Short answer: Doing business in Turkey gets dramatically easier when you play to the country’s three unfair advantages—location, relationships, and a can‑do service culture—and keep your setup lean, documented, and legal‑first. That means shipping routes that touch the EU and MENAT in a day, partners who still close deals over tea, and vendors who solve minor problems fast. I call that the betesen playbook: pick simple structures, hire local help for the maze (accountant + lawyer), and stack steady, real‑world wins instead of chasing shiny shortcuts.
Why Turkey Works for Business
Turkey sits where maps blur into arrows. One morning, you can ship to the EU, meet partners from the Middle East, and hire a developer who works U.S. hours from Istanbul. That geography isn’t just a boast on a brochure; it shows up in logistics times, flight options, and the mix of talent you can tap. Costs stay reasonable outside the very center of Istanbul, and even there, value for money is substantial if you avoid tourist pricing.
But the deeper edge is cultural. The service instinct is fast and hands‑on. People answer messages, show up on time more often than the stereotype suggests, and don’t mind solving minor problems on the spot. Tea appears as if by spell, and deals usually move forward because a real human decided to help, not because a form said so. That human tilt is a competitive advantage in a world full of corporate chatbots.
Pick Your Base (Each City Has a Vibe)
Istanbul — Big, Busy, Connected
Finance, tech, creative services, trade. This is your hub if you need global flights, client lunches with a view, and a talent pool that speaks both code and sales. Stay central (Karaköy, Levent, Maslak, Kadıköy) and budget for commute sanity rather than square meters.
Izmir — Aegean Calm, Industrial Muscle
Ports, manufacturing, agrifood, and a calmer pace that still gets things done. Izmir is quietly powerful if your customers are in the EU and your product touches a port. Life quality is high, and teams tend to stick around longer.
Ankara — Policy, Defense, Enterprise
Government contracts, aerospace/defense, and big enterprise sales. Meetings are more formal here, but the rhythm is predictable and professional.
Antalya & The Turquoise Coast — Tourism + Services
Hospitality, real estate services, medical tourism, events. Seasonal swings are real; build a shoulder‑season plan (conferences, retreats, local customers) so revenue doesn’t cliff‑dive in winter.
Bursa, Kocaeli, Gaziantep — Industry & Export
These cities speak your language if your world is factories, textiles, automotive parts, glass, or food processing. You’ll spend more time on plant floors than on rooftops with sunsets, and that’s precisely the point.
Company Setup, Minus the Headache
You don’t need a 200‑page playbook. You need a local accountant (muhasebeci), a lawyer for the first month, and your checklist. Keep your structure simple unless investors force complexity.
A Safe, Simple Flow
- Choose the entity type with your advisor—keep it basic for year one; you can upgrade later when it’s justified.
- Name check and registration: reserve your name and file core documents. Your accountant will know which queue to stand in.
- Banking: open a business account with multi‑currency options. Scan your contract templates into the e‑banking portal so payments aren’t delayed while you hunt PDFs.
- Tax basics: register for the usual suspects and set monthly reminders. Let your accountant prepare filings, but read the summaries.
- E‑invoicing and recordkeeping: go digital from day one. Paper piles are how small mistakes grow teeth.
Pro Tips You’ll Thank Yourself For
- One page of policies for spending approvals and vendor onboarding.
- A pricing note that explains when you quote in EUR/USD vs. TRY.
- A simple vendor scorecard (quality, speed, responsiveness)is reviewed monthly.
Money Matters (Price Smart, Get Paid On Time)
Turkey’s currency moves. That’s not a scary headline; it’s a reminder to design flexibly. Quote in hard currency when your costs are imported or volatile; quote in lira when you sell locally, then convert a portion on receipt if necessary. Offer two payment methods (bank transfer and card) and always include clear invoice instructions.
Cash flow beats cleverness. If a big client stretches payment terms, keep a “short projects, short terms” rule for the rest of your book so the month doesn’t depend on one wire. For cross‑border work, consider splitting invoices—deposit now, milestone later—so you’re not playing FX forecaster with your rent money.
Hiring and Culture (Relationships Run on Respect)
The strongest teams here are built on clarity and kindness. Spell out roles and goals in writing; then back them with weekly check‑ins. Lunch is part of the day, not a guilty pleasure—the proper café conversation can unblock a week. Be on time, follow through, and say thank you with the same energy you use to push.
Language and Meetings
English iis used in business every dayin big cities, lbut ess so elsewhere. Bring slides in English, but learn a few Turkish phrases for openings and cclosings it signals respect. Meetings are friendly but not fluffy—people value directness wrapped in courtesy.
Hiring Practicalities
Referrals work. Post on LinkedIn and local boards, but ask your network for two names you should meet. Offer stability, clear growth paths, and benefits that matter (meal cards, transport allowance, private health options) rather than vague “startup vibes.”
Sales & Marketing That Works
You win here by showing up—online and in person. Answer messages fast, send clean proposals, and keep WhatsApp professional (short, clear, daytime hours). Industry fairs and sector breakfasts still move needles; bring one good demo and one page of pricing without riddles. On social, show real work: behind‑the‑scenes builds trust more than glossy claims.
Localize Without Losing Yourself
Translate key pages, adapt holiday campaigns to the local calendar, and respect Friday rhythms. But stay you—people buy from businesses with a recognizable voice, not chameleons.
Paperwork Sanity: Taxes, Compliance, and Sleep
Don’t play lawyer. Hire one. Your job is to understand the map, not to pave the road. Ask for quarterly “plain English” briefings from your accountant: what changed, what’s due, what’s risky. Store contracts, IDs, and licenses in a shared vault with names any human can read, not just your future detective self.
Contracts That Don’t Bite Back
- Clear scope, precise dates, clear money.
- Currency and change‑order rules are spelled out.
- Reasonable late fees, not theatrical.
Sector Snapshots (Where Turkey Is Hot Right Now)
Tourism & Hospitality
From boutique hotels to yacht charters and medical wellness, the service DNA runs deep. Win consistently: crisp check‑in, spotless rooms, and human problem‑solving beat neon signage every time.
E‑Commerce & Logistics
Same‑day delivery in major cities is now a baseline expectation. If you’re selling physical goods, pick a 3PL with real‑time dashboards and tight return handling. Small touches—handwritten thank‑you notes and sensible packaging—get shared online.
Manufacturing & Exports
Textiles, automotive parts, appliances, and food processing. You’re in a sweet lane if you can control inputs and offer EU‑friendly compliance. Invest early in QA and traceability; buyers remember reliability longer than price.
Tech & Outsourcing
Developers, designers, support teams—talent is here. Compete with explicit scopes, pay on time, and offer honest feedback rather than silent approvals. Remote‑friendly setups win candidates who could work anywhere.
Digital Edge, Without the Glare
Turkey loves its screens—football matches, dramas, games. You’ll see adults scrolling apps with spinning wheels and flashy lights on their off hours; that’s their business, not your KPI. Keep your company devices clean and your office culture clear: focus during work time, play on personal time, and always follow local laws for online entertainment. Think of it like dessert—fine in its lane, not a main course. A business that respects boundaries earns trust with clients and staff alike.
A 90‑Day Plan You Can Follow
Days 1–7 — Decide and Scope
- One page on what you sell, to whom, and at what gross margin.
- Choose a city and a neighborhood; list three reasons why.
- Shortlist an accountant and a lawyer; book intro calls.
Days 8–21 — Form & Prep
- Register the entity, open the bank account, and set up e‑invoicing.
- Draft your basic contract template and a one‑page pricing policy.
- Make a vendor list (top three per category) and request sample quotes.
Days 22–45 — First Sales
- Build a plain landing page in Turkish and English with one call to action.
- Reach out to 30 prospects (warm intros + event leads)—track responses.
- Deliver one pilot project with white‑glove service and a short case study.
Days 46–75 — Team & Process
- Hire your first key role (ops or sales) with a crisp scorecard.
- Set weekly reviews (metrics, blockers, shout‑outs) and monthly 1:1s.
- Document your top three workflows as checklists.
Days 76–90 — Tune & Grow
- Kill one product or feature that distracts from profit.
- Improve payment terms with your best client (earlier, clearer, or both).
- Book two industry events for the next quarter; prep one talk or demo.
Honest vs. Fake Growth (How to Tell)
Fake growth glitters—new logos, noisy posts, busy calendars. Real growth feels quieter: invoices paid, return customers, referrals you didn’t beg for. One is a plastic plant; the other needs water and light, but it’s alive. Keep your dashboard boring and your customers delighted. When in doubt, choose service over spectacle.
Final Word
Turkey rewards businesses that show respect, communicate clearly, and keep promises. Pick a base that fits your work, keep your setup lean, hire for character and skill, and let service be your loudest marketing. Approach the market like neighbors, not tourists, and you’ll find doors opening where you expected walls. That’s the whole point of the Bessen playbook: skip the gimmicks, build something solid, and let the results speak for themselves.