Business in Costa Rica! – Daniella Gonzales

Being exposed to businesses ranging from ziplines to coffee tours to restaurants helped me understand the differences in how business is conducted in Costa Rica. One thing that stood out to me is how educated Costa Ricans are. At public universities, tuition is free throughout the country. It was interesting to learn that tour guides, taxi drivers, and even professors could also have a degree to be a doctor or a lawyer, but most aren?t using that specific degree. After hearing about the backgrounds of many businesses, it was common that the employees ended up working jobs unrelated to their degree and are involved in many side jobs that are constantly changing. I also learned a lot during a lecture about taxes in Costa Rica and how they affect businesses. I understood why many companies emphasize the fact that their employees worked freelance after hearing how much individual workers are taxed and how large the taxes are for businesses. Prior to the lecture, I was confused why this was a common decision for most companies, but with the huge cost of having employees registered through the government, it made more sense. It was great to hear that although the employees were considered freelance, they still remained incredibly loyal to the businesses they worked for and took pride in their jobs. Another major difference I noticed in doing business is that Costa Ricans are always late and never show up at the expected time. They call this “Tico time” and it is not rude for someone to show up 30 minutes to an hour late to a scheduled business meeting as it is in the United States. I’m very glad I had the opportunity to go abroad and learn about business in another country. I will use this knowledge throughout the rest of my college career and when I start a job after graduation.