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.

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

The post How to register as self-employed in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Multi-award-winning Leggett International Real Estate has a network of over 700 independent agents spread across France. Lorraine Deuré, Head of Recruitment says, “we’re keen to recruit more great agents, and offer excellent progressive commissions, flexibility, and unprecedented training and support.” Find out more about the excellent self-employed opportunities at Leggett:

Become a Leggett agent

“At Leggett, we’ve learned to adapt and innovate, ensuring our agents have the tools they need to flourish in any situation,” says Lorraine. “We really want to attract top talent and nurture people who possess the drive and determination to excel in the real estate industry.

“Unlike conventional agreements that reset annually, Leggett’s rolling contracts mean agents’ earnings grow over time.” And their innovative approach to valuing agents goes further with various partnership opportunities which provide agents with additional avenues for growth and financial rewards.

“Our agents’ success is our success,” says Lorraine. Leggett have dedicated Coaches, a Sales Support Team, and second-to none training and development programmes covering everything from understanding market trends to negotiation strategies. Their top of the range technical systems provide ongoing support and teaching to ensure constant development of agents but also making sure that clients get the best service possible.

Dedicated Support

Lorraine emphasizes the importance of support when navigating the complexities of French registration and setting up as an “auto-entrepreneur” (Self-Employed) agent. “We understand that the process can seem daunting, especially for those new to the industry. That’s why we have a team of experts ready to assist our agents every step of the way, providing invaluable guidance and support, making the transition as seamless as possible for our recruits.”

A robust referral system

“One of the key new advantages of partnering with Leggett International Real Estate is our expansive property referral scheme,” says Lorraine. “This unique program not only fosters national and international connections but is also open to anyone, regardless of their location or profession, offering them the opportunity to dip their toe into real estate and earn commission.

Moreover, it provides our agents with an additional source of properties for their portfolio, a significant advantage when compared to our competitors who rely heavily on prospecting. With over 1000 individuals currently earning commissions based on successful referrals, the reach and impact of our network continues to grow exponentially.  Anyone who knows of an owner interested in selling their French property can become an “Apporteur d’affaires” and join our Property Referral Network”.

Perks of Joining Leggett

Among the many perks of joining the Leggett family are:

Work/Life Balance: Self-employed agents enjoy the flexibility to tailor their schedules to suit their lifestyles.

Lucrative Earning Potential: With a progressive commission structure and additional incentives, agents can reap the rewards of their hard work.

Professional Support: Backed by a seasoned Head Office team, agents benefit from ongoing mentorship, guidance, and resources to navigate the complexities of the real estate market.

Comprehensive Training: From hands-on field training to cutting-edge online courses and webinars, the company invests in the continuous development of its agents.

Marketing Excellence: Leveraging both national and international platforms, Leggett’s marketing prowess ensures agents have access to top-tier promotional tools and strategies to showcase properties and attract clients.

Positive Workplace Culture: “Teamwork is everything” says Lorraine.  While an agent may work independently, they still have the backing of a large team behind them, ensuring their success.

Visit the Recruitment Page of the Leggett Website to find the dates for upcoming online events where you can learn more: Leggett Immobilier Website

Request an online recruitment brochure using the QR code or link below: Request Brochure

Or contact them directly: recruitment@leggett.fr / 00.33.553.60.82.77

The post Work as a real estate agent in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Moving to France isn’t just about a new home in a new place. The lifestyle changes go much deeper. For some it’s about retirement. And for an increasing number of people, it’s about new career opportunities. With excellent transport links, fast internet service, and the growing trend for working from home, France makes for a great choice to live, work and play. Famous for its superb cuisine and wine, with daily street markets a way of life, the sun of the south, a long and varied coastline, mountains, glorious countryside and vibrant cities galore – there’s somewhere to suit everyone. Setting up to work as self-employed – auto-entrepreneur in French – is easy, and opportunities for self-employed work are increasing.

We talked to Brad Turner and Simon Liddiard who work as self-employed real-estate agents for Leggett Immobilier International, the multi award-winning property agency founded by a British family in 1998.

Teaming up

Brad, who was born in New York City, grew up just outside Washington, DC, wanted both a lifestyle and career change after working for many years as a surgeon in Boston. His Bordeaux-born wife was keen to return to France. Brad had met her while on a year-long flagship programme in the city as part of his studies for a French Literature degree at the University of of California. In 2018 the couple moved to Bordeaux to start their new lives.

Simon had worked in advertising in London and Paris for many years and also wanted a lifestyle change. Bordeaux beckoned. He’d known the city since a school exchange visit to the town which is twinned with his hometown of Bristol in the UK, a trip which inspired him to take many holidays there. Simon’s wife is also from Bordeaux and had been to college with Brad’s wife and the two men knew of each other.

Brad, with the precision of a surgeon, researched jobs and what he wanted from a new career: autonomy, self-employment, flexibility, room to grow a business, a chance to create something new and also to deal with people. As a surgeon what he loved most was the human connection. Working as a real estate agent was, he felt, a perfect match for him, and Leggett Immobilier who specialize in bilingual agents who are self-employed but benefit from training and support – ticked all boxes.

Simon was working part time in the wine events industry in Bordeaux when Brad broached the idea of the two of them teaming up to join Leggett Immobilier and work as a team. In 2018 they joined the company and trained together. Six years later they are still working as a team – but a much expanded one with the support and backing of Leggett Immobilier.

“We’ve both reached a certain age” says Brad, “we’ve got a lifetime of experience behind us that we bring to this role. Working together means we can cover more terrain, one of us is always here for the client and we can bounce ideas off of each other.”

Real estate office in Bordeaux

One of those ideas was to open an office in the heart of Bordeaux city where they could meet with clients and showcase the properties in their area – not just in the city of Bordeaux but stretching out into the surrounding suburbs, countryside, vineyards and the coast.

Leggett finalised the renovation of their new agency on rue Montbazon, Bordeaux, in 2023, situated adjacent to the renowned historic Hôtel de Ville which dates back to the 17^{th –}century.

Thanks to the new office, Brad, Simon, and their team of 10 agents have enhanced their capacity to support clients. This includes conducting tailored searches; if a property is not available in their listings, they can utilize their expanding network of contacts to find the ideal property.

“We share our roles” says Brad. “Each of us plays to our strengths. We generally meet clients together at first so that we both fully understand what the requirement is. And we’ll also take clients through the process of buying in France.”

“Two for the price of one” Simon quips.

They share the requirements to create listings, photograph properties, and accompany clients on visits. “We don’t just open the door to a new home” says Simon, “we offer a full service from helping with the financing requirements for the purchase, to recommending a plumber if needed!”

“The best thing about this job is the people” says Brad. “That’s the key, helping people make a lifestyle change like we did, helping to make it the best experience it can be, in a truly beautiful part of the world. There’s so much variation here from the city with its culture, history and amazing food scene to the lush vineyards with their world-famous wines, the glorious beaches of Arcachon, the suburbs and even further afield – expanding transport links are opening up whole new parts of the area around the city.”

“And what enables us to do this so well is the brilliant support and backup we have” Simon says. “The training is excellent, it doesn’t stop once you qualify, it’s ongoing and the training programmes are really comprehensive. The internal systems are great, and there’s also great expert support for legal, financial, marketing and many more aspects of what’s required to be an agent. But we still work autonomously, we’re still our own boss, and we can take a flexible approach to work by working as a team.”

Leggett Immobilier seek agents in all areas of France. They offer excellent commission rates, superb support and cutting-edge technology, high profile international and national marketing campaigns for a steady stream of clients, plus continuous training opportunities, and the flexibility to work as a solo agent, family-run or partners like Brad and Simon.

Visit the Recruitment Page of the Leggett Website where you’ll find dates for information days that you can join: Leggett Immobilier Website

Request an online recruitment brochure using the QR code or link below: Request Brochure

Or contact them directly: recruitment@leggett.fr / 00.33.553.60.82.77

The post Self-employed jobs in France for team players! appeared first on The Good Life France.

If you’re moving to France, or already live in France, and searching for a job that offers flexibility, autonomy, with scope to develop, then consider becoming a self-employed property agent with Leggett Immobilier International.

Established by a British family over two decades ago, this award-winning agency has evolved into one of the largest property agencies in France, boasting a vast audience of potential buyers from France and around the globe. Leggett Immobilier’s agents, hailing from various countries, operate independently, but with the support, training and back up of a major company. Agents work solo, as couples and even family teams like Sara Garcia from the UK who works with her son and daughter.

Sara and her husband moved from London to the Dordogne in 2005 with four young children. Sara suffered with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and wanted her family to have a chance of a healthier lifestyle than they had in London. “I wanted my children to be able to play outside in the fresh air and be less focused on video games and the latest trainers” she says.

It was, she admits, a culture shock, but one that didn’t last long. The area where she lives, sits between Bordeaux, Bergerac and Périgueux, and just a short distance from the enchanting medieval town of Saint-Emilion with its surrounding vineyards. The neighbours were welcoming, the kids were soon speaking French and loving school, weekly markets became a way of life.

A former primary school teacher, Sara taught English and French, managed holiday rentals and worked in restaurants and bars. But the Covid lockdowns took their toll. She lost several students, and her other work dried up. Her son Alfie, 27, who was working as a trainee manager at a 5* hotel lost his job too. Turning disaster to success, Sara, who had been considering working for Leggett Immobilier for a few years after hearing good things from a friend who was also an agent, decided to go ahead and contact them. When she told the family her plans, Alfie said he’d also been considering a move to Leggett. So, they joined together as a team in 2022 and completed their training together. A year later, daughter Darcy, having completed her training, joined them in their venture (Garcia team property portfolio of houses for sale in Dordogne).

Keeping it in the family

“Working together is a perfect way of playing to everyone’s strengths,” affirms Sara. Drawing on her prior experience as a legal assistant before becoming a teacher, she excels in paperwork and email correspondence. Meanwhile, Alfie’s background in the hospitality industry equips him with excellent organizational skills for managing appointments, coordinating with artisans, and ensuring all documents are in order. Darcy, with training in computer programming and coding, handles social media, floor planning, and video creation.

“We like to meet clients in pairs, and we take turns for property valuations, photography, measurements, and sketching floor plans”. Later, we rotate roles when showing properties to potential clients” Sara says. “We all learn everything and develop our skills, but we each get to use our expertise. And it’s great to brainstorm over cups of tea. The best part for me is I get to spend more time with my children whilst doing something I really enjoy. It makes working for Leggett the perfect job.”

Teamwork

It’s not just Sara, Alfie, and Darcy in the team – the Leggett head office team is also instrumental, providing assistance with paperwork, guidance, training, and comprehensive support to ensure their success.

With excellent commission rates, superb support and cutting-edge technology, high profile international and national marketing campaigns for a steady stream of clients, plus continuous training opportunities, this family-run agency could be the ideal job for you – and maybe your family too.

Visit the Recruitment Page of the Leggett Website where you’ll find dates for information days that you can join to find out more: Leggett Immobilier Website

Request an online recruitment brochure using the QR code or link below: Request Brochure

Or contact them directly: recruitment@leggett.fr / 00.33.553.60.82.77

The post Jobs for English speaking expats in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Do you dream of running a gite in France. Perhaps a delicious little café, a campsite, restaurant or shop? Maybe a B&B, brewery, a brasserie or a boulangerie. Thousands of expats make France their home and start or take over existing businesses from farms to vineyards, hotels to bars, restaurants to cake shops. But where do you start – and what do you need to know? Top tips to buy an existing business in France…

Find a business you can run in France

It can be an easier way to start a business in France when you buy something that’s already in place. You knot that there’s an existing customer base, plus you’ll have an idea of the income that is already being generated.

Start by taking a look at what’s available with Leggett Immonbilier, the award-winning estate agents in France, which was set up by British expats in 1998 – a living, and very successful, example of what can be achieved. They now have more than 700 independent agents (and are recruiting for more – a perfect business opportunity!). They set up a commercial division several years ago and have helped hundreds of expats to find fantastic options to run a business. With their huge agent network, they’re also able to source opportunities that mainstream consultancies never see.

Leggett Immobilier’s commercial listings include 100s of businesses which range from hotels to campsites, pizza kiosks, a mechanics garage, retail space, bars, cafés, farms, beauty salons, leisure centres and more. There are businesses. listed for sale all over France from Paris to Provence, the Dordogne, Charente-Maritime and the Loire Valley – as far as Corsica. There’s something to suit many skills sets and to make many dreams come true.

Get professional help

Most of Leggett Immobilier’s bilingual agents know the basics of running a business and they will all help clients as much as possible. For small businesses – running a gite or B&B for instance, a helping hand like this can be enough, with agents helping for exampl, to get the utilities sorted and sharing information about local services.

You’ll need to have fairly good French to sort out the administration requirements for registering in the system to run a business and pay tax, and to make sure that you’ve completed all the steps that are involved in running a business (this is France after all, and they do love their admin). Sometimes you’ll also need to complete professional qualification courses in order to be signed off to run certain businesses – especially anyone involved in food production.

If you do need more support, or you simply don’t have time to manage the administration requirements, you find that there is plenty of help at hand. Lots of companies can help you sort everything out and get you up and running with all the right paperwork, in the right business structure administrative category (there are several), ticking all the right boxes and even achieving a licence if that’s necessary.

They’ll help you ask the right questions too – get a copy of profit and loss accounts, stock and equipment inventories. And they can help you find out if there is any support that you can claim. France operates many schemes to support entrepreneurs – especially if you take over an existing business. This help ranges from interest free loans to grants and even French lessons. You can find more information about running a business in France on the government website (in French) here: entreprendre.service-public.fr. Many towns also have a Chambre de Commerce (www.cci.fr/) which you can visit in person for information and support.

If you’re dreaming of running a business in France, you’ll find all of Leggett Immobilier’s commercial properties available here: www.frenchestateagents.com/commercial

The post Top tips to buy an existing business in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

 

Working as a solo entrepreneur in France

France is famous for its sometimes onerous administration system, but for the past 15 years, there has been ongoing work and changes to systems to make it easier to run your own business. For a start there’s been an expansion of choice of passports and work visas available to foreigners. And the government has been investing to make administration a lot simpler for the nation’s small businesses, artists, artisans and freelancers. Among the most popular changes has been the introduction of a reporting system for solo entrepreneurs making it far, far easier to run your own business in France. You need a work visa in order to qualify and if you do have that, here is how to take advantage of France’s freelancing-friendly rules.

Are you a micro-entreprise?

The new status of micro-entreprise (in English, “micro-business”) was begun in 2009, originally named auto-entrepreneur. The idea was to provide an inexpensive and much streamlined process for reporting income without the hassle and cost of registering a formal business structure. This concept works well for a whole host of freelancers, artists, authors, artisans and people trying to earn a little extra income. You can use the micro-entreprise régime as long as you work alone. If you have employees or business partners, then you will need to create a formal business structure. And your annual turnover should not exceed the  threshold which is currently set at €77,000 if you are providing professional services and €188,700 if you are selling goods [2023].

What does it mean in practice?

The micro-entreprise régime is based on business turnover. Put simply, it means the amount of sales or service income you receive before you deduct any costs or expenses of the business. And that is significant because one of the most important components of the micro-entreprise régime is that you will not need to do any traditional bookkeeping. The law requires only that you keep a copy of your business receipts and a record of all the invoices and payments made by your clients in case you are ever audited.

From the amount of your reported turnover, the tax office will take an automatic 34%, 50% or 71% off the to. The figure depends on the type of business activity. They will then calculate for you the taxes and social charges based only on the rest. Thankfully for those of us from the U.S., the micro-entreprise is also exempt from the TVA (value-added tax) system.

Registration for small business and freelancers in France has also been simplified – at least theoretically. Beginning on January 1, 2023, the government site for registering business trademarks, INPI, became the guichet unique (“single portal”). Despite a rocky launch, the site now seems to be functioning.

It allows you to do every type of filing related to your business activity – starting with the first registration – from one spot. The portal automatically passes on your necessary information to an assortment of French government agencies that handle different aspects of economic life in the country. All of this means that once you create your account at INPI and register your business activity, you should have just one place to keep everything going.

What you should know

When you get started, you have option on how your estimated taxes are paid, including whether you want social charges and income taxes to be paid at a flat rate.

Taxes are all paid online. And you will be invited to use something called a PEIRL form to list all the equipment and resources you use in your business activities. Thanks to recent changes, this simple form creates a separation between your business activity and personal resources to give you some legal liability protection.

Is the micro-entreprise régime right for you?

Not surprisingly, the auto-entrepreneur business status has been resoundingly popular in France. According to François Hurel, Président of the union of auto-entrepreneurs, France sees a whopping 3,500 new micro-entrepreneur businesses registered every day. And to date there are about 3 million auto-entrepreneurs in total. Of these, some 30% are commercial or artisanal businesses. The rest are in the French category of “professions libérales,” a catch-all for everything from lawyers to translators and wellness coaches.

French business law still offers a variety of formal business structures that might work better for you, and if you anticipate having higher turnover, need to take on employees, have business partners or plan to grow the business, you need to consider other options.

If you’d like help setting up your accounts and taxes in France and with taking care of reporting and tax requirements in the US, Sanderling Expat Advisors can help: sanderlingexpat.com

The post Freelance in France as a US expat appeared first on The Good Life France.

We’re often asked about the opportunities for self-employed people in France, especially for foreigners and expats. In this article, we explore the role of being a self-employed agent for Leggett Immobilier International, a renowned family-run property agency founded by expat Trevor Leggett in 1998. With a strong commitment to delivering exceptional client service to both sellers and buyers, they have expanded their presence across France, boasting over 700 agents, all of whom, operate as self-employed professionals. We talked to Katherine Massard, a dedicated agent who has been part of the Leggett Immobilier team since the beginning of 2023.

Can you tell us what brought you to France?

I grew up in the southeast of England and embarked on my French adventure in 1999 as part of an Erasmus exchange program between the University of Hertfordshire and the Université Jean Monnet in Saint-Étienne, situated not far from Lyon. During my six-month stay, fate intervened when I fell in love with a handsome French soldier. Twenty-four years and three children later, I’m still here!

I currently reside near Saintes in Charente-Maritime, although I’ve lived in various places, including Bourges, Chambéry, and Mende (Lozère). We first settled in this region in 2004 after the birth of my second daughter, and despite subsequent moves, we always held a dream of returning to the picturesque west coast. When an opportunity arose to come back to the region, we seized it, and this time, we’re here to stay!

This region offers us the allure of sunshine and sandy beaches, without the scorching heat often associated with southern France.

Before joining Leggett as an agent, I worked as an English teacher for several years. My original aspiration, when I pursued my degree many years ago, was to work in journalism or become a writer. With the evolution of publishing since my graduation, this dream became a reality in 2018. Under the pen names Katherine E Hunt and Katy Hunter, I have published eighteen romance novels.

What’s it like working as a property agent for Leggett Immobillier

The training at Leggett Immobilier is truly exceptional. It is offered in both French and English, featuring extensive online modules that you can complete at your own pace, followed by a couple of days at the headquarters where you meet the team and reinforce your online learning.

The support is outstanding. Everyone is incredibly friendly and always eager to assist with any questions you may have. The team is proficient in both French and English, making it an ideal environment for English speakers residing in France, especially when tackling complex issues.

To succeed as an agent, being a people person is vital. This involves understanding your client’s needs and helping them achieve their goals, all with a friendly demeanor. Sometimes, you need to guide people toward their objectives, as buyers may not always have a clear idea of what they want or where they want to live. Utilising your knowledge of the area and attentive listening are key skills (while also acknowledging that the perfect house doesn’t always exist!). Organisation, effective communication, and strong teamwork are also essential because you can’t do this job alone!

It’s a team effort!

I am part of a team of four, comprising my coach, Julie, and my two colleagues, Louise and Katarina. We support one another whenever assistance is needed, and we enthusiastically raise a glass of Chardonnay to celebrate a successful sale! Additionally, I am part of a broader regional team that regularly convenes for training and mutual support. You’re never short of someone to provide guidance when you’re stuck or offer congratulations when you’ve had a great day.

I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people through my work. For instance, I have recently been working with a fellow novelist, who is selling a magnificent château in Charente-Maritime. This allows me to do my job while indulging in discussions about writing, so it’s a win-win!

I also appreciate the flexibility of this job, which grants me the time to write and care for my son, who suffers from a neurological disability, all while earning a living (since, unfortunately, writing alone doesn’t always pay the bills – unless you’re Lee Childs!).

Here’s a video about working for Leggett Immobillier

Visit the Recruitment Page of the Leggett Website: Leggett Immobilier Website

Request an online recruitment brochure using the QR code or link below: Request Brochure

Or contact them directly: recruitment@leggett.fr / 00.33.553.60.82.77

The post Work in France | self-employed property agent appeared first on The Good Life France.

Planning to live and work in France? Janine Marsh, shares some top tips for how to work as a micro-entrepreneur in France…

When it comes to moving to France, some people retire. Some people continue to work for the same company they did back home – but from France. Fast internet for home working is available in much of France (but if you do rely on this, check the area you’re buying in first – some places still have slow Broadband. Some people work for themselves and set up businesses.

If you want to earn an income in France then one of the most popular ways is to go freelance, and registering as a micro-entrepreneur is one of the most popular ways to do that. Basically it means you are the founder of a micro business, generally a small company with minimal investment. You’re restricted as to how much your business may turnover before needing to register as something else other than micro entrepreneur (currently [2023] it is between €77,700 and €188,700 per year, depending on what type of business it is). And certain types of business are excluded from becoming micro-entrepreneurs, for instance some finance companies, health professionals and accountants.

The benefits of setting up as micro entrepreneur include that dealing with administration, paying taxes and accounting are all deliberately kept simple. And there are jobs which give you flexibility, career progression and a good income.

Becoming a micro entrepreneur

We chat to micro entrepreneur Sophie Green, who is based in the Dordogne. Sophie works for Leggett Immobillier as a sales agent in Dordogne as well as in neighbouring department Haute-Vienne.

How did you come to be living in France?

I lived in Northamptonshire in the UK, trained as a Legal Executive and as a Financial Advisor and Mortgage Advisor working within Solicitor practices. When I became pregnant with our first son Louis in 2008, my husband had an idea to open a sandwich shop in our village so instead of going back to work fulltime for someone else, I could be my own boss. I have to say, I have never worked so hard in my life. Then three years later I became pregnant with our second son, Freddie, and the thought of getting up at 5am to butter sandwiches lost its allure!

We bought a caravan and decided to go on holiday to France. We fell in love with France from the minute we got here and immediately started house hunting. Just before this, my lovely mum had passed away. She had lived in the same village as us and life didn’t feel the same without her. We didn’t know exactly where we wanted to live and spent holidays travelling around Brittany and Dordogne. When we stayed in a very small rural campsite in Dordogne, we both knew this was it, our dream area. We found our house and moved to France in July 2013. My eldest was just about to start school in the UK so it was perfect timing for a move. He went straight into the local school in our village.

How did you become a micro-entrepreneur in France

I was too young to retire, and I wanted a new challenge. In addition to our house, we bought some lakes nearby, run as GoGreen Holidays, and I looked after the rental of the onsite Cabin and Gypsy caravan. But I needed more from a job, I wanted to learn more French, to get out and meet people and explore the area.

I have a love for property, and I love looking around houses. Working as an agent for Leggett Immobillier International seemed a perfect fit.

Leggett offered everything I needed and was flexible, so I could work around looking after the lakes and the children – by then we had another child, Francesca.

What’s it like working as an agent for Leggett Immobillier in France?

Leggett have exceeded my expectations. I joined them in 2018, after meeting with an Area Coordinator and chatting through the role which helped me to decide whether it was right for me. Then I completed a training course at Head Office which is in Dordogne. I really like that you get the benefits of working for a family-run business so you’re not just another number, but it’s also an award-winning, international company so there’s a massive multi-lingual support network available to all agents.

There’s a fantastic Sales Support Team who help organise all my visits. The Marketing Team do a great job promoting all the properties I list for sale. And the IT team have developed a fantastic back-office system to make life easier to manage the admin. There is also a terrific Legal and Contracts team to help with all the admin requirements and we are regularly updated with changes in laws. We have access to a lot of online training which is great and saves time with not having to travel. Plus, we’re assigned admin support. My fabulous assistant Zoe who is a fountain of knowledge, works in the Contracts Team and does all my Compromis de vente work (sales documentation), and helps me manage all my sales.

As an agent, it’s essential to be organised and flexible. You need to be able to manage not only your own time but also that of your vendor’s and clients.

What’s it like being self-employed?

I run everything as a stand-alone business. I set up as a micro entrepreneur and it is quite a simple regime. Cotistations (French National Insurance) are paid monthly, based on what I have earned. And I pay tax in one go at the end of the financial year.

Because it’s a simple way to set up a business I get to spend more time on what I love doing! Going out and finding new properties, exploring them and seeing what is hidden behind the front door! I also love meeting new people and getting out and about in the area.

It’s been a really successful business for me. In fact my husband is just in the process of becoming a Leggett Agent so that he can help with viewings when I get really busy.

There’s also scope for career progression in this job. Actually I have become a Coach and have my own small team now. I love helping new agents and supporting them in running their own successful small business in France.

It never occurred never to me to do this job when I first came to France, but it’s changed my life. I earn a good income, I love what I do. And, I can manage how much I want to do. It’s flexible and there is potential to go further in the role if I want to.

Leggett Immobillier are recruiting agents in all areas: frenchestateagents.com/recruitment

If you’re interested, find out more and contact them at.

Recruitment@leggett.fr

The post How to work as a micro-entrepreneur in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

France loves its form filling and box-ticking processes and while I’d love to tell you that setting up as self-employed in France, setting up a business and registering to work in France is all very straightforward, I can’t. If you’re employed by a company then they should help you which makes it a bit easier. But if you want to work as a freelancer or run your own business such as managing a gite then a bit of help from professional hand holders can made a huge difference.

Their expertise will make things run smoother and quicker. This will give you the chance you need to focus on what’s important – rather than dealing with administration processes that can take up heaps of time. Plus, an expert who knows how the system works can save you not just time, but money. Get the set up wrong at the start and you will be paying somewhere down the line. Either in time to sort it out which can be considerable. In potential fines. Or back payments if you’re in the wrong category (see more on that below), and costs to right the errors.

Setting up as a microentrepreneur in France

One of the most popular ways to set up a company for individuals in France, e.g. self-employed, freelancer or a small business, is to register as a microentrepreneur (Enterprise Individuelle – EI). This is a tax status, not a business structure – which requires a different set up. Setting up as EI is a relatively easy way to establish a business, with less complicated tax and accounting rules.

You’re assigned a unique tax number, called a Siren or a Siret. You pay social insurance each month or quarter, based on earnings. You pay your tax and social contributions via a system called URSSAF. And once a year you complete an annual tax form through the Government website impotsgouv.fr. There are, of course, rules about who can set up as EI. They cover a myriad of things from running a gite to being a writer. Getting the category classification right is critical at the set-up stage. As an example, a journalist is a different category from a ‘storyteller’ or blogger. Different categories pay different rates of tax.

You can be a commercial, industrial (BIC). For instance does your business involve buying and selling activities such as food supplies? Or commercial services e.g., insurance, real estate agent? Or are you in the liberal professions (BNC)? For instance designer, translator, consultant. Or agricultural (BA)? And you must be aware that if you reproduce your creations and sell them – even if you think it’s the liberal profession BNC category you want, you may be considered BIC. Only original, unique creations fall into BNC.

And there are limits on how much you can earn before you have to register as a different type of business.

There are far too many rules and regulations to go into here, but suffice to say, there’s a lot to deal with.

Get help to set up as a microentrepreneur

Setting up as a microentrepreneur takes time. You do need at least a basic understanding of French. And you need to be able to navigate French systems and know what type of EI you are – there are hundreds of categories.

And if all this doesn’t sound like something that appeals to you (and hats off to you if it does), there’s help at hand. John Dislins of Please Help says ‘it’s stressful enough trying to set up a new business in France so what we do is take away the pain. We’ve helped hundreds of people to register their business. We also help them complete their annual accounts and create thriving businesses. We’re really proud to have been there at the start with them.”

He and his team offer a professional hand holding service. They take care of every aspect of helping you set up your business – from choosing the correct category of microentrpreneur, translation services, joining you on calls with French administration services, helping you with your tax and annual returns. They set up an email address so that enquiries from tax offices go to them. .This way they help you keep on top of enquiries and requests from various officials, and make sure that they are dealt with in a timely manner.

As someone who has used their services myself (and continue to), I highly recommend Please Help to make sure you start your new business and life in France in a way that helps you live it to the full and without spending time you may not have on administration processes.

Find out more about how Please Help can support you with your business in France, as well as settling into a new life in France (Carte de sejours/health card etc): pleasehelp.eu  Get 50€* off with the code TGL052023SM on purchase of a pack, valid till 16/9/2023.

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