The Professional Advisors

A gîte business is an obvious choice for those choosing to maximise the profitability of their French property assets. Compared with the bureaucratic nightmare of setting up any other kind of business the gîte is also wrapped in less red tape.

But apart from a gîte business it is very possibly commercial insanity to consider running any kind of trading activity in which you do not already have experience. The penalties for making even honest mistakes are draconian. For instance, for beginning work before registration formalities are complete you could be fined up to €16,000, have your equipment confiscated, be deported or imprisoned, and be banned from carrying on any trading activity in France for three years. It is therefore essential to obtain legal advice before making any transactions that could be construed as trading.

An early point of contact will be the notaire. Even if you intend to work from home you are required to set up the business formally and to follow registration procedures. Local town halls also provide valuable advice.

You should also contact:

French Chamber of Commerce
21 Dartmouth Street
Westminster
London
SW1H 9HP
020 7304 4040

British Business Centre
BP21
14700 Falaise
03 31 40 05 77