BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNT

[emma5]

hi, can anyone tell me if it is obligatory when you are registered as a micro enterprise, to open a business bank account, we went to CA on saturday to open a personal bank account and the chap was most insistent we open a business one as well, he is phoning on tuesday to set up an appointment.

 

I did ask him if it was obligatory but the answer was lost a little in the translation, he spoke very good english, and i speak okish french, but i just couldnt understand what he was saying.

 

Any views on this would be appreciated

 

Thanks Emma

[Will]

No, it is not obligatory. Such pressure sales tactics (which is what you have apparently experienced) are common in France, all banks seem much the same.

It's often a good idea to keep personal and business finances separate, but bear in mind that in France it is the household that is taxed, rather than its individual members or businesses. So for individual enterprises there is far less reason to have a separate bank account, particularly so for a micro business with its very simple arrangements for claiming expenses etc.

Of course, should you progress to a SARL or similar type of business setup things will be different, but by then you will have an accountant to advise you.

[emma5]

Hi Will, thanks for your reply, I did think it wasn't obligatory but the chap was so insistent, we're not looking to make huge piles of money, thats not why we moved here, so we did rather think that if we registered as a micro bic, we could stick with one bank account for the time being.

 

Looks like i'll be declining his rendezvous when he phones tomorrow.

 

Emma