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 95,115 questions for 3,553 members since 2009!

Business blog

French income tax deadines 2024

This article covers the 2024 French income tax deadlines and basic reminders to help you get ready for the tax season. ...

By Valérie Aston · 26 Mar 2025 · 45 views

Impact of French Politics on Freelancers

After the roller coaster from the last 6 months, find out how the future French budget may impact Freelancers in France. ...

By Valérie Aston · 5 Dec 2024 · 1218 views

Don’t choose this visa to freelance in France!

This year, I've seen many expats wanting to register a business while under a long-stay visitor Visa. And I've had to break the bad news to them... ...

By Valérie Aston · 14 Nov 2024 · 1513 views

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 · 2980 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 · 1357 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

Have received a letter from SACEM about music licence even though I don’t have any kind of premises

Asked by Sarah Rama · 26 Mar 2025
Auto-entrepreneur new

Question About Income Threshold Calculation

Asked by Polo · 25 Mar 2025 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

VAT

Asked by PIF · 11 Mar 2025 · 4 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

SACEM

Asked by KatyB · 11 Mar 2025
Gîte, chambre et table d’hôte new

Renewing Visa Talent

Asked by smiles · 7 Mar 2025 · 5 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Getting a French phone number before arriving

Asked by Creative Elephant · 6 Mar 2025
General business new

Non-French micro entrepreneurs and CDD/CDI contracts

Asked by Panda_Fr · 4 Mar 2025 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Late payment interest

Asked by Creative Elephant · 3 Mar 2025 · 2 replies
General business open

Mandatory content for AE customer contracts

Asked by Creative Elephant · 3 Mar 2025 · 11 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

AE business address

Asked by Creative Elephant · 3 Mar 2025 · 2 replies
Business registration open

Signing another company’s terms from another country

Asked by Creative Elephant · 28 Feb 2025 · 1 reply
General business open

The EI mention and the separation between personal and professional assets

Asked by Panda_Fr · 27 Feb 2025 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

VLS TS entrepreneur - profession libérale permit renewal

Asked by Panda_Fr · 27 Feb 2025 · 2 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Professional / commercial name for my micro entreprise

Asked by Panda_Fr · 27 Feb 2025 · 2 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Best bank for micro-entrepreneur making and receiving non-euro payments

Asked by Creative Elephant · 27 Feb 2025 · 6 replies
General business open

Business Registration and Approved Trainer Status

Asked by Canleykid90 · 26 Feb 2025 · 2 replies
Business registration open

Getting a French Plumbing and Heating Qualification

Asked by jes22000 · 25 Feb 2025 · 1 reply
Auto-entrepreneur open

Auto entrepreneur EU and non EU revenue, does it all count towards TVA threshold?

Asked by Tommy Viking · 19 Feb 2025 · 2 replies
Auto-entrepreneur open

Testimonials

It's such a relief to ask questions to somebody who actually knows what she is talking about.

-Elise