how to be legal? one man business

[beani]

we are moving to france in march, and have (hopefully) enough finance to see us through the first year,(ish) while we set up a gite. However, we have been offered work, general things like gardening, house clearance, cleaning, labouring.

We would like to be legal whilst doing this. Can my partner be self employed? and will this help us to join the french social security system, health care, etc. we also have a daughter who will be six by the time we move, so we really are going to try to make it a permanent move, we really are in the dark as to how any of this works.

I have read that there has to be a minimum income for self employed, but I have read that much, I am confused.

we need to have some form of income to support the bank account for as long as possible as things will be really tight. Any help will be most gratefully received,

many thanks, Bev

[Will]

How you set up your business depends to a great extent on what you are doing, and seems to vary according to where you are. In your case, your local URSSAF office or Chambre de Metiers would be a good place to start.

I've never heard of a minimum income being required, and can't see how this would work as most people won't be able to predict what they will be getting while establishing their business. There is what is known as a 'social security threshold' and if you get less than a certain percentage (I think 15%) you are exempted from registration and cotisations. If you income is bigger than this but still relatively small, you can elect to be treated as a micro entreprise which makes taxation and accounting much easier, though you will still be liable for social security charges.

You will probably need to register via the Chambre des Metiers, and do a course in French business practice.

 

[Teamedup]

Minimum income used to be required to live in France and  proof of this was required for a titre de sejour. So as these are no longer obligitoire I would assume that proof of income is no longer an issue.

[beani]

I am starting to think that being self employed is not the answer, as it would be here. If you are then out of work, nothing is paid, and the tax to pay into the system appears to be quite high. I did find a thread on this topic, but it got lost in a debate on socialism, which I do not understand...

Does any body know if you can join the social security / health system by paying volentary as you can in the UK.

We would like to join the system so as to have proper cover for illness, times  of un employment, hospitals etc

Or am I looking at this totally wrong?

If any one knows the answer, please help,

thanks, Bev

[Jirac18]

[quote]I am starting to think that being self employed is not the answer, as it would be here. If you are then out of work, nothing is paid, and the tax to pay into the system appears to be quite high. I did...[/quote]

Bev,

In the first place, assuming you are a piad up member to UK national insurance, you can come to France or any other EU country with a reciprocal agreement with the UK. You need to apply for the correct E FORM from Newcastle Upon Tyne. You take that form to the Social Security Office in your nearest main town and register it. As a result you will be entitled to medical cover upto 65 or 70% by the state (depending on the problem). The remainder you will need to cover by a private insurance policy.(Highly recommended). If you are a family you need to register both parents and children. Our daughter shares a carte vitale (state medical cover) with her mum as she is only three. I don't know at what age they become independant in relation to this.

If you take up self employment you will need to register with the Chambre de Metiers or Greffe depending on what you do. They will generate for a small fee all the required paperwork to allow you work legally. A self employed status will require insurance with and registration with URSAFF. As stated before it becomes quite expensive but should all level out after a few years. At first it seems like bill after bill.

I hope this helps and I'm sure there are gaps to be filled. Hopefully some of the more experienced members can expand on my experience and make it a little clearer for you.

[Russethouse]

Beani, I believe this is a good book which may help (although like all books they quickly become out of date because rules and regs change)

http://shop.livingfrance.com/lvfra/product.asp?mscssid=5E0B80NLLTUQ8L97GVPQ4CDP7CWVEF28&dept%5Fid=11&pf%5Fid=F%2FR11

( I'm afraid you will probably have to copy the link into your browser)