Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 9:35am
Ignore the naysaters - there is always work and if you have a history of self employment, then you have a good start. It is hardwork and if you want to earn real money, then your own business is the way forward.
You have to expect in expat or tourist areas, is not going to be the same employment wise as Barcelona, or Madrid big cities - opportunities and type of jobs around are not as plentiful, but work hard and smart & you can make money anywhere.
I've been here 15 years, my Spanish is still not as good as it could be, I have managed to earn a living by running a small business or two, but I work hard and have a history of self employment / entrepreneur, which helps.
Don't open a bar! If your husband wants to open a garage or a classic car restoration business - then let me know!
Best place for jobs - Alicante City, Valencia etc. But however good your Spanish is, the locals will always employ 'one of their own' over a Brit, so unless a specific job which has the requirement of a natural English speaker, not sure how far up the employment chain you will get - my personal thoughts and experience has led me to build/manage a few local businesses - which conveniently I had experience with in the UK, so do what you know - but learn the local market, it is different to the UK. Many expats do not have fortunes to spend and most of the Spanish (locally in my business experience), are not exactly big spenders - pick something that you know & will appeal to local audience.
There is always work in bars and kitchens, you can ear a reasonable (not UK reasonable) wage as a chef/cook - there's usual bar or restaurant work, but its hard and at €6? an hour odd for waiting staff + tips (hopefully). Plenty of estate agents about and jobs going there, but don't fall into we'll pay you nothing, but give you commission trap.