The decision to move to Mallorca is, for many, motivated by lifestyle. People come for the light, the landscape and the promise of a better balance. Yet, after the boxes are unpacked and the first season passes, reality begins to show itself. Living here is one thing. Working here is another entirely. Mallorca is an island where employment is often seasonal, professional networks can be difficult to access, and the bureaucracy involved in starting and maintaining a business can be notoriously challenging. Many who arrive with plans to find stable work soon discover that carving out a livelihood frequently requires something more self-directed: entrepreneurship.
This rise in independent workers, freelancers and business founders has brought a new emphasis on community support. One of the clearest examples of how this is taking shape is Mallorca Entrepreneurs, a network established by long-term resident Jessika Ekman. Now starting its third year, the group has created a practical meeting point for those who are building businesses on the island, and has grown into a recognisable presence in Mallorca’s international professional landscape.
Jessika, originally from Sweden, first arrived on the island twenty-five years ago with a job contract in hand. Her entry to island life was, by her own admission, unusually smooth. “I started out with a position in tourism, a place to live and everything arranged. It was very fortunate,” she says. What was intended as a temporary posting became permanent after she met her future husband. Mallorca became home.
Fluent in several languages, and with a career that has taken her from Scandinavia to Greece, Thailand and Spain, Jessika has spent much of her professional life working in international environments. It was this much broader perspective that made her aware of what was missing locally.
“There were business groups on the island,” she explains, “but many of them were language-specific, industry-specific or too formal. I wanted something that reflected the real mix of people who live and work here.”
In 2023 she started a Facebook group with a simple idea: create one place where business owners and freelancers could introduce themselves, explain their work and exchange practical support. But the group was not built on volume. The emphasis was on introductions that were informative and sincere. Members were asked to explain what they do, but also what they are looking for, whether that was new clients, collaborators, professional advice or services.
The approach worked. Within its first year, the group had grown to include individuals from more than thirty nationalities. The professions represented are wide-ranging: architects, tradespeople, translators, designers, event organisers, lawyers, therapists, chefs, developers and consultants. Some have lived here for decades. Others have arrived recently and are still navigating the practicalities of tax registration, licensing and finding reliable suppliers. The common thread is that each of them is building something.
As the community expanded, so did its purpose. It became clear that many members needed a more structured environment in which introductions could translate into actual working relationships. This led to the formation of Mallorca Entrepreneurs as a membership network, separate from the Facebook group but connected to it. Members pay €350 per year, which gives them access to regular meet-ups, a private communication group, listing and visibility through the Mallorca Entrepreneurs website, and priority access to networking and professional exchange activities.
The membership structure has allowed the network to operate in a way that prioritises reliability and trust. Companies and freelancers who are part of the group report increased referrals, collaborative projects and a more stable sense of belonging. Several businesses that joined in the early months have since expanded rapidly, with some now fully booked well in advance of each season.
But the network is not simply transactional. The tone at its gatherings is notably warm. New attendees are encouraged to speak about their work briefly, to listen to others and to follow up afterwards with one-to-one conversations. The purpose is to make introductions meaningful rather than superficial.
This emphasis on hospitality is closely tied to the realities of island life. Mallorca can be transient. People come and go, sometimes leaving just as quickly as they arrived. Finding long-term professional relationships requires intentional effort. Groups such as Mallorca Entrepreneurs help shorten that learning curve, giving newcomers a way to understand the practical norms of the business environment: where to go for licensing advice, how to find staff in a saturated housing market, what to expect during seasonal fluctuations, and which professionals can be relied upon.
These conversations are not theoretical. They are shaped by the lived experiences of those who have run businesses here for years and have faced the same challenges. This is particularly relevant when it comes to issues such as licensing, tax compliance, employment law and the realities of seasonality.
“It is not just about knowing who to ask,” Jessika says. “It is about learning the right questions to ask in the first place.”
As the network passes its second anniversary, it is continuing to expand, but deliberately and with care. The aim is not to reach as many members as possible, but to maintain a group that is large enough to offer diversity of skills while remaining small enough for meaningful connection.
“Mallorca attracts talented, determined people,” Jessika notes. “What they need is the right environment to connect with each other. When that happens, businesses grow more confidently and the island benefits too.”
For many who have made the decision to build their professional lives here, Mallorca Entrepreneurs has become that environment. People interested to join the membership can attend two events before making their decision to formally join. For more information on the events, the members and the organisation, visit mallorcaentrepreneurs.com