redlancer

Hi Looking at opening a shop to make a living in France in about a year 18months. We have a few idea''s and inparticular are looking at franchise's. anyone with any experience of renting or buying a shop inparticular large towns, cities, just after a feel for costs, hidden costs, deposits, length of contract's, finance, success, failure stories etc Any good internet sites out there. Had a quick look on internet Prices look a lot cheaper than in the UK on a per month basis. But when i looked at buying a shop it seemed really cheap (about the same as a years rent), althought all case there was little info apart from the odd one with a purchase price plus a loyer which was small. Made me think maybe the buy to let option was a money maker or the price was for the buisness but then there was no mention of the shop type of goods. thanks as always Graham

thanks Going over in Feb so will sort out an account then, seems local branch is the option.    

[quote user="Will "] I think Britline may be an exception to the general rule of French banking that you cannot service an account from other regions (which applies to other banks apart from CA though a few banks, including Banque Postale (as the Post Office banking service is now known) are properly national. Banque Postale gets a lot of support on forums like this, but as always there are certain points to bear in mind. Small post offices in France are being closed, just as they are in Britain. Post Office staff will know the basic banking procedures, but they may not be so well trained or as familiar in things like foreign transfers as the main banks. And in France, as it used to be in rural England, the village postmaster or mistress is the major source of local gossip - I'm not sure that I would want my fiances circulated among the neighbours. The word on the street is that Banque Postale is rather slower than most when dealing with non-French currency transactions. On the other hand, the charges are supposed to be less than some other banks. [/quote]   thanks supose its what ment by slow as for finances its only for depositing part of my salary every month for me wife to live off, i'm after something to get us off the ground and until we say buy a property

[quote user="Ron Avery"] If you have a UK address still, open up a Nationwide account, you can take money out of ATMs in euros in France for free. If you just want a French bank account then go to Calais and open up one, there is little to choose costwise unless you want the comfort of an English speaking banker then use  CA Britline with whom I believe that you can open up an account without going to France, but if you are not going to be near Calvados its a long way to go to pay in money as its not easy from any other region's CA or other French banks   [/quote] thanks As said going to Rhone/Alpes and fly from Liverpool s.   So from what you've said Britline is off no use?  Did get the feel they charged you re cash machines outside of thier area didn't spot the depositing funds bit. Need a French account to set up DD and for renting a property. Off out there Feb to do a full recy but thought if i could get account sorted prior it would be an advantaged.    

[quote user="beryl"] Moneybookers works well for me re transferring money from sterling to euros. Quick, cheap and easy and the exchange rate is good IMO. If you have an euro account with a UK bank, this can prove very costly. The La Poste bank had a few recommendations recently and I am considering them myself. I don't know anything about Credit Agricole Brit Line except that they have English speaking advisors. [/quote]   didn't know if this was a "UK" account so to speak Was going to look at :La Poste, just thought if Barclays had a "french" account it might be easier to set up from over here.  Free cash points would be usefull.  

Done a search but didn't find much on this so appologies if its been done before. Out situation will be Misses and kids living in france, while i'll commute and work in UK. Prior to going out want to set up a French or Euro account. My situation will mean i'll need one that's cheap as chips for transfering money from UK.  But could also do with one that won't cost the earth in France, forgoton how good free banking is. Couldn't find any info re the Barclay's one apart from it stating that free cash point in whole of France. Is this an accout that could also set up direct debits etc in France i.e. a French bank account in principle. Any experience on this would be helpfull We are moving to Rhone alps area      

[quote user="Teamedup"] I think that it depends where you live and what level of education your are at as to whether there are extra lessons given. Money in the education nationale can be pretty tight.   Just think you'll be the best at English   That doesn't necessarily follow. French teachers speaking english do not necessarily think that 'english speakers' have got it right either with pronunciation or grammer etc. There have been threads about this in the past.   [/quote]   was just trying to show some positives re the English bit as she was worried. As for level of education - primary school      

[quote user="polly"]My family and i are moving to brittany soon as well. i have asked many people about what i will do about school. i am worried but i have heard that i will be kept back a year so you ca get a chance to pick up the language. I think that some schools provide extra time during and after schools for english children to help learn french hope this helps polly[/quote] From what i read / heard going back a year is the norm and in fact a lot of French children do the same. I'm hoping like you said there are extra lesson's etc My eldest daughter who's 8 is also worried but at the same time excited so your not the only one who's a little bit worried. Just think you'll be the best at English  

[quote user="Bones"]We rented a place for three months when we arrived - but couldn't find any work. We soon realised that we wouldn't be able to pay the rent anymore, and our savings were running dry, so we told the 'landlord' and made our way down to the CAF via a social worker. If we couldn't have done this (my partner's french and some locals put us in touch with the social worker) then we'd have gone home and chalked the whole thing up to massive failure! Tell them to either get some housing benifit/RMI (and believe me - they'll be lucky to cover the rent on a flat never mind a house; plus they'll need to furnish it) or go home to England. Sadly for them - it just ain't your problem! You are not the CAF... [/quote] seems a good option here. only experience is UK lettings but behind every sob story is a potential nightmare.  Inlaws letted to a single mum who worked locally.  Felt sorry for her and everything OK untill she stopped paying the rent and then the son got involved with threats of knivings if they go to social,  she's out now and someone elses problem as she knows my inlaws address they don't want to inform the social incase.  End of day she's out and only loss is a couple of quid and wrecked house which needed gutting anyway.  I was for going police or another but i'm not local to them and there away. not saying you have someone else's problem, but don't get emotionally attached as it can be used against you.  Some peoples liveleyhoods are their "can't help but like them" as people say their hard luck isn't your problem good luck  

Hi all Some questions.   We're moving to France hopefully in April, i'll be still working in UK so initially we'll be renting. We're looking in the Annecy and surrounding area so have an area in mind but obviously we can't look for schools until we know where we can find a place to rent. What#s the timescales once we know where we'll be living to sort out a school for a 6 and 8 year old? i.e. does it need months or can it be sorted in a few days? Ideally we'd want to find a village area hoping this would help us all integrate more quickly than say a city. I gather that you get put into the nearest school language permitting. Do schools or anywhere provide do like a summer school to help non French speaking children to learn? Has anyone any experience off the schools or education available in this area.   Thanks in advance

LHD car was 11K equivalent UK would be about 7k  so not quite double. relooked and the mileage is very small on LHD car. but anyway it was more[:@]    

Will, points taken as for dealers with LHD px would expect them to know of or have access to other dealers had notice there are LHD that cost more than the RHD equivalent in some cases double!!!! in my case getting a LHD for a few months from the UK especially say a dealer makes it easier if anything goes wrong.  say's with tounge firmly in cheek    

a lot of usefull info there thankyou all. as for house in britain its rented out on a 12month lease. what's included in the rent or is it just the rent? apart from utilities, house insurance and tax d'habitation any other costs i need to buget for? as for tax d'habitation what's the comparision to UK council tax etc?  

[quote user="Will "] I've done all three, and there are pros and cons with all. Another alternative - more difficult now because all the dealers and most individuals have caught on - is to buy a cheap LHD car in Britain, make sure it's one that is popular in France, preferably diesel, and take that. [/quote] that was my initial thought just seen all that CV stuff so TVR out of the question she'll have to have a Clio va va vooooom

thanks so many things to sort out, exciting times.

thanks for that 3 years!!!! whats the normal notice period then? so apart from long term 3 years and gites are there any short term like on the UK 6months/12 months etc thanks in advance  

Title says it all really. After a general feel. Hopefully off to France next 3 months. So thought sell UK car and buy a LHD before hand and register it in France.  But then saw the Begium thread and was wondering is that the cheaper better option, but presume you must be importing it just into France.  It will be for me and my wife in France, i'll have UK car when i'm in UK. I've got no problem importing cars and going thro the procedures.  Graham    

Hi   Hopefully moving to France, or well my wife and kids are in 3 months time. We're looking at dept 73/74 and will go for a long term let, started looking at internet for possible lets, but thought i'd pick your brains for advice.  Going to go out in a month or 2 and get in touch re letting agents before hand as internet is a bit thin on the ground. How easy is it to set up long term lets when only ref etc will be from England?  Will be classed as home owner in UK How quick is it to set up, i rent in UK which takes about 2 weeks? What are the costs compared to the UK? Any warnings or beawares off?  And major differences between UK and France? thanks in adance, after a lot of info so any will be of use EDIT - forgot to ask, do lets generally allow dogs? Graham

[quote user="Chrisb"] It is quite simple...........it's exactly how it works for us. My husband commutes weekly to the UK, and my children and I have health care via an E106. He pays tax and NI contributions in the UK and we complete a French tax return, but do not pay any extra tax: this entitles us to tax credits on things such as wood-burning stoves etc, which are repaid in the form of a cheque. We are also still entitled to claim UK child benefit. Regards Chris   [/quote]   Chris Thanks for that, child benifit I would never of thought. Sounds like you've done what we plan too.  Does E106 cover everyhing and long term? Graham

thanks for that, sounds too simple  

Hiya all Newbie here, apoologies if these questions are easily found and as i have a lot of questions realise this might need to be in more than one Forum We're looking at living in France and ultamatly either run a buisness or find employment in France But as none of us are fluent French and need to make a living the only way we can see to get the fluency and integrate ourselves and children (6&8yrs old) is for me to carry on working in the UK and my family move to France. What are the Tax and registration implications on this, i'm in the 40% tax bracket in the UK?  Would i pay tax to both UK and France or just France or UK.  If i payed to just the UK what implications would this have on my family as they'll be in France for more than 66% of the time.  I'd be less than 33%.  What implications does it have with Health and Schooling We have a home in the UK which is currently rented out but i look to sell this once the rentee leaves in 18months thanks in advance Graham