Making a Living in France
Joe Laredo
Making a Living in France is a practical, down-to-earth guide for anyone wishing to make a success of working in France. It contains detailed advice about job hunting, the pros and cons of being self-employed, and how to fulfil the dream of starting your own business. Whether you are a craftsman, teacher, health professional or IT specialist, or you wish to open a shop or restaurant, this guide will help you make a go of it. It includes real-life stories from those who are already earning a living in France, so that you can profit from the successes (and mistakes) of those who have already taken the plunge. Whatever your plans, you will find something to help you achieve your goals in Making a Living in France – although it may be short on advice for aspiring onion sellers and snail farmers!
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Extracts from the book…
Business Plan
Whether you’re starting a business or ‘simply’ becoming self-employed, it’s imperative to draw up a detailed business plan. This isn’t only a requirement if you need finance or other types of support; if nothing else, it defines on your aims and focuses your attention on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
(known as a ‘SWOT’ analysis). A business plan should include the following:
- An outline or overview of your business;
- A description of the person or people who are to run the business, including their qualifications, skills, experience and goals;
- A description of your product(s) or service(s) and how they’re to be provided (e.g. method of manufacture or means of distribution);
- A market study, including relevant trends, actual or potential demand, current or possible future opportunities and a description of existing and potential competition;
- Your commercial strategy, i.e. your intended market positioning, pricing policy, marketing plan, methods of communication, etc.
- A financial statement including initial capital, sources of additional funding, likely profit margins, break-even point and a three-year cash-flow forecast (see Financing Your Business on page 178);
Attached to the plan should be all relevant documentation, such as written confirmation of financial support, letters of recommendation, expert opinions and necessary permissions or licences.
Requirements for Self-employment
If you’re an EU-national, you’re free to work on a self-employed basis, although you cannot simply hang up a sign and start trading, but must have appropriate qualifications, if required (see page 34), and register with the relevant authorities (see page 102). A non-EU national with a long-term residence permit (carte de résident) is entitled to be self-employed. However, this is something of a Catch 22 situation, as it’s difficult for non-EU nationals to obtain a residence permit if they intend to be self-employed.
In most cases, to work as a self-employed person in France, you need the following:
- Qualifications and diplomas that are recognised in France for professions and trades requiring certification (see page 34) or membership of the appropriate organisation;
- A residence permit (no longer required for EU nationals);
- A foreign trader’s permit (see page 30);
- Contracts or letters of intent from prospective clients (for those in some service industries only);
- A social security number (see page 210).
Before being permitted to register as self-employed, you may also be required to attend a business course (cours/stage de gestion) run by the relevant local organisation for your trade or profession, covering all aspects of business administration. Courses last from four to nine days and cost around €125. At the end of the course you’re issued with a certificate (whether you understood anything or not!), which must be presented to your local chamber of commerce when registering your business. Most courses are held only in French, although some departments are now offering the course in English. In certain cases, you may also need to pass an exam (in French).
If your profession requires you to register with the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés, you must sign a declaration that you’ve never had a criminal, civil or administrative judgement against you prohibiting your right to undertake a commercial activity or to manage, administer or direct a company.
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Free PDF Sample
PRICE: £11.95
PUBLICATION: Jun 2005
EDITION: 1st
PAGES: 420
BINDING: paperback
SIZE: A5 (210mm x 148mm)
COLOUR PHOTOS: 20
