Accountant Required

[Alip]

We are moving to Dept 32 next year. My husband is a carpenter in the UK and runs his own business. We need to find an english speaking accountant who can set up his business before we arrive. Can anyone recommend an accountant in this department?

[zeb]

Your husband will have to do the stage, the one week course run by the Chambre de Metiers which explains tax regimes, business set ups etc before he actually registers, so it may be a good idea to contact your local Chambre de Metiers for a list of dates (all artisans have to do this). If he's able to do the stage before moving, maybe you can get the business registered to coincide with actually moving over.

PS You start paying hefty cotisations (social charges) from when you register so make sure that there's plenty of work lined up first.

[cooperlola]

I use

http://www.sfpn.com/

French accountants but English speaking.  I have never had the need to visit them in person so location should not be an issue.  They are happy to do everything by 'phone, fax and e-mail.  I deal with Angela Francois in the Caen office.

[Joy1]

Hi Cooperlola. Do you pay a monthly fee to these accountants or do you just pay for advice as you need it? My husbands business is doing well and we now need to move from a micro bic to the next tax regime. We could therefore do with some advice from a reliable accountant! we have asked our french friends who are in business and they all seem to pay a monthly retaining fee of approx Eur160! At the moment we can't afford that much and would rather pay for advise as needed and maybe pay for assistance with the year end tax.

Thanks for any help.PS. Language is not an issue as my husband is fluent

Joy

[cooperlola]

I only pay for my tax return but then I don't run a business.  A call to Angela would cost only a  euro or two so may be worth a try.  They were very up front about costs and are happy to answer little queries for me for nothing!  They were recommended to me and I have no complaints at all.

[Joy1]

Thanks Cooperlola.

Joy

[cooperlola]

A quick update on this one Joy.  SFPN have now been bought out by Groupe Fidorg.  As a result, Bruno Herbert has now set up his own company specialising in ex-pat clients.  Bruno Herbert et Associes, "Le Trifide", 18, rue Claude Bloch, 14050, Caen, Cedex 4 and 45, Boulevard Haussmann 02 31 53 15 13 (number unchanged).  Angela Francoise is still there.

[Val_2]

[quote user="Alip"]We are moving to Dept 32 next year. My husband is a carpenter in the UK and runs his own business. We need to find an english speaking accountant who can set up his business before we arrive. Can anyone recommend an accountant in this department?[/quote]

You cannot normally set up a business as an artisan here before you "arrive" until you have registered at the local Chambre de Metiers, done the stage de gestion and then received your SIRET number which is only allocated once the course is completed and therefore required to set up legally. You will also be put in touch with the local accountants who deal especially with your trade as many only specialise in one type of business albeit shopkeepers,builders,mechanics etc as there are so many different schemes of tax,TVA and paperwork to be completed. You really should deal only with a french accountant as they are more used to the system.

[Joy1]

Thanks for the info Cooperlola. Will pass on details to my husband. Joy