Professional advice on running a small business in France

Valerie Lemiere: Start Business in France

Bonjour, I'm Valérie Aston, a French business advisor. I help English speakers prepare, create and manage their freelancing activity in France, so they can focus on their customers & development.

Moving to France is exciting: new home, new work, new culture! But having to grasp the business rules can be overwhelming, especially if you don't master the language yet.

How I can help you:

  1. Power Hour: Book a one-to-one call for advice on your business project. Get up to speed quickly, talk through your options and understand the implications of your choices.
  2. Micro Entrepreneur & Artist Registration: Let me handle your business registration in France. I'll manage the whole process for you, while sending you a useful factsheet and tips to guide you with the paperwork.
  3. My French Business Visa: Online course and 1-to-1 coaching to prepare your business visa application. Get Valerie’s support for 6 months to develop your business plan, finances and submit your visa application. Life access to course + Zoom calls for 6 months.
  4. Manage Your Micro Entrepreneur: Join my group of micro entrepreneurs and get support for 1 year to learn to manage your French business. Create your online accounts, do your declarations, bookkeeping. Includes live monthly Q&As + 1 year Forum access.
  5. Private Forum: Ask me anything about your business for a year. Avoid sleepless nights and get reliable answers. I've answered about 94,005 questions for 3,532 members since 2009!

Business blog

Freelancers in France: Your homework before 2025

As a business owner, there are 5 things to keep an eye on, to avoid bad surprises or last-minute fix-it rush. Consider this article as your homework to be done before 2025. ...

By Valérie Aston · 21 Oct 2024 · 252 views

How to use your free business Training Fund - CFP

Did you know that entrepreneurs and freelancers in France are paying towards a training fund? And that they can use this fund to pay for FREE training ...

By Valérie Aston · 14 Oct 2024 · 328 views

How do you declare your YouTube income in France

Rules and process of declaring YouTube income in France. Myth of passive income, different business structures for YouTubers, and the impact on French visas. ...

By Valérie Aston · 20 Sep 2024 · 456 views

How to work as an artist in France

What are the specifics of setting up as an artist in France, the difference between artists and other businesses, whether you need a visa, the tax regimes for artists. ...

By Valérie Aston · 14 Aug 2024 · 1993 views

Resources

100 Business ideas to Freelance in France
Let’s Freelance in France Challenge
Micro Entrepreneur Facsheet
Let’s Freelance in France Newsletter

Business podcasts

How to set up a health cover and get a carte vitale

This podcast explains how to set up a health cover and how to get a carte vitale for entrepreneurs. Find out how your carte vitale will be issued and answers to popular questions on health cover. ...

By Valérie Aston · 10 May 2011

Adding an APE or NAF code to your business

This podcast discusses the implications of adding an extra APE or NAF activity code to your current business and how to do it. Adding an extra APE activity code can be done for an auto-entrepreneur, an entreprise ...

By Valérie Aston · 10 May 2011

Complete overview of the auto-entrepreneur system

This podcast, which is 44 minutes long, will give you a complete overview of the auto-entrepreneur system. It's perfect if you're starting a business in France as an auto-entrepreneur, or you're registered and want a ...

By Valérie Aston · 6 Sep 2013

Everyone's questions

Deleting an INPI Auto-Entrepreneur application

Asked by Tuckshop23 · 13 Nov 2024
Auto-entrepreneur new

Advantages/disadvantages of listing a collaborator on a business?

Asked by annawill · 13 Nov 2024 · 2 replies
Business registration open

Concept Store/Clothing Brand that works with Mexican Artisans in Mexico

Asked by StephVauss · 12 Nov 2024 · 1 reply
SARL, EURL, SAS etc. open

Adding / replacing a ‘actionnaire minorité’ (third person in an SAS that is a small restaurant)

Asked by sandrogynous · 7 Nov 2024
SARL, EURL, SAS etc. new

Form 751-SD help

Asked by Andie · 6 Nov 2024 · 1 reply
General business open

Duration of conjoint collaborateur status

Asked by Cinnamon · 4 Nov 2024 · 12 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

How do I obtain my Carte Vitale as a micro-entrepreneur?

Asked by smiles · 4 Nov 2024 · 4 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

URSSAF cotisations - “À régulariser” micro entrepreneur

Asked by NOVA · 4 Nov 2024 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

French tax (if any) on earnings within UK pension pots, pre-retirement

Asked by Sarah Rama · 1 Nov 2024 · 4 replies
Social and financial help open

Micro-entrepreneur en profession libérale first steps

Asked by Seneca · 30 Oct 2024 · 3 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Maximum Income for Auto-Entrepeneur

Asked by Juliette2024 · 26 Oct 2024 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

French equivalent of ICO and data protection RGPD?

Asked by Sarah Rama · 23 Oct 2024 · 3 replies
General business open

TVA declarations on ‘turnover invoiced’ or ‘turnover received’ ?

Asked by NOVA · 21 Oct 2024 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

TVA and earning limits

Asked by Chris · 21 Oct 2024 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Can I use a Wise (used to be Transferwise) account for my micro entreprise?

Asked by Sarah Rama · 19 Oct 2024 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Client in Belgium and TVA mentions

Asked by Eleanorp · 18 Oct 2024 · 5 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

CPAM dossier: request for additional documents

Asked by gingersnap · 8 Oct 2024 · 9 replies
Health care and carte vitale open

URSSAF monthly declaration cancellation/resubmission

Asked by NOVA · 8 Oct 2024 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Testimonials

Having browsed the forum for the past few hours we must say that we are glad we have found such a helpful resource!

-Tracy and Della