12. Financial Assistance for Starting a Business in France

1. 12.1. Introduction
2. 12.2. Assistance to Unemployed
3. 12.3. Regional Development Schemes
4. 12.4. Bank Finance
5. 12.5. Assistance with Employee Costs

12.2. Financial Assistance to Unemployed in France - ACCRE

There is a national scheme that offers financial to assistance to set up a business to unemployed and social security claimants.

The scheme has the acronym ACCRE, which stands for l’aide aux demandeurs d’’emploi créant ou reprenant une entreprise.

The scheme grants exoneration from some social security contributions to a business start-up.

Whilst you will be relieved of paying the main pension and health contributions, you will continue to be obliged to pay the social welfare levy CSG/CRDS at the rate of 8%, the invalidity/death contribution, as well as payments into the complementary pension scheme.

There are special rules for those who start their business as an auto-entrepreneur, who benefit from a reduced rate of contributions for the first three years of the business.

Eligible persons are:

• Registered unemployed, and in receipt of unemployment benefit, or about to become registered unemployed;
• Registered unemployed, but not in receipt of unemployment benefit, provided you have been registered unemployed for at least six months during the previous 18 months with ANPE, the government employment agency;
• An employee from a business in bankruptcy or liquidation who decides to start own business;
• Recipients of certain social security benefits, e.g. RMI, API
;
• Young people under 30 years eligible for preferential employment contracts.

The exemption in the first year is subject to an upper net income limit of €19,022 (2009). This means that you will pay normal social security contributions on profits above this figure.

In order to benefit from the assistance in the second year, your business must be a micro-entreprise and with net annual income of less than €15,852 (2009), i.e. your turnover less your fixed allowance.

Exemption from social security contributions is then continued on the same basis as the first year up to net annual income of €5456, and at the rate of 50% from €5456 to €15,852 (2009).

If you do not make application at this time, you must do so within 45 days of business registration, or lose your entitlement to apply for assistance under the scheme.

You can also view and download the Application Form you need to complete. Although the application form does look formidable, the expectations of those who will consider it are not severe.

The same assistance is available to an employed person who wishes to set up their own business.

These applicants are called salarié-créateur and they can also be granted unpaid leave to do so, as well as an entitlement to 12 months exoneration from most social security contributions.

The employee must have been with their company for two years and must have worked a minimum of 910 hours in the proceeding 12 months.

You must also continue to work at least for 412 hours with your existing employer during the first 12 months of the new business.