Ty Korrigan

Timing is important... sign on unemployed...use the period before your course to research and 'discreatly' publicise your future business.  The following information will be given to you during your stage. For long term unemployed an exemption from social charges during your first year is possible. Free finance from various sources is available for new entreprenures. The key is to just sign on...! Its easy and can be done by internet.

 I apologise for being insulting.

If you first sign on as unemployed, you can't claim any 'social' but there are good advantages in terms of financial assistance for would-be entreprenures, legal, above board and freely offered. I know this to be a fact before the knockers come poo-poo-ing and generally knocking... Its all made clear in the 5 day course... Of course if you haven't done the course and you are a flatulant opinionated forum guru then your advice will be of a different nature...

I could name some forum 'Gurus'...

All the money I have ever amassed has gone on my hovel and my business. The state doesn't ask you to sell what you have in order to live and freely offers the advice and financhial support to those who start a business. 

What are you trying to say then Teamup...? Why attack me for giving my version of the advice I have been given? Are you a weak little bully type hiding behind your computer...? A negative, pessamistic, unhelpfull weak bully...?

Hello, I say that buying here is cheaper generally and that you should think about first a quality petrol 'autotractee' mower before lashing out on a cheap 'autoportee' as the former will go on forever and cause you less grief. I use a 53cm honda powered honda own brand for even quite large areas of around 3000m2 although if you're lawn is perfectly square and flat then it is quicker with a ride-on. Just think of the exercise walking everywhere!

I left myself open to that from Zeb! By smart I rather mean't an obvious uniform rather than jeans and old Led zepplin t shirt and a clean tidy vehicle/tools... wouldn't have minded seeing Zebs 'little boob' though... or not so little...prehaps... She is very right about the rest and I take it on board. Cheers 'm' dears! Stuart X

Hello...I pay myself 8euros per hour which is around 12euros including the social charges. If I bought a new Renault van for 20k a highsided trailer 3k to carry the mowers and cart away materials, 3 in all 10k and thats bloody cheap too! I have an   investment   figure of 35k.I must recupurate the cost of this in order to buy new replacements after 10years. As my effective working season is 30 weeks I calculate 30weeks x 10 years divided by 35k= 117 which if then divided by the client hours I work on average say 30 gives me a figure of 4euros in order to recuperate the investment. Fuel,accountant,repairs,publicity on prime time.... and also growth of business in terms of machinery and size need a profit margin. I believe that if you not only can do the job well but look smart with good clean machinery then clients will pay a little more for the peace of mind/proffessional image. What do you lot think...?

Sorry, wrong type of person here again... I have read again some of the replies... There is finance at zero percent available for new entreprenures who have been unemployed and fit the criteria. When was the last time you 'Gurus' went to your C.C.I...Eh?

I am informed by the ASSEDIC that working one day cheque employee gives you access to the benefits system... are they wrong then...?

No mortgage at 30 is the result of working hard and saving hard. Something thats becoming a bit of a lost art today... Rode a bike, grew my own food, few expensive habits and lived in a touring caravan from 20 to 30 years old. Bought an old house in Yorkshire dales, renovated it then sold and bought here.  

I have been laughing all day as I cut grass... What a funny lot you are to 'object' to some-ones situation! 'Look a gift horse in the mouth and then tell the giver you don't ride horses as they are too lowly' Stuff and nonsense to the lot of you! Sign on as unemployed and use the time to research your business/attend courses/plan/forecast etc and drum up a client base before you register so you have a flying chance of success.  Still laughing...!  

I have been laughing all day as I cut grass... What a funny lot you are to 'object' to some-ones situation! 'Look a gift horse in the mouth and then tell the giver you don't ride horses as they are too lowly' Stuff and nonsense to the lot of you! Sign on as unemployed and use the time to research your business/attend courses/plan/forecast etc and drum up a client base before you register so you have a flying chance of success.  Still laughing...!  

I have been laughing all day as I cut grass... What a funny lot you are to 'object' to some-ones situation! 'Look a gift horse in the mouth and then tell the giver you don't ride horses as they are too lowly' Stuff and nonsense to the lot of you! Sign on as unemployed and use the time to research your business/attend courses/plan/forecast etc and drum up a client base before you register so you have a flying chance of success.  Still laughing...!  

The C.C.I has offered the information, rather than being viewed as a sponger 1st class with honours I am simply taking what is offered to help me start my business which will then pay back into the system. Here is how it goes... No mortgage, aged 30, got a van, trailer and all materials to start up in my chosen business. Have worked 3 months over Xmas period night shelf stacking during the last two years back in the U.K which gives me plenty to live on here for the summer as well as providing the 'paperwork' for the French authorities. Signed on upon return (this does not give you immediate access to benefits it just registers your situation) I worked one hour cheque employee which gives me access to benefits. Now all this gives me access to zero cotisations during year one and the R.M.I gives me something to live on whilst my business builds up. You can apply for a reduction in your cotisations if you ask... It is not a question of 'tipping the balance' but simply a helping hand. I will cope with the cotisations by simply paying them from my business... How else? I laugh at you all!  

Not all who dwell here are middleclass and comfortably off. I came here to be with my french lass, I had little enough in the U.K but here I have the assistance of my french family and the state to start my business. I have taken my place in society, started a business and am paying my way as my entreprise takes off. Your comment is out of place, unwelcome and shows a distinctly uneglitarian  attitude. Are you saying that only the moneyed classes are welcome here? I wonder what you are like in the flesh... all flesh no doubt!  Back to work...

Hello, I don't really think that for a small entreprise such as yours that it is really worth the trouble... I trade as Le Jardinier Anglais...(how original) I have one internet domain and searched the local yellow pages before registering. I am not a company but an entreprise individual and so I could change my trading name as often as my pants if I so wished. (weekly...) Your financhial regime makes no difference, you are not a company. You are a private individual and likely to be a micro entreprise. Don't believe all they tell you as read, the C.C.I are very well intentioned but if you followed everything they told you you may die of confusion before you earn a single cent! I recommend you sign on as unemployed first as 3 months before registering can give you access to benefits known as 'renumeration minimum insertion'  357euros per month for a single person. You apply for this at your Marie. If you are unemployed for more than 6months in france but have worked for 6 months during the last two years any where and can prove such with paper, then you may apply to be exempt from cotisations for the first year! You must be able to prove you have worked with pay slips, p45 and references. If you survive the 5day stage at the C.C.I you will have gained alot of knowlege irelevant to your situation but usefull to enable you to understand the french system.

Linnorton... I don't understand... The demand is there, its just the disparity between the french pricepoint and the brits... As it is, come winter, I shall search for work in a factory until such time my agenda is full of clients.

Sound advice Weedon, thanks!

Hear hear! Motorhead! I could say that as I have a van/car and a trailer and must have all these tools to look after my own property then I shall take none of their value into account when pricing my services. This year I am cutting grass at 20euros which is the least I could charge as it really doesn't return enough for future investment but only breaks even. Breaking even is a 'subsistance only' level and not viable for the future.

Another note...  I now believe many people operate small businesses without allowing for investment/depreciation of tools+machinery and other expenses. The phrase my business advisor used was 'Busy fools' This can be the only way that the low pricing some offer can be possible. If I only charged for my wages/social charges assurances+fuel then I arrive at a little under 15euros... But I would be ignoring the van/trailer/3 mowers/assorted power equipement+tools which make my total investment 30k euros. These are going to wear out at some point...   Many thanks for all you feedback... I shall let you know how I progress...    

Hello, I'm going to risk cutting grass today after lunch as its so dry here today...! My 'stage' was in French which I was very nervous of attending until I found an unemployed french friend who offered to come along to translate/make notes. She is also very supportive and has helped me with all my paperwork, in fact without her I wouldn't have been able to cope I'm sure with the complexity of 'demarrage' and would be working in a factory until my french was up to speed. I also heard that the course may be held in English and even have a newspaper cutting from the ouest france to stating this... Many Brits just sit dumb for 5 days and rely on english speaking accountants to advise after...  Business in france is complicated and expensive but the support systems and the people at the C.C.I are super! P.S... I have just cut a garden for a new client who was quoted 65euros by a french entretien espace vert against my 20euros! It takes me exactly one hour to cut and lift cutting.

Just dial up on google for some really good studies and solutions from institutions in the U.K In the U.K it is forbidden to simply dump soil contaminated with 'Fallopia japonica' (I can't remember the spelling!) Every part of the plant can regenerate so special landfills are needed. The best answers include exhausting the plant through continual spraying or injecting direct with glyphosate, cutting but NOT WITH A BRUSHCUTTER !!! then burning thoroughly and wholesale removal of the contaminated terrain. It holds up many construction projects with its costly removal... You can't bury this bad news I'm afraid as it will push through anything and tarmac is very soft indeed.  

Hello Sasha, how does your rate breakdown...? ie how much do you pay yourself/fuel perhour/investment/depreciation/assurance/vehicle running costs... please reply by e-mail if you have no wish to air your financial laundry!