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My entrepreneurial and expert journey began simultaneously in 2009. I entered international taxation and business in 2007 while working for an international company handling PR, promotion, client acquisition, and event organization. When I was let go in 2009 due to disagreements with the owner, clients followed me for services. I realized I could not only promote but also deliver services: company registration worldwide, international business management. My expertise started with self-education and building contacts with providers—registrars, lawyers, accountants.
The field fascinated me and aligned with my foundation: pedagogical education helps systematize knowledge, learn, and explain concepts. Every entrepreneur faces plans but hits legal walls and limitations; I explain these in business language. My second degree—Master's in Political Science—provided a legal foundation. I grew as an expert through studying, communicating with specialists, and analyzing international business creation. The path started with international experience, then Ukrainian: company registration and representative offices.
If forced to choose between expert and entrepreneur, considering business complexity, I'm more entrepreneur because you create something new. A specialist thinks in terms of law (can/cannot); an entrepreneur thinks in results—wanting something, finding ways, with experts helping navigate details.
My Dubai experience started in 2019 when I opened a company with a partner who lived there—attempting to provide local services through distribution and comprehensive solutions. I didn't relocate then as there was no need. In 2022, when Ukraine experienced decline while the Emirates saw activity, I realized service business depends on reputation and approach; clients come for my method, so I needed to support them there. I relocated in 2022 and have lived and worked there since.
The reason: the Emirates market required presence; business is about communicating with people. If you're selling but not present, you lose; you need to educate, be present, understand, enhance expertise, and navigate pathways. People moved there, so I needed to be there too. Remote work wasn't the same—now I can do it because I lived there three years, know it physically, have experience, understanding, and people. Then I had to be present or everything would collapse and I'd lose people. Reputation built since 2009; people count on my approach. Remote was difficult with closed airports, war, financial activity—they pay for quality.
I don't seek idols or mentors; I learn from everyone, observing people and myself, preferring partnership relationships where we teach each other. In the Emirates, the first approach is broad communication. I came to Dubai specifically; the market is interesting with 90% expats. I researched communities and organizations, which helped me understand the structure and people. Business is about communication and services; I spent a year researching everything acceptable.
I managed independently. Many seek connections and mentors; now people come to me as a guide. Relocation is multi-component: business and personal. Mostly business-focused, but personal too. I have experts in niches; depending on psychotype and needs, I create projects—schools for children, mortgages, brokers, buying/renting. Not my competency, but I found people because it matters to clients. All through work: introductions, checking offices, activities, reputations.
I'm a Christian, so the Ten Commandments are my fundamental principles. Every book enriches; I can't highlight a favorite. University education in Political Science taught philosophy from Ancient Greece and China—state-building. Building worldview brick by brick: after Confucius, Plato, Socrates, Hobbes, Machiavelli, modern things don't surprise me. Historical knowledge shows life changes, but people have the same emotions. Technological progress, but emotionally we have a short path—brain development to 21, experience 20-40, life 80. Many challenges require active work and psycho-emotional intelligence development.
Happiness is constant self-development and searching. Searching for balance: imbalance leads to falling. An entrepreneur's life is walking a tightrope with risk. Too much work causes losses in personal life and health; the opposite affects work. Beyond material—mental, emotional, otherwise you lose skills. Moving forward, developing yourself and your team (entrepreneurs think in teams and partnerships; experts think in expertise).
Maintaining balance is a challenge: financial and life. The joke: first you work for business, then for health (lack of sleep, then recovery). Same for employees and athletes—focus of attention. If creating business—work; if the idea is yours and others share it—work. Change the idea. Entrepreneurs seek new things, otherwise stagnation and crisis.
Factually 2009. Entrepreneurial mindset from childhood—caroling, markets: collecting and selling. From a small town, village background. Business-wise from 2009, connected to consulting: you learn, explain, develop; formalize legally for money, partners, hiring. In Ukraine 2009, Emirates 2019.
First business was expertise-based: opening a consulting services company. Later moved to legal entities as the market changed. Attempts included individual entrepreneurship, variations—easy to start in Ukraine. Experiments included organizing seminars (consultative activity, sharing about variations). Then legal: rules changed, requiring more expertise and professional involvement. Everything in one direction: people, consultations, international business. Before that—employed work; never changed fields. While others try different things (car services, legal, textiles, products), mine was connected, flowing smoothly. When markets change, services appear/disappear, but the activity remains the same for 16 years.
My business currently functions as comprehensive project management in international business management, focusing on legal and tax aspects. I serve as an expert helping clients navigate complex questions of opening and managing business abroad. My clients are primarily Ukrainians or people from post-Soviet space, either with business experience or planning their first international project. Many come without experience, so I don't just consult on legal nuances but help understand basic business principles.
I emphasize understanding Ukrainian legislation regulating entrepreneurial activity abroad first. Without knowing these rules, you can easily face fines or sanctions for non-compliance with currency control or tax residency norms. Then comes international legislation analysis—conventions, double taxation avoidance agreements—plus practical business aspects like marketing, logistics, or personnel management in new jurisdictions.
My services span from initial orientation to complete support. I help select optimal countries for business, considering the client's industry specifics. This might be Europe (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus, UK), Asia, or specifically the UAE. I analyze available business organization forms—LLC, joint-stock companies, partnerships—evaluating advantages like tax benefits, stability, market access; requirements for capital and licensing; and potential difficulties like registration bureaucracy or visa barriers. This analysis always considers project viability: I model scenarios, calculate potential costs and profits so clients can make informed decisions.
For the UAE specifically, where I've lived and worked three years, I have extensive personal networks enabling me to resolve practically all questions: from relocation (visas, residence permits) to business opening (company registration in free zones like Dubai Mainland or Dubai Freezone). I help assess tax burden (Emirates are known for zero income taxes for many sectors), organize operational work: finding accountants, auditors, establishing bank relationships (Emirates NBD, HSBC), finding housing, investors, or business partners.
Currently I'm in an interesting expansion period: clients increasingly demand fast, high-quality solutions, so I'm adapting my business model. Instead of hiring large teams of highly qualified employees (requiring significant investment), I partner with market professionals. For UAE company opening, you need separate specialists: corporate provider for registration, accountant for bookkeeping, auditor for verification, tax advisor for optimization. It's fragmented, but clients need "one window"—and I provide exactly that, coordinating processes.
My key advantage is speed and honesty: clients describe tasks, and I immediately answer whether I can help. Quick "no" is better than dragging out, saving time. If "yes," I verify my competencies, knowledge, time. If something's lacking, I "take by the hand" to the right specialist—not just exchanging contacts, but organizing meetings, ensuring contract signing, monitoring cooperation.
Prices are flexible depending on country and question complexity. Consultations start from $100 per hour (using dollars due to hryvnia instability; in Emirates—dirhams, euros, or pounds). Tax specialists from $300 per hour: not just conversation, but ready problem solutions. Top experts in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, or Emirates from €500 per hour because they quickly orient in complex questions. Written analytical reports (based on legislation, request analysis) from $1,000. In Emirates consultations from $200-300, in Germany migration lawyers €300 per hour. The market is approximately the same everywhere.
I don't disclose financial indicators (annual or quarterly turnover): we're reformatting business, plus in Ukraine there are tax risks—clients often don't declare everything due to "survival mode," we're in transition. Publishing figures might trigger tax inspections, so I focus on client benefits: time savings, error avoidance, business launch assistance.
Primarily legislative changes. Introduction of Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules in Ukraine, new tax codes—all affected client strategies. Globally: implementing the BEPS plan (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) worldwide—developed countries banned aggressive tax minimization, shifting to transparent planning. This transformed the industry from "wild schemes" to regulated ones. Also AML directives in the EU (anti-money laundering), fund control—strengthened verification. Scandals like Panama Papers showed how offshores are misused, forcing ethics and transparency reconsideration.
I actively integrate artificial intelligence: I believe it's perfect for consultations. I use ChatGPT and other programs for quickly processing large information volumes—analyzing laws, preparing Q&As, formatting reports. I plan to expand: mastering process automation tools to ease work for myself, team, and clients (like chatbots for initial consultations).
Successfully maintaining and growing the business through major legislative changes and global shifts. Building a reputation where clients follow me for my method and approach. Transitioning from doing everything myself to creating a partnership model where former employees become partners. The ability to quickly assess whether I can help clients and either provide solutions or connect them with the right specialists efficiently.
First priority: partners—experts in international business, taxes, migration, lawyers, attorneys. Also interested in AI and process automation specialists as this is a new direction. Clients are always needed (no business without them), but focus is on partners because people change (vacations, maternity leave, relocations). My global goal is creating a platform or space where clients quickly find quality experts, and professionals find clients. It's about equal partnerships: not "I serve you" but mutual assistance with dignity. Even former employees are now my partners.
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