The infrastructure of an offshore jurisdiction is important. You would not like to place your corporate nest-egg in a country which takes ages to get through by telephone. Factors such as quality of telecommunications and internet, physical access to the country, language, work ethics, legal system, confidentiality culture, exchange controls, quickness and variety of administrative and financial services available all can influence the smooth running of your business. You should be able to travel to the particular offshore jurisdiction easily, safely and without visa.
Take time zone into account – dealing with a jurisdiction on the other side of the globe may constantly make you lose a day while communicating via email, or to make calls in the middle of the night.
Work ethics is an important factor. Some regions of the world tend to be more laid back and relaxed than others – not helpful if You need something done fast.
Some countries are historically blessed with diligence, confidentiality and prudence. Some are less so. Take the time zone into account – dealing with a jurisdiction on the other side of the globe may constantly make you lose a day while communicating via email or fax, and it`s certainly more convenient to make calls during Your normal business hours.
Last but not least – You might like to check the weather record. Some popular offshore financial centres are located in hurricane areas. While these countries generally have their infrastructure ready for such events (backup power generators, stringent building rules, etc.), a violent tropical storm may still take out the business for several hours, or maybe even days.