My relative silence here has been partly due to a little project that has finally come to fruition after some years of struggle and tears… Freelance in France 2015 is the title of the book and, as the name suggests, it is a practical guide aimed at helping anyone wishing to work for themselves in La République; and avoid the pitfalls that I and many others have tumbled into!
Today there are sixteen recognised ways to work for yourself in France, but you need to know the difference between each option, what you’re allowed to do, what you’re not allowed to do, what you’re required to do and the pros and cons of each before you can make an informed decision. Hopefully you’ll find all the information you need to get you started right here.
If I’d had this book back in 2006, when I moved to France, I would most certainly have become a millionaire by now.
There are sections covering Border Working, Au Pairs, Employment vouchers (CESU), Auto Entrepreneur, Intermittent du Spectacle, EI Travailleur Indépendant, Artist-Author, Portage and Cooperative as well as all the forgettable acronymns that represent one-man bands: EIRL, AREL, EURL, SASU, SELARL and SELAS. Amongst the practical information you’ll also find my take on the reality of doing business French style.
It is packed with links to the plethora of official government websites, information on Tax, Social Security, VAT, Personal liability, Customs and other formalities as well as a “Getting started” section for each category. You will notice that the cover image is the same as was draw for this very blog! (Though I’ve added a few more splats of blood for effect!)
It’s currently available in print on lulu.com and is on pre-sale for the Kindle edition at Amazon and I’ll shortly be launching a website to support any feedback or comments/queries you might have at www.freelanceinfrance.fr.
