If you’d like to run your own business in France, but don’t fancy doing it completely alone, why not become a property manager with Les Bons Voisins? Founded in 2002, this very respected network offers franchise opportunities across the country, so if you’re looking for a way to run your own independent business with the backing of a larger, established organisation, this could be ideal for you.

What is a property manager?

In its simplest form, a property manager handles all aspects of owning and running a house in France. Les Bons Voisins – meaning ‘good neighbours’ – work primarily with clients who own homes in France but don’t live here all year round, so they need support to ensure that their property is kept in good order and to help with the management of holiday homes. And Les Bons Voisins also help people who are here full time and want a hand with anything from gardening to managing routine property upkeep and day-to-day tasks.

Property manager business opportunity in France

As a professional ‘good neighbour’, you could be called on to organise changeovers and cleaning for holiday letting, find local workmen for pool cleaning and chimney sweeping, or even to get quotes from builders and landscapers for particular projects. Some clients need a neighbourly service such as checking on their property after a storm, picking them up from the airport or just preparing the house before they arrive for a well-deserved holiday, making sure that it’s clean and welcoming and perhaps stocking the kitchen with some basic groceries so that the owners can turn up and relax.

Being a property manager with Les Bons Voisins doesn’t mean that you need to be a qualified builder, gardener and housekeeper – it’s about being a reliable coordinator or concierge who can connect clients with the right contacts and services as needed.

What skills do you need as a property manager in France?

If you’re an English-speaker based in France, or if you are thinking of moving to France, and you’re excited at the idea of working for yourself, you’re halfway there! To work with Les Bons Voisins, you need to speak both English and French, be computer-literate so that you can respond to queries, and have good organisational skills so that you can prioritise the projects coming in.

A lot of the property management teams are couples, because being a franchisee with Les Bons Voisins can be a great way to work together and use your complementary skills.

About Les Bons Voisins

Founded over twenty years ago, Les Bons Voisins has earned an established reputation for reliability and professionalism. Since 2002, the company has gradually grown into a network of 18 teams that now cover most of the western and central regions in France. In 2019, Les Bons Voisins was taken over by husband-and-wife team Carmel O’Connell and Joe Wilson, who had already been through the process of owning a French property when based abroad, so they understood the difficulties of finding the right people to help manage and maintain their property.

After they moved to France permanently, Carmel and Joe became property managers for Les Bons Voisins and thanks to their first-hand experience as both overseas owners and hands-on property managers, they have a full understanding of all aspects of the business.

Business in a box

“We talk about the business-in-a-box approach,” says Joe, “because new managers get to start their own business whilst being part of an established company with a great reputation. If you want to join the network you get full training, support with the registration procedures for the French taxation and healthcare systems, a mentoring programme to guide you through the early months and step by step hand-holding to ensure that you have complete confidence in running your new business.

“Essentially, you get the freedom of working for yourself and choosing your own hours, combined with the benefits of being part of a national, well-established organisation. We also promote Les Bons Voisins at property shows, and in the media to help you grow your business.”

Once you’ve been accepted and trained as a franchisee, you get your own profile on the main company website, featuring your photo and background information and you get to choose which services you are confident about offering to potential clients. Les Bons Voisins also includes branded work clothing as part of the set-up package, so you will be instantly recognisable for clients and present a professional appearance at all times.

By joining Les Bons Voisins, you have the practical support to help you run your own business in France, the IT support, and a far bigger advertising and marketing reach than you could achieve as a sole trader.

A steady business model

It’s also worth noting that the property management business has been robust even during Brexit, the pandemic and times of economic challenge.

“In uncertain times, clients need to know that we are here for the long haul and that they can rely on us. Many of our clients have been with us for years, because we’ve proven that we can be trusted with their second home. Some owners use their French home as a personal hideaway, and they trust us to ensure that it feels like a safe haven from the moment they arrive; other owners need to make a commercial return from their property, and we can help with the practical aspects of that, too. Our clients rely heavily on our teams: reliable caretakers who are on hand to oversee whatever might come up are a huge boon to those owners who can’t be there in person.”

How soon can a new franchise be up and running?

The process can be surprisingly quick: the current record is just 10 days between deciding to join to getting the first client! As each property management team covers a specific geographical area, potential clients sometimes keep an eye on the website to see if there is anyone in their region, so when a new franchisee comes on board, they can start receiving enquiries quite soon after their individual web page has been published.

What areas need property managers in France?

“Check with us!” says Joe. “In certain regions we need more property managers to meet the demand from existing and new clients, and in other regions, we don’t yet have any property managers in place. There are also areas that have designated property managers but they’re looking to retire so we need a new team to replace them, which means you could take over an existing client base and even expand it if you want to. The best thing to do is to contact us so we can let you know the situation in your area.”

Where do I start?

To find out more about Les Bons Voisins and the franchise opportunities, take a look at the company website (in French and in English), where you’ll find outline details about becoming a property manager. Then you can get in touch to ask for more details about your area, and ask Joe and Carmel any questions you might have. Who knows, you could soon be celebrating your first year in business with Les Bons Voisins!

The post Business opportunity in France – Property Manager appeared first on The Good Life France.

An overview

The dream of moving to France is often defeated by the logistics of visas, taxes, and the language barrier, but for those who are committed enough to their dream, practical help is at hand – and in a wonderfully pleasant package!

The ‘Move to France Retreat’ is a week-long training course for English-speakers, designed to address all the practical aspects of moving to France as well as giving you a real flavour of French life and culture through excursions and cultural experiences. Run by Abigail Carter, Canadian-American owner of Château de Borie, and an award-winning author and Amy Witherbee, a professional financial advisor for American expats. The course is designed to address all the problematic questions involved in making such a move, in a setting that is relaxing and energising; by the end of the week, you’ll feel informed, inspired and ready to take your next steps.

A stunning location

Any learning process is affected by the learning environment, and it would be hard to beat this setting. The Château de Borie is a beautiful example of French architecture dating back to the 1700s, located in glorious southwest France, between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The opportunity to spend a week in such elegant surroundings is a real privilege, particularly when you’ll be part of a group of like-minded people, all sharing the same dream of moving to France.

Everything about the château is inspiring and grounding, from the high ceilings and elegant windows to the timber flooring, wood panelling and sparkling chandeliers. The rooms offer timeless grandeur and a warm welcome, from the individual bedrooms to the spacious living areas: come on in, take a breath and feel suffused with well-being.

Having followed her own dream of moving to France, Abby has transformed the château into a haven where creativity and community thrive, a place for positive encounters and a sanctuary for people navigating life’s transitions.

A true learning experience

Join this unique retreat in October 2025 to enjoy good company and explore the very real possibility of moving to France. Unlike online research, this is a three-dimensional, immersive experience designed to provide you with the essential knowledge and insights about moving to this wonderful country, shared by those who have been through the process themselves.

The week’s activities have been thoughtfully designed to balance informative sessions, delightful excursions and the chance to make meaningful connections. You can learn about the process of house-hunting in the morning, then meet with a French real-estate agency later that day or even go through the process of viewing a property so you can discover for yourself how it feels to turn the information into reality.

Addressing the vital questions

Your guides have both been through the process of buying property in France and relocating here, so they know the key issues to be addressed.

As well as demystifying the different types of visas, you learn about the financial aspects of life in France, from setting up bank accounts and organising money transfers to ongoing tax obligations once you’re established as a resident. In addition, you’ll learn about healthcare in France and why the French health service is so highly regarded throughout the world.

When it comes to real estate, your guides can explain the whole process of house-hunting, making an offer and your legal obligations as a buyer. You can also discuss transfer taxes, energy ratings, and rentability, so if you’re looking to invest in a rental property, you can learn about the seasonality of certain French regions, helping you to make informed decisions about property investment.

The retreat will cover the realities of property renovation and construction in France, from the complexities of the bureaucratic requirements through to practical insights into local construction norms.

Regarding everyday life in France, you’ll learn about driving licences and permits to get you mobile, and the cultural differences regarding holidays, opening hours and Sunday closures. You’ll also get a good grounding in social and leisure activities, community life and the importance of certain festivals.

Finally, to fully prepare you for making the move, Abby and Amy will also tackle the tricky subject of psychological, social and language realities, discussing the less obvious difficulties of settling in a new country and how to be prepared for this. Again, these sessions are informed by intellectual and practical insights but also first-hand experience from those who have personally lived through the process.

Excursions

To achieve the perfect balance of information and experience, this week-long ‘move to France’ retreat also includes several planned excursions. You can visit local vineyards to improve your knowledge and enjoy a wine-tasting session guided by expert sommeliers, or tour the Foie Gras Museum so you can get acquainted with a quintessential part of French culinary heritage.

Take a tour of the local outdoor markets, renowned for their fresh produce and vibrant atmosphere, and visit the local flea markets and brocantes to look for bargain antique pieces and unique treasures that could furnish your future home.

On the property front, you’ll get the opportunity to view specific locations and even go on a property viewing so you get a better understanding of the local real estate market and the whole process. You’ll also visit a French home-improvement store to learn about how they source, display and sell the materials and tools you might need for future DIY projects.

Personal connections

This week-long retreat about how to move to France is about far more than what you’ll learn; the personal connections are invaluable. One of the most rewarding aspects of this retreat is the sense of camaraderie and community that develops naturally throughout the time spent together. As you share stories, experiences and meals in the enchanting setting of Château de Borie, you inevitably develop deep connections with your hosts and your fellow participants, often leading to lasting friendships.

Make the first move

Join the Move to France Retreat 2025 and make that exciting first step on your journey to a life in France. Visit the Sanderling Expat website for more details and booking information, then start planning this significant step on the path to your dream French life.

The post Everything you want to know about moving to France retreat in France! appeared first on The Good Life France.

It can come as a surprise to US expats moving to France when they discover France doesn’t have trust laws. A trust can’t be created in France though a US citizen residing in France may create a trust under US law or be a beneficiary of a US trust. But it’s complicated. And for Trust loving Americans it can be a challenge when moving to France – especially when it comes to a living trust which are routine in the US, but if you’re moving to France, you should probably leave that living trust behind for all sorts of reasons – not least because of the onerous tax penalties. We asked American finance expert Amy Witherbee of Sanderling Expat Advisors to explain what the issues are for US citizens who have a living trust and how to deal with the situation to your benefit.

What is a revocable trust anyway?

Trusts are very popular generally for Americans – to do charitable work, to avoid taxes, to control assets, to control people… But there is one form of trust that we use more than any other. The revocable trust, also known as a living trust, is common in the U.S. primarily for one reason: it bypasses the probate court processes that have become long, tedious and expensive in most states.

Estate attorneys almost always recommend revocable trusts. But if you’re planning a move to France, you should probably get rid of the trust first.

We call these trusts “revocable” because you can revoke them at will – if you want to cancel the living trust and the assets within it – you can whenever you want to. During your lifetime, the living trust is still part of you for tax purposes. It uses your social security number for its tax ID, and any real estate, income, accounts or other assets in the trust are considered still to be yours for tax purposes. It doesn’t mean you can avoid or manage taxes or liabilities.

However, on your death, the trust becomes its own entity, with its own tax filings and legal liabilities. It can only be ended by certain parties – often the trustees designated in the trust and/or a court of law.

How does France treat trusts?

Until 2023, this was all fine and dandy for US expats moving to France. However, trusts do not exist as a concept in French law. To the extent there are any laws about them, those laws were put in place to deal with trusts set up in the other countries (usually the U.S. or U.K.) that impact France or French residents.

For quite a while now, France has required specific processes for trusts of any kind created abroad. First amongst these is an initial accounting. If a trust has a trust creator (settlor) or beneficiaries who are resident in France, if the administrator of the trust is resident in France on January 1st of the year, or if the trust contains French assets, it must file a form 2181-T1. This form is not a tax, but it details the people involved in the trust, its terms, relevant addresses and contact information and the list of assets in the trust. After that, the trustee files an update of this information annually on form 2181-T2.

These two filings can be either fairly simple or very complex, depending on the assets you have in the trust. And plenty of expats have found themselves in a sea of accountancy and legal questions while trying to pry the information out of a secretive family trust. But until 2023, people with living trusts did not tend to put in much (or any) effort.

What changed

In 2023, an American couple living in France appealed the French tax authority’s decision on the income from their U.S. Trust. At the time, the tax authority was treating U.S. trusts as “pass-through” entities for the purpose of taxes, and they ignored that the assets were in a trust at all.

So, if your trust earned say €3000 in dividends from an investment account and €40,000 in capital gains from a real estate sale, you reported the income (or your share of it) as personal income in your French tax Déclaration. This was true whether you actually took the money out of the trust or not, which is how we tax those trusts in the U.S.

What’s more, because you paid your taxes on whatever was earned in the tax year, the annual trust filing (form 2181-T) was more of a formality.

But the French-resident American couple won on appeal. The Conseil d’Etat confirmed that all trusts need to be treated as taxable, rather than “pass-through,” entities. And that now includes your previously benign revocable trust.

Why you need to close your trust before you move to France

What does that mean for you? First, this change is recent and the experts are still trying to figure out the consequences.  But at the moment, it looks like you will pay taxes on income from the trust only when you take that asset out. If the brokerage account you put in trust earns 30,000 USD in dividends from bonds this year, but you don’t withdraw anything from the account, you will not pay tax personally. This is what the American couple was looking for on appeal.

But it also means that the income from your trust will be treated as a particular sort of investment income (the amorphous “other income” category of the Tax Treaty (in the amorphous “other income” . And that type of income does not get the lovely favorable treatment that much of your brokerage income was getting before when it was just like interest, capital gains or U.S. bond dividends from your savings. Ouch.

To make matters worse, the annual 2181-trust form is a lot more important now because it is the authorities’ only insight into what is going on with those assets. Expect the authorities to be much more diligent in ensuring you have filed those.

And there are other potential consequences of your trust losing “pass-through” treatment. You will now have to pay personal taxes on trust income only when you take it out of the trust. That doesn’t sound like an issue, but if you close your trust after moving to France, everything that was in it that was not part of your original capital becomes income for that year. So you could end up with a complicated mess as you try to determine what was “capital” and what investement income is suddently taxable.

And what about retirement accounts? The French law on trusts makes exceptions for certain trusts used to create pension or retirement accounts. So money coming directly from your 401k should be fine. But some U.S. attorneys have their clients add retirement accounts to their trusts even though those do not generally go through probate anyway. The new decision seems to indicate that retirement funds held in a trust might no longer get the favorable tax treatment afforded to pensions and retirement accounts.

What should you do?

Every person’s situation is different and needs to be treated as such so there’s no one answer that fits all. But if you are thinking of moving to France, particularly if it’s a permanent move, you should consider closing your revocable trust.

And if you’re already a French tax resident, you need to be very careful about making any changes without a thorough analysis of the repercussions.

And you definitely want to make sure that you start filing your trust forms. The penalties and the paperwork can be significant if you don’t.

Sanderling Expat Advisors are professional and qualified experts in both France and the US. They can help you decide what’s best for your when it comes to managing your investments and tax management when moving from the US to France and vice versa.

Find out more and book your free consultation or request a tailor-made financial plan for your household at: sanderlingexpat.com

The post What to do with a Living Trust when you move to France appeared first on The Good Life France.

As many of us know first-hand, moving to another country involves far more than just packing your bags and finding a place to live. Whether you’re an individual moving abroad or a business recruiting expertise from another country, the immigration process can be an administrative labyrinth. What you need is an expert guide when you’re planning your move to France…

What’s an immigration expert?

OUI Immigration is a company specialising in the immigration process, in France and internationally. Both of its managing directors, Virginie Le Baler and Gonzalo Aguirre, have been through the immigration process personally, so they understand better than most how complex and disorientating it can be, especially when another language is involved.

In addition to understanding the various forms and supporting documents you must provide, there are further hurdles for visas, work permits and proof of professional qualifications. As if that weren’t enough, the process of immigrating and how a government handles each application is constantly evolving, so just when you think you’ve grasped what’s required, the law can change, and you have to start again.

Working with an immigration expert gives you a far greater insight into the process, and crucially it gives you a professional partner guiding you through each step.

Expertise with a personal touch

“Managing immigration involves much more than just filling in the forms,” explains Virginie. “When we work with you, we provide our knowledge of immigration, its technical hurdles and its challenges, but above all, we become your ally and your cheerleader. We can’t help getting involved, because your case probably means almost as much to us as it does to you!

“When we think of immigration, we think of the paperwork, the appointments and the offices, but at the heart of it is your desire to move to a new land and all that this means for you. As we guide you through this process, it means becoming part of your close circle, sharing your doubts, fears and hopes for the future, and then accompanying you into your new life. Using our expertise in this way is a real privilege.”

Clients have remarked that OUI Immigration has both the expertise and the positive attitude required to make a real difference for the people they work with. This level of assurance is vital given the anxieties and tangible difficulties of moving to another country.

“We’ve both experienced first-hand how immigration is complex and sometimes cruel,” remarks MD Gonzalo. “That applies not only for individuals but also for companies. If a business needs to recruit from abroad, finding the talent is perhaps the simplest part: the biggest problems are timelines and the frequent changes in immigration law. That’s why we created OUI Immigration: using our own experience and knowledge to save other people time and money throughout their own immigration process.”

For individuals

Private individuals work with OUI immigration for diverse reasons, such as travelling while a student or tourist, investing in property, retiring to another country, or to take up a new job. Typically, this path can involve visas, work permits and residence permits, as well as certified translation of specific legal documents, all of which requires an extensive knowledge of the steps involved and the professional contacts required.

The company also offers a ‘wedding service’, working with binational couples to successfully navigate all the administrative hurdles so that they can spend their life together. After all, love can happen at first sight, but immigration tends to take a little longer!

For businesses

As the workplace becomes increasingly global, companies need to offer a smooth transition for talent that they have recruited elsewhere. This applies to internships and apprentices as well as any new staff, sub-contractors and management personnel that might have been head-hunted overseas. If you’ve found the perfect new member of your corporate team, the last thing you want is to lose them because of a complex or convoluted immigration process: OUI Immigration can guide you through to a neat and successful conclusion.

Global mobility also encompasses tax issues, health cover and even the logistics of relocating. No single business has all the expertise for this in-house, which is why OUI Immigration becomes such an invaluable partner with their network of experts who can help.

Positive Immigration

The company’s motto is ‘Positive Immigration’. Virginie and Gonzalo strive to eliminate the jargon and over-complex language of the administrative process and transform it into a positive experience.

“Immigration doesn’t sound very rock-and-roll,” laughs Virginie, “but we genuinely love our work. What motivates us is a passion to re-humanise and simplify the whole topic, so that each of our clients can make their dream of a new life into a reality.”

With over 15 years of experience in international immigration, the team has an existing catalogue of information as well as keeping their finger on the pulse for all developments and changes in the law. Over half the team members at OUI Immigration are non-French, so they truly understand how it feels to need help with immigration and integration.

Where do I start?

The first step is to contact the team so you can talk through your project and explain what you need. From this, they will come up with a personalised solution that will take you to your goal, and then they’ll accompany you through the entire process from A to Z. That truly does sound like a positive experience, and one to which you can say ‘OUI’!

Find out more at oui-immigration.com

The post Move to France Help for Expats appeared first on The Good Life France.

So you’ve decided to move to France. It’s a very exciting time, if a little daunting. And there is so much to do, from packing and planning to saying goodbye and organising logistics.

But whether you’re moving abroad for a new job and a fresh new start, or retiring and looking forward to taking it easy, one thing that is really important to sort out before you move is the financial side of things. Jennie Poate at Alexander Bates Campbell Europe Limited,  a company of Independent Financial Advisers specialising in wealth preservation and management, tax, financial and succession planning for private clients and their families, throughout Europe, explains why you should get good financial advice before you make the move.

The Importance of Using a Financial Adviser Before Moving Abroad

At this stage, you may be tempted to do things yourself. After all, how hard can it be? Or you may take the view that there is not that much to sort out financially and you’ll handle it all once you get to your new home. However, navigating not one, but two tax systems, one of which may be in a foreign language and organising your finances in a way that enables you to live the life you want, worry free, is not necessarily as straightforward as you think.

A financial adviser can guide you through the quagmire of regulations in different countries and help you make informed decisions that that protect your financial position and help you ensure you get the best out your finances. With this in mind, here are the main things that a financial adviser can help with if you move abroad.

1. Tax planning and compliance

Tax rules vary from country to country and it’s really important to understand the rules that apply to you and make sure you comply with them. If you don’t, you could face serious penalties. Just to make the situation slightly more complicated, in 2024/5, the UK tax rules for the payment of Inheritance Tax are changing, and from 6 April 2025 will depend on an individual’s tax residence rather than on domicile.

A financial adviser can help demystify the tax laws that apply to you and help you with:

• Tax residency and compliance

Tax residence and domicile are different. Tax residence relates to where you are living in a tax year and is therefore short term, whereas domicile is more long-term and refers to the country which you consider to be your permanent ‘home’ over the course of your life. Where you are tax resident or domiciled will affect what tax you pay and in what country. A financial adviser can help assess your tax residency and status, ensuing you are compliant both in the UK and in the country you move to.

• Tax planning

Once you know what tax regime/s applies to you, your financial adviser can assist with tax planning. There may be foreign-earned income exclusions, tax credits or offshore accounts that you can take advantage of, or it may just be a case of organising your financial assets in the most tax efficient way possible, bearing in mind your unique circumstances.

The importance of getting your tax affairs in order should not be underestimated in terms of giving you valuable peace of mind and ensuring you don’t pay more tax that you have to.

2. Cost of living and budgeting

Wherever you are in the world, you need to have a realistic budget for your day-to-day spending and a contingency plan in case something goes wrong.  A financial adviser can help you asses and optimise your various income streams and your assets and then help you prepare a budget for your new life abroad. This not only provides peace of mind, but it also means you will know how much you can afford to put away each month in terms of savings, etc. as well as how much you can afford to splash out on luxury items or perhaps a trip home to see relatives.

There are also always things that you don’t plan for or expect, such as legal fees, building work or an unexpected medical bill but your financial adviser can help you ensure that you’re able to manage financially should the worse arise.

3. Healthcare and insurance planning

Each country comes with its own healthcare system and insurance requirements and you need to make sure you know what these are so that you can make sure you are covered. You may need to take out private health care insurance and if that is the case, the right policy will depend on a number of factors including your age, health and history. Of course, you will probably need other insurance such life and property insurance and a financial adviser will be able to recommend the right person to speak to enable you to obtain the policies you need to purchase and which are the best policies for your situation.

4. Managing currency exchange rates

Currency exchange rates can and do fluctuate but this is something that often gets overlooked. A prolonged or profound change in currency rates can have a big impact on your savings and investments which in turn can affect your long- or short-term cash flow.

If you’re working with a financial adviser, they will be able to again recommend a trusted company about this so that you can plan accordingly and minimise the risk to your finances. This may mean holding multiple currency accounts or using other ways to safeguard your assets and oncome against damaging fluctuations.

5. Investment strategy and portfolio management

You may be wondering what the best thing to do with your wealth is when you move abroad, or you may think that your investments don’t need much thought at the moment. However, it’s important to bear in mind, that like tax, every country has its own rules about investments.

A financial adviser can assess your existing investment portfolio and strategy and advise you on the impact on this of moving abroad. There are multiple factors that may mean you need to adapt your strategy and these include:

• Re-evaluating your financial and personal goals or helping you to define these for the first time
• Assessing your capacity for risk bearing in mind your move
• Assessing the investment rules and opportunities of the country you’re moving to
• Planning for currency fluctuations
• The impact of a move on your pension

6. Estate planning

With such a big event as moving country, it is easy to forget your estate planning which includes updating your will, planning for who will inherit from you and planning for Inheritance Tax.

Once again, the country you move to will probably have different laws about wills and inheritance so reviewing these is of the utmost importance if you want your wishes to be carried out. Your financial adviser will be able to check that your estate planning documents comply with the laws of your new country and make sure your wishes are implemented in a way that ensures they will be carried out when you die. This may include recommending an international notaire/solicitor to help you achieve this.

Moving abroad is a great opportunity but in order to get the most out of your time abroad, it is so important to take care of your finances. Luckily, navigating the different rules and regulations and making the right decisions for your future doesn’t have to be overly complicated if you get some help. Knowing you are tax compliant, and have enough money, even if the worst happens is an important first step to enjoying a happy and fulfilled life abroad.

Contact Jennie Poate at: jennie@abc-eu.com to find out more and arrange a consultation.

This communication is for informational purposes only based on our understanding of current legislation and practices which is subject to change and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

ABC-EU are members of Nexus Global (IFA Network). Nexus Global EU is a division of Blacktower Financial Management (Cyprus) Limited (BFMCL) and Blacktower Insurance Agents & Advisors Ltd (BIAAL). ABC-EU is an Appointed Representative of BFMCL which is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (CySEC) – Licence No. 386/20. ABC-EU is an Appointed Representative of BIAAL which is licensed and regulated by the Insurance Companies Control Service (ICCS) – Licence No. 5101

The post Why You Should Invest in Good Financial Advice Before Moving To France appeared first on The Good Life France.

How do you set up as self-employed or freelance in France – and what are the pros and cons of the micro-enterprise system as the French call it? We asked Tracy Leonetti, paperwork professional and founder of LBS in France who have helped many expats to start a new life in France. Here she highlights the key points of registering as an auto entrepreneur, self-employed.

Understanding the terminology – Auto-entrepreneur, micro-enterprise, Entrepreneur Individuelle

Auto-entrepreneur (AE), Entreprise Individuelle (EI) and micro-entreprise (ME):  when you’re setting up as self-employed in France, you’ll come across all these terms. The confusion is due to fact that the Auto-entrepreneur used to be another facet of the self-employment system but was merged with ME in 2016. So effectively, these represent the same type of business structure, just from a different perspective.  The most important to know is that all are self-employed status.

The ‘Enterprise Individuelle’ is the legal form for a sole trader. The’ Micro Entreprise’ is the tax and social structure of a sole trader.

Phew. I’d like to say that’s the hard bit over with. It’s not! Though the purpose of the ME system is to simplify admin, this is France, and there’s plenty of life and paperwork left in that admin task list even if it has been “simplified.”

So, let’s start by highlighting below some of the key points of this business structure and the key questions my clients ask me during a consultation.

Advantages

• Good to test your idea, minimum risk
• No accountant needed, so less cost
• Simplified fiscal system for tax and social contributions, no surprises
• No VAT to charge (up to certain earnings limits)
• Access to healthcare in France from first day of set up (formalities will still need to be followed)

Disadvantages

• Limited earnings levels
• No reduction for costs
• No VAT charged (or deducted) which is not good if you are in sales

 What are the Earnings levels for auto entrepreneurs

You are restricted to a certain level of earnings as a micro-entreprise, and if you exceed the set amount, you’ll have to scale up to the next business status level.

These limits can be adjusted each year. If you know you will earn more than the limit in year 1, you should look at a different structure like ‘Entreprise Individuelle au réel’. It’s important for me to spend time understanding my client’s business so that I can help them to choose the right structure, if you get it right up front, it can save a lot of paperwork down the line. Most people just assume there’s only one way to go – there isn’t, but it takes expertise to know the right route.

The earnings limits for an ME differs according to what sort of activity they are engaged in – which includes the classifications BIC or BNC. BIC refers to industrial and commercial profits, BNC refers to non-commercial profits.

• €188,700 for the sale of goods, sales for consumption on the premises and the supply of accommodation (excluding furnished rentals other than furnished tourist accommodation or bed and breakfasts) (1st category);
• €77,700 for the provision of services falling under the category of industrial and commercial profits (BIC) or non-commercial profits (BNC) (2nd category).
• €15,000 for unclassified furnished tourist rentals

Note – there is an exemption from paying TVA (the French equivalent of VAT) on services and sales made by the micro-enterprise – as long as you don’t exceed the limits set €36,800 service activities, €91,900 for sales of goods, accommodation.

How much will you pay on your business earnings?

Like any business in France, you will contribute into the social system via the URSSAF, the collection arm for these contributions. The social contributions are collected either monthly or quarterly based on your earnings. You simply enter in how much you’re earned to the URSSAF online declaration system, it will immediately notify you how much you should pay, you confirm, and the amount is deducted at a date notified. There are set dates for inputting and if you miss one, you may be fined.

The percentages are reviewed each year, but the following is a good overview of what you can use as a guide to how much social contribution is to be paid:

12.3%:  sales and trading activities, gites, bed & breakfast. Commercial services linked to Chambre de Commerce

21.2%: Manual activities (hairdressers, electricians, commercial services & consultancy services…)

*23.1%: Professionals attached to CIPAV under BNC system.

* This will be increasing over 3 years for this BNC category up to 24.6% in 2025, 26.1% in 2026.

How do I set up my activity?

Since January 2023 all creations, modifications and closing of micro-entreprise activities are handled from one website, this is called the INPI.  It is not the easiest of portals to work with, but I can tell you, after much experience, it is starting to work better.

Portail e-procedures (inpi.fr)

The creation of your activity is relatively simple once you know which category you fall under, but that in itself can also be challenging as there are many choices of categories. And choosing the right category is very important as this defines what tax/contributions you will pay. You will also, of course, need to prove your ID and address in France. Modifications of businesses via this INPI system are complex as digital IDs are needed.

Once you have created your activity, your file will be sent to several different organisations (INSEE, CPAM, Tax office….). You will receive your SIRET number (business registration number) which must go on all your legal documents and invoices. You must also state EI on all your invoices – a recent ruling.

This is of course a summary of setting up as self-employed in France and the system generally works well. But if it all sounds a bit much, too time consuming when you’re trying to get a business up and running, or need to spend your valuable time managing and growing the business, help is at hand. I’ve helped many many expats over the years to set up all sorts of successful businesses from setting up as ME, to work permits, declaring social charges, communicating with various government bodies help with tax and legal requirements etc.

If you’d like more information and help setting up your business in France or management of your business, get in touch with Tracy at www.lbsinfrance.com

There’s also a very helpful LBS podcast which cover all things living in France: buzzsprout.com/LBS

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Cold weather and dark nights become so much more alluring with a wood-fired eco hot tub from Hot Tubs in France.

What is a wood fired eco hot tub and how does it work?

A wood fired hot tub uses a wood burning stove rather than electricity to heat the water, and since it heats up five times quicker than an electric heating system, it’s a very economical way to enjoy a bit of luxury at home.

Hot Tubs in France offer a variety of sizes with a beautiful, natural wood exterior and features that include soft internal lights and a bubble system.

Combined with the gentle crackling of the wood stove, an eco-hot tub creates a little pocket of wellbeing and relaxation.

The secret to wellbeing and a stress-free winter

We all know that giving ourselves some time out to relax and unwind is important for our mental and physical health. But a wood fired eco tub goes a little bit further. Nicola McCabe of Hot Tubs in France says “Our clients tell us that our hot tubs are life changing for them. The feelgood factor is high which makes them happy, but it’s also about wellbeing. If you generally don’t go outside much when it’s cold, this is a way to enjoy the outdoors and stay warm. But it’s more than that, you can disconnect from the stresses of everyday life, and there are many health-boosting properties to soaking in a hot tub.”

“It’s a sensual experience with the sound of the crackling wood fire, the soothing effect of the bubbles gently massaging your skin and the soft lights, while the warm water and steam both relax and invigorate you.”

In fact, many athletes use a wood fired hot tub to both recover from events and training and to boost their performance. The warm water can help soothe muscles, improve circulation and ease seasonal aches and pains. You may find it helps to reduce stress, helps with any seasonal rheumatism and arthritis, and make you sleep better.

The magic of Wood-fired Hot Tubs in Cold Weather

There’s nothing quite like submerging your body in warm water in the revitalising crisp cold air of a winter’s day and watching your breath hang in the night air or gazing at the twinkling stars on a clear frosty night. When it’s cold outside, it’s often the best time for getting the most out of your hot tub.

While stolen moments under the stars in the hot tub on your own with your favourite tipple may become some of your most treasured moments of the winter, it’s also a great way to enjoy special moments with loved ones and friends. If the kids are joining you in the hot tub, this is a rare technology-free chance to spend some quality time together without their phone (or yours). If it’s romance you’re looking for, well, a hot tub for two with a bottle of champagne is pretty special. But it’s also great fun jumping in the hot tub for a catch up with friends or family.

Eco-friendly and economical

Hot Tubs in France supply wood-fired hot tubs made using Nordic wood sourced from responsibly managed forests, and for every tree used, several more are planted.

Wood fired hot tubs are energy efficient. They only need electricity for the use of the bubble jets, the LED Light Systems and filtration system (on Hydro tubs), and these are optional if you’re keen not to use any electricity. The hot tubs don’t use electricity or gas to heat up the water which saves money on energy bills and wood is, of course, also a renewable source of energy which, when it burns releases no more CO2 than if it were left to rot, so it’s carbon neutral.

You also have environmentally kind options when it comes to keeping the water clean – you can use chemical-free water treatment so the water can be re-used in the garden.

If you’re worried about the hassle of maintenance, don’t be. The Nordic wood used is long lasting and highly durable. There are no maintenance or service costs involved and the hot tub fibreglass and acrylic tub interiors are easy to clean and have a quick-drain point.

Hot Tubs in France take care of everything for you – from helping you to choose the best option – from a 2-man tub to much bigger. By the way, they also supply wood-fired saunas that are so lovely to look at you may want to move in! LINK The perfect pairing for your wood-fired hot tub.

Just think of it, it’s cold, dark, miserable and it’s been a long day, but the lights are shimmering in the hot tub as it gently steams and all you’ve got to do is slip in and relax and enjoy the magic.

Nicola is always happy to answer any questions you might have about any of their products, to send photos or do video calls if you’d like to “see” hot tubs, saunas and ice baths at their HQ in Peyhilac, or at places where they have installed them. Visit www.hottubsinfrance.com to find out about their range of wood-fired hot tubs, saunas and ice baths – they deliver and install all over France.

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As a US expat living in France, you’ll need to get used to form filling and paperwork. You’ll need to declare assets and income in France, wherever the source is, plus pay tax, and you’ll also have to continue reporting your finances in the US. We asked the experts at Sanderling Expat Advisers, who specialise in helping Americans in France to deal with their finance and taxation requirements, to explain more about reporting your foreign income for American expats in France.

Income from the U.S.

If you’re an American living in France on a permanent or long-term basis, and therefore tax resident, it’s highly likely that you’re receiving income from a U.S. source. This could be in several forms including social security payments, fees from U.S. clients, capital gains or dividends from your U.S. brokerage accounts, interest from your U.S. bank or withdrawals from your U.S. IRA or 401k. There are lots of income sources that are classified as “foreign income”, or in French, “revenus de source étrangère.”

Good planning makes a big difference

As a tax resident of France you do, absolutely, need to report every centime of this income, in France. But you likely won’t have to pay tax on all of it. In fact, Americans in France get some pretty amazing breaks on their U.S.-sourced income. And good planning in advance makes a big difference – working with independent advisors like us to help you bring together comprehensive financial planning and assistance will help you solve problems and minimise tax liabilities before they arise.

Some income, like retirement plan withdrawals, social security and even some capital gains doesn’t get taxed in France at all. You must report them to French authorities, but you’ll receive a full credit for the taxes that would have been owed – had it not been for the US. -France tax treaty.

Other forms of U.S. income, such as dividends, receive a partial credit for the U.S. tax deducted, considerably lowering the amount of taxes/social charges you will pay in France. But your U.S.-based income does figure into the calculation of your effective tax rate in France (taux effectif).

Start getting your foreign-sourced income worked out with the French tax authorities by filling out the Form 2047 with help from the “Notice,” or instruction guide, that goes with it. This is the official form for reporting income that comes from outside of France. And for expats, it is generally the first thing to figure out as you begin your French taxes.

Reporting your foreign income for American Expats in France

There’s no getting away from the fact that there’s a lot of form filling to do.

Start by filling in all the fields that apply on the 2047. Then move to the 2042 supplements that make sense in your situation. You will see these lined up as options in your online impots.gouv account (or in the PDF forms dropdown box if you are a first-time filer). There are supplementary forms allow you to provide more details, specify credits or deductions you should be getting (2042 RICI),), or break down your micro-entrepreneur, agricultural or other self-employment income (2042 C Pro), etc…

When you’ve sorted out which of the supplements apply to you, fill in your foreign-sourced income information again. That’s correct, not a typo, you do need to do it again. You should view your 2042 supplements as summaries of each type of income you receive, with the U.S. and French sourced stuff added together.

Form 2042 enables you to list all the types of income and the deductions/credits together in a single, summary form. It offers appropriate boxes for the results of all those supplementary form efforts.

These forms address both income taxes and social charges (referred to with the acronyms CSG, CRDS, and CASA). If you have U.S. income that is subject to social charges, you will use line 9 of Form 2047 and then line 8 on the 2042C.

Also you should use Form 3916 to report every foreign-held account you had during the year being reported on. That includes investment accounts, bank accounts, money transfer accounts (i.e. Paypal and Wise) and even your credit card accounts.

All forms are available through your personal impots.gouv account. But if this is your first year of filing, you will be in paper format.

If you’d like guidance and help with any aspect of finance and tax planning as Americans in France, feel free to get in touch with Sanderling Expat Advisors at: sanderlingexpat.com

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If you’re thinking about transferring your UK pension to France, there are several things to consider. We ask Helen Booth, financial advisor at deVere France: How do you know if moving your UK private/workplace pension abroad is advisable?

Transferring your pension from the UK to France

Transferring a pension abroad has always been challenging and requires specialist financial advice. The answer is often down to where you live and work. If you live in France permanently and have no intention of returning to the UK, then transferring your pension might be the best thing for your finances.

Pension transfers are usually complicated

But you should be aware that rules change frequently when it comes to pensions and transferring them out of the UK. For instance, in April 2024, the UK government abolished the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) and introduced new rules that will limit tax-free lump sum payments both in lifetime and on death, and when transferring to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS).

Pension amounts over the £1,073,000 limit set by the UK Government will now be subject to tax.

Previously, all transfers to a QROPS were subject to a tax charge of 25% on the amount over the current Lifetime Allowance (e.g. £1,073,033). Some transfers to QROPS can be made free of UK tax provided certain conditions are met, irrespective of the amount transferred, but in others, you’ll have to pay 25% tax on the transfer.

You’ll usually be able to transfer-tax-free if:

• You’re a resident in the country in which you’re transferring to a QROPS.
• You’re a resident of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), and the QROPS you’re transferring to is based in another EEA country or Gibraltar.
• The QROPS you’re transferring to is provided by your sponsoring employer.

Get professional advice

If the value of your pension is nearing the £1,073,000 limit, you really should consider talking to a financial advisor about moving your pension abroad before you incur tax liabilities. But you should know that restrictions introduced as a result of Brexit mean that a financial advisor in the UK may not be able to advise you; you need to choose the right advisor who should be both qualified and able to advise you about all the complexities of transferring your pension from the UK to France – and drawing on your pension if you do transfer it. For instance, some UK Pension holders may find they have an opportunity to mitigate the new OTA (overseas transfer allowance) charge when transferring the pension to a QROPS. Also, be aware of potential changes to UK death benefit tax charges on pending UK pensions and any possible changes that might occur after the next general election.

When transferring a pension overseas into a QROPS or SIPP (Self-invested pension plan), always ensure it is to a recognised overseas pension scheme approved by His Majesty’s government. Check here: www.gov.uk/guidance.

Make a mistake here, and you could find yourself paying out huge amounts in taxes that could have been avoided.

Contact Helen Booth at deVere France for a free, no-obligation consultation at helen.booth@devere-france.fr
deVere is one of the world’s leading independent financial advisories; deVere France provides trusted, independent financial advice to expatriates and international investors based in France: deVere-france.fr

Please note, the above is for educational purposes only and does not constitute advice. You should always contact your deVere advisor for a personal consultation.

* No liability can be accepted for any actions taken or refrained from being taken, as a result of reading the above.

The post Transferring your pension from the UK to France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Applying for a French visa can be a stressful time. And unless you’re a citizen of an EU country, if you want to stay longer than 90 days out of 180, or to live in France on a permanent or long-time basis, then you will need a visa.

We’ve received several emails from people who applied for a visa only to receive a rejection at the end of their nerve-wracking wait (and you don’t get told why). It’s an extremely frustrating moment when your plans to move to France start to fall apart.

We get many requests from people asking for help. They’re unsure which of the many types of visas to apply for. Not sure they have the right paperwork, insurance etc. And we get it, it can be very confusing, and cause huge anxiety while you wait for an answer.

We asked Eric Donjon of The European Concierge, who has a 100% success rate when applying for visas for their clients from around the world, what people can do to help themselves when they apply for a French visa.

Here are his top tips for applying for a visa for France:

Applying for a Visa for France

Eric advises that it helps to show that you are going above and beyond to embrace the French life when you’re applying for a visa. You should try to put yourself in the shoes of the consulate staff whose job it is to administer residency permits. If you try to help them by getting everything right, that will help you too. Double check that you have all the paperwork and the requirements (including healthcare insurance) correct.

Applying for a French residency visa

Getting a residency visa isn’t just a tick box thing. Local administrators are inundated with applications from citizens of America, Great Britain, Australia and Canada and other countries around the world – help them, and you’ll help yourself.

There are three basic requirements you need to keep in mind:

1. The administrators are looking for reassurance that you have sufficient funds to cover yourself. In real terms, this amounts to a minimum income of €16,784.32 net per annum (€1,398.69 net per month), per person, after tax (correct on 20/08/2024. Note, this figure is subject to increase by the French government due to inflation). That amount is based on the SMIC (Salaire Minimum de Croissance) – the minimum wage in France (01/01/2024).
2. You need to provide proof that you have somewhere to live – whether it’s a permanent home or rental. If you’re in the process of buying a property, a ‘Compromis de vente‘ – a document that shows you are in the process of buying will be accepted for most visas. And if you’re renting, a French rental contract is required.

Insurance is critical

3. Evidence of private medical insurance. If you’re British and in receipt of a state pension, you can come to France with an S1 form and that will enable you to apply without private medical insurance (contact NHS S1 on 0191 218 1999) and discuss your situation with the agent. But, that’s not always the best move. An S1 effectively signs you out of the NHS and there is no easy way back. If you’re not 100% certain that you wish to remain in France, you should consider keeping the NHS option open while you ‘test drive’ your new home. If you don’t have the correct private medical insurance – you’re pretty much guaranteeing a failure in your visa application.

If you’re from a country that doesn’t have a reciprocal health service arrangement such as the US, Australia etc, you will need private healthcare insurance.

The stages of applying for a visa

When it comes to applying for a French long-term visa, fail to provide the correct paperwork, give vague or incomplete answers which raise questions – and you are highly unlikely to get your visa approved. If you want to make sure you don’t fail, The European Concierge (TEC) can help:

1. Your long stay visitor visa. The European Concierge will help you gather the required documents (proof of address, photos, etc) and check their validity. They will submit the application on your behalf, book an appointment for you at the visa centre and follow up with the authorities. They’ll monitor and ‘hand hold’ until your visa is successfully delivered.
2. Visa validation. Once you arrive in France, it is a requirement that you validate your visa to make it official. TEC will complete this procedure for you, including processing the visa validation fee payable to the French authorities.
3. Residency application or renewal of carte de séjour (the residency permit). TEC will assist you in preparing all the relevant documents, checking their validity, and submitting your application. They’ll also provide over-the-phone translation assistance if you are required to attend the prefecture in person, and help to prepare you for your obligatory face-to-face appointment.

“We are” says Eric “your one-stop-shop for all your needs to ensure your move to France is as simple as saying et voilà”.

Find out more, book a consultation and apply for your visa with Eric Donjon at: theeuropeanconcierge.com

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