So I had this simple idea: start a small repair/service side hustle.
Nothing crazy; I already have a full-time job that pays the bills, but I wanted a challenge and something productive to do in my free time. I’ve got the skills, the tools, and a garage. Thought I’d do it properly and legally.
So I booked an appointment with the 'Chambre de Métiers' to get a craft permit.
And that’s where things went sideways.
Apparently, my engineering degree + several years working in manufacturing = not enough. On top of that, I’d need to gather criminal records from every country I’ve lived in over the past 10 years, plus a notarized statement that I’m not bankrupt, and who knows what else.
Then came the best part: I was basically advised to quit my job and do a 2-year apprenticeship in a “related field”… in an industry that doesn’t even really exist in Luxembourg - but hey, it fits the category, so that’s what matters, right?
At that point I just stood up and gave up.
And keep in mind - this is just for the business permit. I didn’t even get into legal structure, accounting, taxes, etc. This was literally step one for a small, local repair service.
So yeah… next time someone says Luxembourg supports entrepreneurship and wants to diversify beyond finance - maybe take a look at the actual process.
Because from where I’m standing, it’s buried under bureaucracy and completely out of touch with reality.