New rules for freelancers and small businesses, making it easier to set up as a self-employed or freelance worker in France. You may now set up a small business or be self-employed or freelance in France under a new micro-entreprise regime, which merges the old auto-entrepreneur and micro-entreprise systems.
Can I be self-employed in UK and live in France?
For many couples the solution is for the family to be resident in France, while the main breadwinner continues to work in the UK. If self-employed, then a UK self-assessment tax return will need to be completed each year. Normally income earned in the UK will still need to be declared in France.
How do I find out if a company is self-employed?
If they say they do not have a Limited Company, then unfortunately there is no way to check whether they are self-employed. There is no register of sole traders or list like the land registry. And sole traders are not required to register on Companies House, unless they trade through a Limited Company.
How do I register my business in France?
All businesses must register before they can operate. You have to do this through the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises or CFE) or online at There are different CFE for each type of business activity and you need to make your application through the appropriate CFE.
How to register as self employed in France?
How to register as self-employed in France. You can register your business in three ways: 1. You can visit the appropriate Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE). There are different CFE for each type of business activity so find the right one for your business. For example:
What happens if you live in France but work in UK?
If you’re neither living nor working in the UK then you’re not entitled to NHS cover nor UK social security benefits (apart from exportable benefits).
How to work as a freelancer in France?
It is possible to work legally in France as a freelancer without registering as a business but by working through a portage salarial. Under this system, you sign a contract with a portage company (an umbrella company), who in effect becomes your employer and handles most paperwork.
Is it easy to set up a business in France?
However, for those moving to France to start a new business and work on a self-employed basis, taxes can be a little more complex and it’s important to get things right from the very start when setting up a company, to ensure that taxes are calculated correctly. In recent years, it has become easier to set up as a freelance expat worker in France.
