The idea of running your own business in France, maybe a gite or B&B in the countryside, or a freelance venture working from home in the sunny south, is a dream many Brits share. But what does it take to make it happen post-Brexit? If you want to know how to move to France from the UK and start a business – read on…
How Easy is it to move to France from the UK and start a business?
The good news is that it’s still very possible to move to France from the UK and start a business. The trickier news? There’s more red tape than there used to be before Brexit. But with the right support, preparation and paperwork, you can absolutely make your French business dream a reality.
At The French Property Show which takes place twice a year at Cheltenham Racecourse, a hand-picked panel of trusted experts in all aspects of life in France are on hand to provide advice and support to help you make your dream come true. There are administration experts who can give you reliable and great advice on starting your own business in France. And there are visa and immigration specialists, finance and tax experts, property agents, currency specialists, legal and language experts – everyone you need to help you make the move, set up your business and live the good life in France.
Dates
11th and 12th April 2026
10th and 11th October 2026
There’s free parking, there are no ULEZ charges, no congestions charges like in London and Birmingham, and no distractions.
There are experts who want to help you, seminars, time to chat face-to-face and get trusted advice.
Get your free ticket from the Good Life France at: frenchpropertyshowticket
Setting up a business in France? Get the right visa
Post-Brexit, British citizens are classed as non-EU nationals, which means you’ll need a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) if you want to stay in France for more than 90 days.
To run a small business, you’ll need to apply for a specific type of visa that allows you to set up and operate a self-employed business in France which includes, running a gite, B&B and digital working from home. To accompany this, you’ll need several documents including a detailed business plan and financial forecasts (in French). You’ll need proof you can support yourself financially (usually around €1,250/month minimum), accommodation in France, and a few other things.
Choosing the right visa is critical in the first instance, and submitting a suitable business plan is essential. But help is a hand. Experts in visa applications and business plans will be at The French Property Show to help. Setting up a business sounds complicated, but the hand-picked experts have a lot of experience helping people with these requirements and can prepare everything for you, and they’ll support you through the whole process – from visa application, submitting your business plan to processing your tax payments.
Register Your Business
Once your visa is validated, you can register your business. The easiest route for many newcomers is the micro-entrepreneur system. It’s designed for small businesses and solo operators with relatively low turnover. Although the easiest route, it has some tricky components when you’re setting up, such as choosing the right category of business, (commercial, artisan, or profession libérale). e.g., a copywriter is not the same as a journalist.
Each category has different charges applied and each has different amounts you can earn without being registered for TVA (VAT). You’ll need to complete monthly tax declarations. And there are requirements around how to invoice and plans to introduce an electronic system to upload invoices. But once that’s done, it’s not hard to manage the admin and there’s always help at hand.
Again, there are experts at the French Property Show who can help, including accountants who can take care of the paperwork, tax reporting etc. so that you can focus on running your business and enjoying life in France.
And more
Once you’re registered as a micro-entrepreneur and contributing social charges, you’ll be eligible for public healthcare, and you’ll need to apply via the relevant systems. This gives you access to GPs, hospitals, and prescriptions at heavily subsidised rates.
So, to go back to that first question how easy is it to move to France from the UK and start a business? Well, easy – no, it’s not. Possible? Absolutely. Especially with good support to guide you, set things up and offer support when you want it.
If you’re prepared, patient, and have a proper plan, starting a small business in France is not only achievable — it’s one of the best ways to weave yourself into local life. From managing gites, setting up a yoga studio in Provence to running a vintage shop in Brittany, farming, catering, educating – Brits are all over France are doing it, and doing it brilliantly.
Just expect a bit of bureaucracy, a few lost-in-translation moments – and get great support.
We’ve got free tickets to give away: frenchpropertyshowticket
Find out more about The French Property Show: thefrenchpropertyshow
