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 create and manage their freelancing or small business in France, so they can concentrate on developing their activity.

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. Private forum: Ask me anything about your business for a year. Avoid sleepless nights and get reliable answers. I've answered about 89,785 questions for 3,430 members since 2009!
  2. 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.
  3. Auto-entrepreneur 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.
  4. Auto Entrepreneur overview: All you need to know about the auto entrepreneur (micro entrepreneur). How does it work, regulations, taxes, can it work for you?
  5. Group course: Fed up of doing it on your own? Join Valerie for a 3 to 4 month group course to boost your move to France. Plan your business and visa application with My French Business and learn to manage your new business with Manage Your Micro Entrepreneur.
  6. Gite Masterclass: Learn how to declare your holiday rental orAirbnb as a business or a non-resident. Finally understand the rules and taxes to decide which one suits you best.

Business blog

Doors to My French Business course are open

My French Business Course is a step-by-step guide to help you structure and prepare for your future business in France. Turn your idea into a strong business plan ...

By Valérie Aston · 23 May 2023 · 46 views

New: Free 5-day Freelance in France Challenge

I’ve just designed a free 5-day challenge to help you decide whether freelancing in France could be an opinion for you. Read on. ...

By Valérie Aston · 26 Apr 2023 · 160 views

Deadline : Declare your French properties by June 2023

You might have recently received an email from Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, asking you to declare or validate the information on your French properties. In this article, I’m explaining why. ...

By Valérie Aston · 22 Mar 2023 · 1614 views

Resources

100 Business ideas to Freelance in France
How to Freelance in France as a Micro Entrepreneur
How to Create a Gite, Chambres or Table d’Hôtes in France
How to Manage your Micro Entrepreneur Set Up Paperwork

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

Online Courses

Everyone's questions

TVA Questions as Micro Entrepreneur

Asked by agtw12 · 25 May 2023 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Microentrepreneur limits and taxation

Asked by Stephie_Bee · 24 May 2023 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Changing business address to a PO Box

Asked by agtw12 · 23 May 2023 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Getting a TVA/VAT Number as Micro Entrepreneur

Asked by agtw12 · 23 May 2023 · 2 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

DES declaration doubt

Asked by Tomas · 22 May 2023 · 1 reply
General business open

First auto-entrepreneur tax declaration

Asked by SoftwareDev · 22 May 2023 · 3 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Declaring 2022 gite income France and UK

Asked by Vincent · 22 May 2023 · 4 replies
General business open

Declaration of income (exchange rate)

Asked by Eleanorp · 19 May 2023 · 2 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Concierge service

Asked by Clarke · 18 May 2023 · 2 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Registering a car for the business

Asked by Luckydog · 16 May 2023 · 3 replies
Business registration open

Non resident tax forms 2042 / 2042 C Pro

Asked by Kennedy · 10 May 2023 · 2 replies
Gîte, chambre et table d’hôte open

Income tax declaration 2022

Asked by sandrogynous · 8 May 2023 · 3 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Is a social security number required to register a business in France?

Asked by Valerie · 4 May 2023 · 3 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

DPE Ratings for Chambres d’hote

Asked by Treffamille · 29 Apr 2023 · 2 replies
Gîte, chambre et table d’hôte open

Healthcare video marked as private

Asked by aubergine · 28 Apr 2023 · 3 replies
General business open

Private Pensions / PER(P)?

Asked by Cupcakes · 28 Apr 2023 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Income before business start date, what to do?

Asked by Tomas · 27 Apr 2023 · 12 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

First Cotisation Payment as Micro Entrepreneur

Asked by Eleanorp · 24 Apr 2023 · 3 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Testimonials

The French system of setting up a business and paying taxes is complicated and easy to get lost in. I was also overdue with documents for the French authorities. Valerie's advice was probably the best use of my money in the entire year. She knew the regulatory pitfalls and problems relating to my business and tax situation, and her advice was invaluable. I cannot recommend Valerie more highly. Do it now!

-John