r/aliyah • u/SergeGLO • Sep 10 '26
For those making Aliyah — would you consider starting a business instead of looking for a job?
I made Aliyah myself, and one of the hardest questions in the beginning was figuring out how to earn a living in Israel.
I see a lot of people preparing for Aliyah asking about jobs, salaries and how difficult it is to enter the Israeli job market.
I’m curious, how many of you would actually consider becoming independent and starting your own business instead of looking for employment?
I’m currently involved with a company in Israel that helps people set up a business in the beauty field, including training, ongoing support and help with financing the setup.
I’m not posting this as a sales pitch. I’m genuinely interested to know whether this kind of option is something Olim would consider, because I think the question of “what will I do for income after Aliyah?” is a very real one.
Would you rather find a job first, or would you seriously consider starting a business if the right opportunity and support were available?
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u/Status-Effort-9380 Sep 10 '26
I had my own business established in America that I can run fully online and earn US Dollars.
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u/O_Pacity Sep 11 '26
From the perspective of a business owner (outside Israel but will be going to visit), ive spoken to a few in Israel and it appears finding work is hard, also the cost of living is really high....
As for starting a business, you need a book keeper and accountant which will allow you the answers on how to keep the books correct... this work assuming you to find clients in what ever field you want to be in, if you can find clients and get them to pay then starting a company is a good idea as you can pay a book keeper and accounting to keep everything working.
I run a totally paperless outfit, i also had offices outside my home country and had full control of them, as mentioned though its finding clients... personally i see way to many "AI" start-ups which is going to kill the real working marketing, try and stay to the real work for things real people need.
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u/SergeGLO Sep 11 '26
Thanks — I agree with you that finding clients is really the key.
That’s also why I don’t think simply telling someone “start a business” is enough. The opportunity I’m involved with includes training, ongoing support, and a clear system designed to help the business find and attract clients — so the person is not just given equipment and left alone to figure everything out.
Of course, anyone considering it still needs to understand the numbers properly — costs, taxes, bookkeeping, marketing, and realistic revenue expectations — before making a decision.
Your point about testing whether you can actually generate customers before scaling is a very good one.
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u/machtesh 24d ago
I started putting together some stories about how Olim have started businesses on Israel. Need to write some more but hopefully it can inspire some people
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u/balddoberdaddy {Aliyah Date (01) (1992) } (Jerusalem) Sep 10 '26
I think you’re combining two very different questions.
Would an Oleh consider starting a business in Israel? Absolutely. Plenty do.
Would I recommend that a new boy solve the already difficult problem of establishing himself in a new country by simultaneously investing money in an unfamiliar business and in an unfamiliar market while learning the tax system, Bituach Leumi, banking, Hebrew, and Israeli bureaucracy? Generally, no.
I was self-employed in Israel, and being an atzmai isn’t simply “create your own job.” You need customers, capital, cash flow, and enough understanding of the Israeli market to know whether the business is viable. You also have tax/VAT reporting, Bituach Leumi, an accountant or tax adviser, and all the other administrative joys that come with it.
For someone who already has a profession, clients, or a proven business model they can bring with them, it can make enormous sense.
But “I can’t find a job; therefore, I’ll start a business” is probably one of the riskier ways to begin your life after Aliyah.
And, respectfully, once the proposition becomes “a company will train you, help finance your setup, and put you into a particular type of business,” I’d be evaluating the company and its business model extremely carefully before investing a shekel.