Working and starting a business in France
Most British educational and professional qualifications are on a par with their French counterparts, but in practice the news has yet to filter down to many companies and government bodies.
You will need to research whether you can simply translate your UK qualification, or must attain a French qualification, or undergo a retraining course to be able to work legally in France.
If you are looking to set up your own business in France, the simplest method is the auto-entrepreneur.
It is a good choice for businesses with few expenses, such as translators, but not for other jobs which have large overheads. Also, it is only available to certain professions and trades.
Useful tip
- Pay particular attention to letters demanding money to appear on business registers or lists. These are almost certainly scams. If in doubt, search the internet or call your local chamber of commerce for advice.
In the full Moving to France helpguide, we explain:
- Getting your qualifications recognised
- Professional training and accreditation
- Auto-entrepreneur: the simple business set-up
- How to formally register your business
- Paying business charges, contributions and tax
- Different categories of business in France
- Proving you are a legally registered business
- Getting help from your chamber of commerce
- Business support groups in English
Download the guide as a PDF now from this link
…or ask a question about this topic in the comment box below.
Having lived in France for 8 years, I have a Transport Agency business in UK, which is run from an office in Barking Essex with the assistance of my Secretary (based in Barking) and my wife based here.
for the past 7 years I have applied for and received an E106 covering my wife and I for healthcare through CPAM . This year to my astonishment my application has been refused as I am resident in France and according to the letter, work ONLY in France, which of course isn’t true.
All my business is conducted through UK and all transport carried out is UK only I pay UK VAT/Self assessment(self employed/IncomeTax) and PAYE for my two staff.
My application form has been completed the same every time with the same covering letter explaining my circumstances (with dates changed)
Can you plse explain the grounds that my application has likely to have been refused on
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Exclusive Healthcare replies:
Dear Keith,
I assume you have received this refusal letter for an S1(ex E106) from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You consider that their letter is incorrect in stating that you only work in France. Normally such HMRC letters state on which article of “Regulation (EC) 883/04 on the co-ordination of social security systems” they have based their decision and include some explanation. Also HMRC should issue you with “Portable Document A1 Certificate concerning the social security legislation which applies to the holder”, as provided for in these same Regulations.
You consider that your S1(ex E106) application has been wrongly refused – thus it opens to you to appeal against this. The procedure, in order, is as follows: the supervisor with whom you dealt at HMRC; the Chief Executive at HMRC; your MEP; the parliamentary ombudsman. I do not know the timescale involved for such appeals.
[Reply]
What are the rules about casual labour employment in France. If we pay our neighbour to mow our lawn can we just give him cash or de we need to go through the Cheque Emploi Service payment system which would cost us more but may give him some benefits? If we agree a yearly contract with him does he become an employee rather than a casual labourer and does that change how we pay him or our insurance status?
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Dear Mr Bailes,
The rules in France are strict, you can’t just give him cash, so, if he is not set up as a business, the Chèque emploi service universel (CESU) is the best option. Agreeing a year’s contract does not make him an employee as such (you do not become a business) but there are certain procedures to respect in terms of ending such a contract. Connexion has a helpguide dedicated to this issue called CESU – employing people at your home. You can download it from here:
http://www.connexionfrance.com/expatriate-information-sheets.php
[Reply]
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