Suzyq

Yes, I think everyone has fallen into this trap, whether intentionally or not.  There are some worrying rumours locally for those on both sides, one where a quite prominent family man has been questioned by the gendarmes and an announcement on a local radio station that the gendarmes are bringing in 4 extra bodies to deal specifically with the local black labour problem in the building trade. And yes, there are fixed, estimated costs each month/quarter for the first 2 years trading, but you can ask for a reduction in these if your income is really below the limit they are set at,  Urssaf actually send a letter out now inviting you to do this.  The costs aren't lost as if by the third year you have shown in accounts that income was lower the first 2 years are readjusted to reflect this and you may find you are paying nothing for a while, while you catch up or even get a refund. If you want to work in France there is no way round it, the social charges are high, but the income tax is low.  Planning before hand and making sure you have sufficient resources to cover this start up period is the only way to proceed.  It is after all the same for French people as well as us immigrants. Suze

I checked with our accountant and chambre des metiers a few years ago re the exact same question.  The answer came back No; the taxman doesn't recognise labour swops. Youe biggest problem will be if he seen working on you home when you aren't there and a check is run on his papers; you may find yourself in trouble as well if any proof comes to light it's not such a friendly arrangement.  I think the most important problem is if he has an accident, regardless of the fiscal side of things, how will your insurance company deal with it, if he does make a claim on you.  Let's face it even the oldest friendships can fall apart if something untoward happens and how long have you known this chap? If you don't have a french social security number you can't use cheque emploi, but is there a reason why he won't register as a micro enterprise and bring things into line for everyone he does odd jobs for? Suze

The following links may help you http://www.microsoft.com/france/entrepreneur/creation/page8.htm http://www.apce.com On the latter you can go onto their forum or email them direct for a reply to a specific question.  A visit to to your chambre des metiers or commerce can be useful and in some areas they now have an agent who speaks english if that is useful to you. Suze

Dave, you don't say what you are doing.  For instance general gardening or a little household maintenance; but not building works; will come under the scheme.  It's the householder who applies and if they choose the right system for you they pay the social charges.  And yes, not everyone wants or even can apply.  But the advantage to the householder is that they can have an extra tax allowance to cover some or all of the cost, so it can work well for them to do it; I've been on both ends and it it a good system for domestic workers. The cotisations are a heavy burden for everyone in France, I think the micro system can be less fair than the full TvA system. In the first couple of years they are estimated and if that estimate actually is more than what you should pay on what you earned you will eventually either pay a lot less, or nothing for a year to catch up or even get a refund.  You can ask them to reduce the estimates if you have a proper record of what you earned and are likely to earn , but they will extract interest if you estimate too low a figure. Good luck Suze

It's a shame to give up! Why don't you have just a couple of small raised beds next year and plant a few salady mixes - the ones you pay over the odds for in the shops. Also miniature veg for just one serving. You can get a lot out of a small area doing it this way and keeping it planted. You can raise the bed by using planks or bricks and fill it with good soil to start with. Watering is easy and you could even automate it. Suze

All poultry poop is a good heater up of heaps; but it needs quite a lot to make it worth while. I have huge amounts of duck and goose poop; what won't go on the heaps I pile in with the sheep manure and rot for a year. Have also bagged it and let it fester for 6 months - popped this on a deep bed and planted the pumpkins and squashes in it - coming up so much of a treat they are threatening to take over. Suze

You can try minitel on 3617VERIF or you can ring or email their local CCI or chambres des metiers http://www.acfci.cci.fr/annuaire/repertoire.asp http://www.apcm.com/annuaires/ to find the one for the address you are searching. Suze

You can, but make sure they are from a reputable source and you're not importing virus and other diseases. We brought in bramley and a James greeves; neither fared very well in our climate and soil. I now stick to local varieties which are good producers here. Suze

M Reynard and his many offspring are having a successful year. We've learnt up to now! to live in harmony with him....but no longer. Broad daylight and always just after I've gone out, he nips over and whisks away just one duck. Not too fussed on my chickens, prefers a nice plump duck. Doesn't bother at night anymore and has jumped leccy fence before now. Chasse say they cannot do anything and I should lay in wait a shoot him; say I wouldn't be prosecuted if I did it out of season, but what if I shot a neighbours cow instead? and where do I get a gun? Our field orchard is now in the process of "operation fortress orchard" What next? Suze

>We are currently looking to buy >a hotel just outside Toulouse >and have received brief details >of the hotel's turnover. >Firstly, it states that they >take 27,000 euros for >breakfasts for the year with >the cost for supplying this >at 5,750 euros. Looks >like a terrific mark up >to me, could this be >right? Food does give a good mark up especially a simple meal like a breakfast. There are questions to be asked: How many rooms and what capacity do they have and what % bookings over the year. What do they serve (possibly just coffee, roll, butter and jam)and how much do they charge for a breakfast - at an average of say 5euros a head this is nearly 15 a day throughout the year at a cost of just over 1euro; does the hotel have this capacity or number of lettings? Have you seen the tarif charges - you can then work out the number and the profit from each one and what they serve to see if it is realistic and whether it ties in with the room lettings - it should equal or be less if breakfast is charged separately. The only time you can have more breakfasts than room capacity will be if they serve it to the general public as well as residents. > > >Secondly, the hotel is showing a >profit of 117,000 euros before >tax and after deducting all >overheads and runing costs. I >have tried and failed to >find what the tax burden >would be on this sum >and wonder if anyone could >give me an idea. I >will have to consult an >accountant in the near future >but do not want to >start racking up charges until >we see the property early >next month. We estimate at present that our social charges and tax burden to be around 54%; but the actual tax will depend on your own family circumstances and the higher rates kick in quite quickly as profits go up. > > Suze

Goes with the territory I'm afraid and not just with b&b. It's your place - you make the rules. We make sure that everyone is told on confirmation that we anticipate first night arrivals between 1600 and 1900 and to make sure they let us know if it is to be earlier or later. GdF advise that if no show or no contact by 1900; you are free to relet the room and the deposit is forfeit - haven't gone down that route yet. We've had guests arrive late but very contrite due to transport difficulties; they were lucky we stayed in, but you aren't obliged; you have a life. So far only 2 no shows - late bookers so no deposit, and one of those did phone to let us know albeit at 10pm; by which time we'd given them up anyway, but the wine had made me more mellow than 2 hours earlier If you put it in writing in your confirmation letter; they have only themselves to blame if you aren't on hand 24/7. Mostly I find folk are considerate; as usual it's the odd few that make life difficult. Suze

LAST EDITED ON 08-Jul-04 AT 09:02 AM (BST) Now you are set up you must attend to the beaurocracy and admin side before you get your fingers burnt. Have a look at the regs applying: http://www3.ccip.fr/inforeg/fiches/pdf/table_hote.pdf. http://www3.ccip.fr/inforeg/fiches/pdf/chambres_hote.pdf. What you do for your fiscal regime has been the subject of huge discussion here; I think we are agreed that you need a licence for drinks! You can put more than one business type on your chambre de commerce inscription so for example you might put property services and your bed and breakfast and tables d'hotes all on the same inscription. Don't forget you need proper insurance, not just normal householders insurance and fire extinquishers as well. Suze

Reading through some of the recent contributions after a bit of an absence; what are your thoughts on this abysmal pest. I have virtually given up growing main crop potatoes; except in a barrel, as I simply don't have the time to keep picking the blighters off; with blight following hot on the heels. Organically derris (rotenene) is allowed but to what quantity; surely just the occasional dusting won't keep them at bay. A friend swears by tagetes interplanted. I read that in america they use aubergines as a sacrificial crop; but I think I prefer them anyway - in any event our beetles didn't seem to bother it too much. Also heard about letting guinea fowl forage amongst the tatties. Suze

Almost certainly his employers will have been given guidelines on the treatment of payments to staff. Planning is the key to reducing your tax burden, as you can't change things with hindsight; but you can plan the number of days spent in and out of a country. try these links for further info: http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/menus/non-residents.htm You can download leaflets or have them posted http://www.service-public.fr/etranger/english.html http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/ARBO/NX13.html Suze

My first trip to Metro went quite well, reasonably impressed with quality and prices. Has anyone actually done a comprehensive comparison; to see if it really does work out cheaper to use the Cash and Carry. Where are the good ones, does any one use Promo-cash? Suze