Starting a Business in France: Auto-Entrepreneur and Beyond for Foreigners (2026)
By Richard Hammond | Published 2026-08-03
# Starting a Business in France: Auto-Entrepreneur and Beyond for Foreigners (2026) France might not be the first country you think of for entrepreneurship, but it should be. The auto-entrepreneur (micro-entreprise) regime makes starting a business remarkably simple — even for foreigners. Here's the complete picture for 2026, from registration to taxes to scaling up. {{VIDEO:NAqp73lspLM}} ## The Auto-Entrepreneur Regime: France's Gift to Small Business Created in 2009 and refined since, the auto-entrepreneur (now officially called micro-entreprise) status is designed for simplicity: - **Registration takes 30 minutes online** (via guichet-entreprises.fr or INPI) - **No minimum capital required** - **Flat-rate social charges** based on turnover (not profit) - **Simplified accounting** — no formal accounts required, just a revenue log - **VAT-free** below thresholds (€36,800 for services, €91,900 for goods in 2026) ### Who Can Use It? Any legal resident of France with the right to work. This includes holders of: - Profession Libérale visa - Talent Passport (entrepreneur category) - Carte de séjour with work authorisation - EU/EEA citizenship **Important**: The visitor visa (VLS-TS visiteur) does NOT permit work or business activity in France. ## Revenue Thresholds and Tax Rates (2026) | Activity Type | Revenue Ceiling | Social Charges | Income Tax (Versement Libératoire) | |--------------|----------------|----------------|-------------------------------------| | Services (BNC) | €77,700 | 21.1% | 2.2% | | Commercial (BIC) | €188,700 | 12.3% | 1.0% | | Regulated professions | €77,700 | 21.2% | 2.2% | Social charges cover health insurance, retirement contributions, and family allowances. The versement libératoire (flat income tax) is optional and available if your household income is below a threshold. ## Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Micro-Entreprise ### 1. Ensure Your Visa Permits Work If you're on a visitor visa, you cannot register a business. You'll need to either: - Apply for a Profession Libérale visa (if your activity qualifies) - Obtain a Talent Passport - Wait until you have a carte de séjour that permits work ### 2. Get Your French Address and Bank Account You need a French address for registration and a dedicated bank account (required once turnover exceeds €10,000/year for two consecutive years). ### 3. Register Online Visit the INPI Guichet Unique (formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr) and complete the registration. You'll need: - Proof of identity - Proof of address - Description of your activity (choose the correct APE/NAF code) ### 4. Receive Your SIRET Number Within 1–4 weeks, you'll receive your SIRET number — your business identity. You can now invoice clients legally. ### 5. Declare Revenue Quarterly or Monthly Log into autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr and declare your revenue. Social charges are calculated automatically. If you earned nothing, declare €0 — it's mandatory. ## Beyond Auto-Entrepreneur: When to Scale Up The micro-entreprise has limits. Consider upgrading to a société (company) when: - **Revenue exceeds thresholds** — You're forced to change status - **You need to deduct expenses** — Micro-entreprise taxes turnover, not profit - **You want to hire employees** — Possible as auto-entrepreneur but complex - **You need credibility** — Some clients and partners prefer dealing with a SARL or SAS - **You want to optimise taxes** — Company structures offer more planning options ### Common Company Structures | Structure | Best For | Liability | Minimum Capital | |-----------|----------|-----------|-----------------| | EURL/SARL | Solo or small partnerships | Limited | €1 | | SAS/SASU | Growth businesses, investors | Limited | €1 | | SCI | Property holding | Unlimited (usually) | €1 | ## Common Mistakes Foreigners Make 1. **Working on a visitor visa** — This is illegal and can result in visa cancellation 2. **Not declaring zero revenue months** — Penalties apply for late declarations 3. **Mixing personal and business accounts** — Keep them separate from day one 4. **Ignoring CFE tax** — The Cotisation Foncière des Entreprises is due annually (exempt year one) 5. **Not understanding TVA thresholds** — Once you cross the threshold, you must charge VAT immediately ## The Profession Libérale Visa For Americans wanting to start a business in France, the Profession Libérale visa is often the best route: - Covers consultants, coaches, writers, designers, developers, therapists, and more - Requires a business plan and proof of viability - Grants the right to work as a self-employed professional - Renewable annually, leading to a multi-year carte de séjour ## How French Connections HCB Helps We help clients navigate the visa-to-business pipeline: - Determining which visa permits your intended activity - Connecting you with English-speaking accountants (experts-comptables) - Guiding business registration - Ongoing administrative support as your business grows [Get your personalised relocation quote](/get-quote) — include "starting a business" in your requirements and we'll tailor our support accordingly. --- *Watch the full video above for more detail, then explore our [visa guide](/guide/visas) to understand which visa type suits your business plans.*Full Video Transcript
The following is a transcript of our guide to starting a business in France as a foreigner, covering the auto-entrepreneur regime and what you need to know.
Richard: A lot of our clients want to start a business when they move to France. Maybe they're freelancers, consultants, or they have an online business. The good news is that France has made it much easier with the auto-entrepreneur system. Let's break it down.
Richard: The auto-entrepreneur — also called micro-entrepreneur — is the simplest business structure in France. You can register online, it takes about 15 minutes, and you can be operational within a couple of weeks. There's no minimum capital requirement, no complex accounting, and you pay tax as a percentage of your turnover rather than profit.
Richard: The key limits to know: for services, your annual turnover cap is 77,700 euros. For sales of goods, it's 188,700 euros. If you exceed these, you'll need to switch to a more complex structure like a SARL or SAS.
Richard: Social charges are approximately 22% of turnover for services and 12.3% for sales. On top of that, you pay income tax — either through the standard system or through the versement libératoire, which is a flat percentage deducted at source. The versement libératoire rate is 1.7% for sales or 2.2% for services, but you need to qualify based on household income.
Richard: Now, the important bit for foreigners. Your visa type matters. If you're on a visitor visa — the carte de séjour visiteur — you are NOT allowed to work or run a business in France. You need either a talent passport (passeport talent), a salaried worker visa that allows secondary activity, or you need to apply specifically for a business creation visa.
Richard: The talent passport for business creation requires you to demonstrate an innovative or economically viable project, have at least 30,000 euros in funding, and present a business plan. It's valid for 4 years and allows you to work in France.
Richard: For those already resident with a carte de séjour that permits work, registering as an auto-entrepreneur is straightforward. You'll need your titre de séjour, proof of address, and your social security number. Registration is done through the INPI website — the guichet unique.
Richard: My biggest tip: get proper advice on the tax implications BEFORE you register. France has tax treaties with many countries, and the way you structure things can make a significant difference to what you pay. At French Connections, we work with specialist accountants who understand both French tax law and international tax treaties, so we can help you set things up correctly from day one.
Richard: The auto-entrepreneur regime makes starting a business in France remarkably simple compared to the old days. But make sure your visa allows it, understand the turnover limits, and get proper tax advice. If you'd like help with any of this, book a call with our team.