ASOfford

Sincere apologies for not replying sooner to your query re registering Office in France; Snowed under with work! Anyway. Assuming that you are already a Limited UK Company - Take the following documentation to the Chambre de Commerce. Memorandum of Association (In French) Certificate of Incorporation (Not in French) Confirmation that you are the Director/s Confirmation from your Landlord or the owner of your property (This can be a letter from you to you if you intend to work from home!) that you have permission to run a business from the proposed Office Address. Proof of domicile in France (EDF/France Telecom Bill/Lease) Proof of French Bank Account (Not always necessary) VAT Certificate (you will still be registered for TVA in France whether you like it or not unless you can definatively prove that all work & invoicing is carried out from the UK) Chequebook to pay for the following fees: Registration Charge for La Greffe (Tribunal) to issue you with a Certificate plus Reg No Like Companies House (Normally 54 but this may change per Department -I don't know) Membership Fee for Chambre de Commerce (Obligatory plus invaluable - Doors open magically after this is handed over!!) Fees for other Chambres eg> Chambre de Metiers if this applies to you - and you will be advised. Ask Chamber of Commerce to assist you filling out Forms. If you are already a UK Company you will NOT HAVE to place Capital in a Secure Account. Hope all this info helps and once again sincere apologies for taking so long to reply. Sally O

LAST EDITED ON 18-Jun-03 AT 10:57 AM (GMT) I attended a French Accountancy Course with the Small Business Club at CCI Cherbourg on Monday. Found out to my amazement that Tax on small businesses is departmental NOT national. For example Micro entreprise in Manche do not have to pay tax for 5 years. In Calvados 2 years. In Limousin - must pay tax immediately. Also, we have not had to take any courses having already got a UK Ltd Company and a 2nd Office in France (registered last Dec in France to benefit from 5yr Tax Facility) I cannot recommend these FREE courses with your local Chamber highly enough.Not only do you learn vocab re Tax Forms etc, but you are given all the info on creating French Business Plans, and the Profit Margins allowable by the French Government for each profession. Did you know for example - if you charge too little you will be fined by the tax man and if you charge too much you will be eligible to Income Revue by the Government. As the only English Participant, I was made extremely welcome, and a concerted effort was made to ensure that I understood all that was said (I hasten to add that I do speak and trade in French anyway) Our next Clinic is in Oct on Medical/Retirement Planning for employers and small business. Contact CCI Cherbourg for more info. Sally O.