

business that I've had in Florida is

very State regulated we get surprise

visits all the time uh by the state

making sure everything is to code and

just right we get fined if it's not

right is that a thing in Russia does

that happen here

uh no it's not that often uh I think

most of all they go to the cafes

restaurants to check them out not to

other fields of small businesses because

it's public places

okay cool well that's nice to know if

you want to be a small business owner

yeah

so what's in this room uh in this room

uh you can see sewing machines that are

professional ones but not very expensive

simple type of sewing machines and we do

here we do samples and sometimes also if

we have urgent order we also can stitch

it here not outside on the other factors

look at this is like an old-fashioned

iron

[Music]

yes this this is iron and this is the

most important thing in a searing

production because without iron you

cannot do any sample you cannot feel

anything when you see you you have to

use a lot of iron that's why we have

another extra iron in the in the other

room in case this will not work

so ironing holds the stitching better

yeah exactly wow your mom used to be

Italian

yeah

there's so many different colors

oh beautiful there are different colors

but every time we buy a new fabric we

have to buy a new exact color of the

threads because only black and white are

always patching other shades are not

matching

so you you buy threads and everything

and buttons and zippers every time

expert design and as per the model they

have to have the exact Shadow yes yes so

I assume the companies that you buy the

fabric from also sell the matching

thread

no it's

[Music]

it's one company itself brick and

others threads and other ones sells

buttons and zippers and and it still

matches

you take a piece of the fabric and with

this piece of the fabric you go and the

match the buttons or this is the process

you know it's not that easy yeah if you

buy it on internet it will not be as

good as you can see it with your eyes

payroll is my largest expense in Florida

paying my employees more than anything I

notice you have a few employees

wandering around here so is that the

case for you guys is that your biggest

expense or no

yes expense uh too much yeah

this room is one of those

[Music]

mostly they um this type of clothes like

jiggers and coats you can see

he uh

[Music]

[Music]

um

with the delivery around Russia and

this is

production

is a Marketplace I mean also we work

with marketplaces and

okay

uh Wilderness well

Marketplace yeah we had a big experience

[Music]

that's why we decided to use

want to spread our production

is there a minimum wage for the

employees do you have to pay the

employees a certain amount of money is

that regulated by the state like it is

in America uh yes there is a certain

amount but I cannot tell you the exact

amount I think it's about 20 000 rubles

around this amount but for our

employees we pay more so not the minimum

so and what room is this this is also a

warehouse room this is here we keep

blouses G beans and some jackets and

also we do ironing before sending it to

the clients

special iron is here

Alex is a model you said no I said is he

fashionable enough like does he follow

the fish

[Music]

does he

[Music]

he dressed as a basic classic base yes

so it will benefit always what about

suetlana

what about me

you can be honest

Americans wear jackets with jeans I'm

still wearing the clothes

you know

these clothes were in my luggage on the

plane over here

last year

in America we have end-of-year taxes

which are very expensive is that a thing

here too where you have to file your

taxes and pay a large sum

oh I can explain actually I think tax

regimes are very favorable in Russia

because if you have not very big to Nova

as per the year you can pay only six

percent of all better now and that's it

and you don't have to declare your

expenses only you pay six percent from

all the to Nova

playing

[Music]

[Music]

nice nice

Alex you know what kind of guitar that

is

Alex has a couple of guitars

Alex what guitar do you have

I have a

was a Defender Stratocaster Fender

Stratocaster

[Music]

cool

yeah what's this rule for guys assistant

um here we display uh our new

collections

and also we have we have prepared this

room for inviting our clients for

special clients days

so it's a showroom yes

yes oh nice

this mirror makes you look good

oh my hair is a mess

nice

yeah look you look good

[Music]

that's it's for uh spring collection so

it's not golden one

so we've brought the food home from the

Shawarma fast food restaurant because

they also have a takeout option and we

wanted to see what that's like it is not

because we had to hurry back and pick

Kristoff up from school

I think it's chicken one

this is the Americans would know is it

squash

what do you think Kristoff

you want to eat yes

let's do it

all right what did you think of small

business in Russia leave a comment let

us know has a compare to small business

in your city and also why are we

suddenly on a train

keep watching this Channel and find out

why and where we're headed click like

subscribe ring the bell notification

click the box to see what happens next

and click the share button to send this

to your friends yes

[Music]

especially at a boom

pause

pallets boom

boom

just like that

is